Sandy Kennon
Encyclopedia
Neil Sandilands "Sandy" Kennon (born 28 November 1933 near Johannesburg
, South Africa
) is a former professional
footballer and amateur cricket
er. His position was goalkeeper. He made 367 appearances in the Football League
playing for Huddersfield Town
, Norwich City
and Colchester United
.
After beginning his career in his native South Africa where he played for Umbilo FC, Berea Park and Queen's Park, he was spotted by Huddersfield Town
while playing for Rhodesia. He signed for the Terriers in 1956 and stayed there for three years before joining Norwich City
in early 1959. Kennon was a member of the legendary Norwich team that reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 1959 as a Third Division team and he played in both of the semi-final matches against Luton Town
, having replaced the injured Ken Nethercott
after the 6th round tie against Sheffield United
. The following season, he played a key role as Norwich won promotion to the Second Division of the Football League
.
Kennon went on to play for Colchester United
and Lowestoft Town
before retiring. He was a bookmaker for many years after he stopped playing and also, for a while, had his own band called 'Sandy Kennon and the Blazers'.
Kennon is a member of the Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame.
Outside of football, Kennon played cricket
for Norfolk
as a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace
bowler. Kennon made three appearances for the county in the 1970 Minor Counties Championship.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
) is a former professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballer and amateur cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. His position was goalkeeper. He made 367 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
playing for Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
and Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
.
After beginning his career in his native South Africa where he played for Umbilo FC, Berea Park and Queen's Park, he was spotted by Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
while playing for Rhodesia. He signed for the Terriers in 1956 and stayed there for three years before joining Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in early 1959. Kennon was a member of the legendary Norwich team that reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 1959 as a Third Division team and he played in both of the semi-final matches against Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
, having replaced the injured Ken Nethercott
Ken Nethercott
Kenneth Walter Samuel Nethercott is a former professional footballer. He was a goalkeeper.Nethercott began his career as an amateur with Cardiff City before signing a professional contract with Norwich City in 1947. He stayed at Carrow Road for 12 years, making 416 appearances for the Canaries;...
after the 6th round tie against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. The following season, he played a key role as Norwich won promotion to the Second Division of the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
Kennon went on to play for Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
and Lowestoft Town
Lowestoft Town F.C.
Lowestoft Town F.C. is an English football club based in Lowestoft, Suffolk. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at Crown Meadow.-History:...
before retiring. He was a bookmaker for many years after he stopped playing and also, for a while, had his own band called 'Sandy Kennon and the Blazers'.
Kennon is a member of the Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame.
Outside of football, Kennon played cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
for Norfolk
Norfolk County Cricket Club
Norfolk County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Norfolk and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
as a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace
Seam bowling
Seam bowling is a phrase used for a bowling technique in cricket whereby the ball is deliberately bowled on to its seam, to cause a random deviation. Practitioners are known as seam bowlers or seamers....
bowler. Kennon made three appearances for the county in the 1970 Minor Counties Championship.