Graham Jennings
Encyclopedia
Graham Jennings is a former Australian association footballer, who played predominantly as a defender and was renowned for his speed, earning him the nickname flash. After a distinguished club and international career spanning twenty years, Jennings was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1999, receiving the Award of Distinction. Graham is married to wife Louise, and has three children.
, Jennings began playing football at the age of seven with local team Hamilton Azzuri. As a teenager, he moved to one of the region’s biggest clubs in Adamstown Rosebud, and eventually made his senior debut at the age of 16. In 1978, he earned his first representative cap with Northern New South Wales, and after impressive displays for the Australian youth team later that year, he joined Sydney Olympic in the National Soccer League
.
) and 1985, Jennings transferred to rivals Sydney Croatia.
in 1993-94, where he played in every game but one in what proved to be his final season at national club level. He returned to Adamstown Rosebud for the remainder of the 1994 New South Wales Super League season, retiring from football upon its conclusion.
. This began a long career with the Socceroos, where Jennings became a stalwart in successive World Cup campaigns, and an Olympian in 1988, in what proved to be the final open age football tournament in Seoul. In all, Jennings played 84 times for his country, 44 of which were full ‘A’ internationals.
:
With Sydney Olympic: NSL Championship: 1984
(Runners-Up) NSL Cup: 1983, 1985
With Sydney Croatia: NSL Championship: 1988
(Runners-Up) NSL Cup: 1987
Personal Honours:
Club career
A native of NewcastleNewcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, Jennings began playing football at the age of seven with local team Hamilton Azzuri. As a teenager, he moved to one of the region’s biggest clubs in Adamstown Rosebud, and eventually made his senior debut at the age of 16. In 1978, he earned his first representative cap with Northern New South Wales, and after impressive displays for the Australian youth team later that year, he joined Sydney Olympic in the National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
.
Sydney Olympic
Playing initially as an attacking winger, Jennings’ first season with Olympic witnessed relegation from the NSL, but he played a key role in helping the club achieve promotion in 1980. The arrival of Manfred Schaefer to Pratten Park resulted in a move to left-back, a position he would make his own for the remainder of his career. After consecutive finals appearances with Olympic in 1984 (losing in the Grand Final to South MelbourneSouth Melbourne FC
South Melbourne FC is a football club based in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Considered the most successful association football club in Australia, they have won four national championships, a string of Victorian State League titles, and represented Oceania in the 2000 FIFA Club World...
) and 1985, Jennings transferred to rivals Sydney Croatia.
Sydney Croatia
Jennings tasted success immediately with Croatia, helping them claim the Minor Premiership in the Northern Conference in 1986. He played in all but two games for the club in 1988, as Croatia stormed their way into the Grand Final only to lose to Marconi-Fairfield in a penalty-shootout. After a disappointing season the following year, he moved to A.P.I.A. Leichhardt.A.P.I.A. and Newcastle
Jennings was an ever present in the A.P.I.A squad, but once the club was demoted from the NSL, he returned to his hometown, firstly with Adamstown Rosebud and then with the Newcastle BreakersNewcastle Breakers
Newcastle Breakers are a defunct Australian association football club. Formed out of elements of the Newcastle Austral club, they participated in the National Soccer League from season 1991/1992, until their dissolution in 1999/2000. The club fared poorly on the field in its nine seasons in the...
in 1993-94, where he played in every game but one in what proved to be his final season at national club level. He returned to Adamstown Rosebud for the remainder of the 1994 New South Wales Super League season, retiring from football upon its conclusion.
International career
His impressive club form with Adamstown Rosebud earned selection in Australia’s inaugural youth team in 1978, where he played in the Oceania World Youth Cup qualifiers. In 1983, he made his debut for the senior national team, playing against England in a friendly at the Sydney Cricket GroundSydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
. This began a long career with the Socceroos, where Jennings became a stalwart in successive World Cup campaigns, and an Olympian in 1988, in what proved to be the final open age football tournament in Seoul. In all, Jennings played 84 times for his country, 44 of which were full ‘A’ internationals.
Honours
With AustraliaAustralia national football (soccer) team
The Australia national association football team represents Australia in international association football competitions. Its official nickname is the "Socceroos"...
:
- Trans-Tasman CupTrans-Tasman CupThe Trans-Tasman Cup was a football competition played between the national teams of Australia and New Zealand. Six editions were played between 1983 and 1995 and a seventh was played in 2001 as a school match...
: 1986, 1988. 1987 (Runners-Up) - President's CupKorea CupKorea Cup was a football competition held annually in the South Korea from 1971 to 1999. The cup, hosted by the Korea Football Association, was contested between South Korea and guest teams....
: 19871987 President's Cup Football Tournament1987 President's Cup was 16th competition of President's Cup. The competition was held from 8 June 1987 to 21 June 1987. The tournament was won by for the tenth time, who defeated in the final.-Group A:----------------------------...
(Runners-Up) - Bicentennial Gold CupAustralia Bicentenary Gold CupThe 1988 Australian Bicentennial Gold Cup was a one-off football tournament to celebrate the bincentennial of first settlement at Port Jackson by Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788...
: 1988Australia Bicentenary Gold CupThe 1988 Australian Bicentennial Gold Cup was a one-off football tournament to celebrate the bincentennial of first settlement at Port Jackson by Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788...
(Runners-Up) - Merlion CupMerlion CupThe Merlion Cup is an invitational football tournament that was held in Singapore annually from 1982-1986, in 1992 and in 2009. Participants included full national sides, Olympic sides, Invitational XI's and club teams...
: 1983
With Sydney Olympic: NSL Championship: 1984
National Soccer League 1984
The National Soccer League 1984 season was the eighth season of the National Soccer League in Australia. This season saw a restructure of the league, introducing a split into two geographical divisions, and an expansion from 16 to 24 teams...
(Runners-Up) NSL Cup: 1983, 1985
With Sydney Croatia: NSL Championship: 1988
National Soccer League 1988
-Overview:It was performed in 14 teams, and Marconi Fairfield won the championship.-Regular season:-Elimination semifinal:*Marconi Fairfield 3-1 Sydney Olympic-Qualifying semifinal:*Sydney Croatia 2-1 South Melbourne-Minor semifinal:...
(Runners-Up) NSL Cup: 1987
Personal Honours:
- FFA Hall of FameFootball Federation Australia - Football Hall of FameThe Football Federation Australia's Football Hall of Fame was formed in 1996 as the Soccer Hall of Fame to honour outstanding services to association football in Australia....
Inductee - 1999