Reg Jenkins

{{short description|English footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Reg Jenkins

| image =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1938|10|7|df=y}}

| birth_place = Millbrook, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|1|29|1938|10|7|df=y}}

| death_place = Tenerife, Spain

| height =

| position = Inside forward

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1957–1960 | clubs1 = Plymouth Argyle | caps1 = 16 | goals1 = 3

| years2 = 1960–1961 | clubs2 = Exeter City | caps2 = 20 | goals2 = 6

| years3 = 1961–1964 | clubs3 = Torquay United | caps3 = 88 | goals3 = 23

| years4 = 1964–1973 | clubs4 = Rochdale | caps4 = 305 | goals4 = 119

}}

Reginald Jenkins (7 October 1938 – 29 January 2013) was an English footballer who played as an inside forward in the Football League between the 1950s and 1970s.{{cite web |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player2/regjenkins.html |title=Reg Jenkins |work=UK A–Z Transfers |publisher=Neil Brown |access-date=1 February 2013}}

Jenkins was born in Millbrook, Cornwall. After short spells with Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City, he joined Torquay United in the 1961–62 season,{{cite web |url=http://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/gosdb-players2.asp?pid=436 |title=Reg Jenkins |work=Greens on Screen |access-date=1 February 2013}} and went on to make 88 league appearances for the Gulls.

He joined Rochdale in 1964–65 and went on to play for them for nine seasons. He became Rochdale's record goalscorer, scored 119 league goals for the club,{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723061002/http://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/page/History/0,,10441,00.html |title=Club History |date=6 June 2011 |publisher=Rochdale A.F.C |archive-date=23 July 2011|url=http://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/page/History/0,,10441,00.html }} and made 305 appearances a then record, surpassed a year later by Graham Smith.{{cite book | last = Brookes | first = Mike| title = Legends of Rochdale AFC| publisher = At Heart| year = 2008| page = 35| isbn = 978-1-84547-194-1 }} In 2004, he was voted Rochdale's greatest-ever player by the club's fans.[http://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/article/reg-jenkins-passes-away-628147.aspx Reg Jenkins Passes Away] Rochdale A.F.C.

While recuperating from a knee operation in Tenerife, Spain, Jenkins died in January 2013 at the age of 74.{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/rochdale-fc-legend-reg-jenkins-1275559 |title=Rochdale FC legend Reg Jenkins dies |work=Manchester Evening News |date=30 January 2013 |access-date=1 February 2013}}

A year after his death, in February 2014, his home-town club, Millbrook, renamed their ground in honour of Jenkins.[http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/millbrook-rename-home-celebrate-modest-life-big/story-20631818-detail/story.html Millbrook rename home to celebrate modest life of 'Big' Reg Jenkins] Plymouth Herald The ground, formerly known as Mill Park, is now officially referred to as Jenkins Park. In October 2016, the club renovated the main stand to reflect the name change.