Roy Kenyon RIP

News has reached us through the “Oldest living Footballers website” of the death of Roy Kenyon who died aged 88 on 12th February 2022 whilst living in South Australia. He had a solitary League appearance for Southport more than seventy years ago.

Born in north Manchester on 10th March 1933 Roy was brought up in Astley where he attended St Stephen’s School. He played for Boothstown Juniors before signing for Bolton Wanderers as an Amateur in May 1949.In December 1950 he joined Leeds United as a professional playing on the left-wing. Chester signed him in January 1952 while he was serving in the Army,  stationed near Chester. He did not make a Football League appearance for either Leeds United or Chester and was loaned out to Worcester City.

Roy joined Southport on a two-month trial in September 1954 making his Lancashire Combination debut against Rossendale United. He began well scoring three goals against Oldham Athletic Reserves. This resulted him being selected at inside-left for his only Football League appearance against Chesterfield with Trevor Hitchen playing behind him at left-half. Roy was retained for the Lancashire Senior Cup tie against Oldham Athletic the following Tuesday. After playing a further two Lancashire Combination matches Southport decided not to engage him at the expiration of his trial,  as he had failed to maintain his early promise.

Roy joined Chorley, scoring on his debut in a 3-2 win over Morecambe, and a fortnight later he was back at Haig Avenue, this time with the Magpies,  netting from the penalty spot. 1955-56 season saw Roy with Wigan Athletic playing five times in their Lancashire Combination side, scoring two goals as well as playing in three Lancashire Combination cup-ties. We thought that was the end of his football career but when Geoff Wilde visited him at his home in an Adelaide suburb in the early 1990s  he discovered that Roy resumed his football  career  after a seven year gap when he and his family emigrated in 1963 . He played for Hakoah in Sydney, Elizabeth City and Gisborne in New Zealand before finishing his career with Salisbury in the local Adelaide League and thereafter coached Para Hills.

MPB