Jack "Jackie" Fennell (6 May 1933[1] – 3 January 2019) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s and 1960s. He played at representative level for Yorkshire Schoolboys rugby league team, Yorkshire Schoolboys (versus Lancashire Schoolboys rugby league team, Lancashire Schoolboys on Saturday 24 April 1948), and at club level for Bagley's Recs (a pressed glass factory in Knottingley) and Featherstone Rovers as a goal-kicking fullback, wing, centre or stand-off.[2]
Background
Jackie Fennell was born in Pontefract, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He died aged 85 and his funeral took place at Pontefract Crematorium, Wakefield Road, Pontefract on Monday 28 January 2019, followed by a reception at Featherstone Rovers RLFC.
Jackie Fennell signed for Featherstone Rovers during December 1952, and made his début on Saturday 20 December 1952,[3] he played in the Challenge Cup semi-final three times, losing on each occasion; the 1957–58 Challenge Cup during the 1957–58 season, 1959–60 Challenge Cup during the 1959–60 season, and the 1961–62 Challenge Cup during the 1961–62 season, he played his last match for Featherstone Rovers against Batley during April 1965, he appears to have scored no drop-goals (or field-goals as they are currently known in Australasia), but prior to the 1974–75 season all goals, whether; conversions, penalties, or drop-goals, scored 2-points, consequently prior to this date drop-goals were often not explicitly documented, therefore '0' drop-goals may indicate drop-goals not recorded, rather than no drop-goals scored.
Jackie Fennell is a Featherstone Rovers Hall of Fame inductee.[4]
Genealogical information
Jackie Fennell's marriage to Priscilla J. (née Bannister) was registered during second ¼ 1954 in Pontefract district.[5] They had children; the future rugby league footballer; Dale Fennell.
