Dale Jennings (footballer)

Dale Jennings

Jennings with Bayern Munich II in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Dale Jennings [1]
Date of birth	(1992-12-21) 21 December 1992 (age 31)
Place of birth	Liverpool, England
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s)	Winger
Youth career
2002–2008	Liverpool
2008–2010	Tranmere Rovers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2011	Tranmere Rovers	29	(6)
2011–2013	Bayern Munich II	36	(1)
2013–2015	Barnsley	47	(4)
2013–2014	→ Milton Keynes Dons (loan)	6	(0)
2015–2016	Milton Keynes Dons	1	(0)
2018–2020	Runcorn Town	16	(9)
2021	Prestatyn Town	0	(0)
2021	Runcorn Town	8	(1)
2021	Ramsbottom United	2	(0)
2021–2022	Prescot Cables	9	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 October 2021

Dale Jennings (born 21 December 1992) is an English footballer who plays as a forward.

Jennings began his professional career at Tranmere Rovers in 2010. A year later, he moved to Bayern Munich, where he played in their reserve team in the Regionalliga Bayern. He returned to the Football League with Barnsley and Milton Keynes Dons, and after a two-year hiatus resumed his career at Runcorn in 2018.

Career

Tranmere Rovers

Born in Liverpool, Jennings played youth football at Liverpool before being released as a schoolboy. He soon joined Tranmere Rovers in 2008, ^[2] having played for other clubs and having visited Rovers for a trial. ^[3] He made his club and Football League debut on 18 September 2010, in Tranmere's 1–1 draw against Charlton Athletic, coming on as a second-half substitute. ^[4] On 28 September 2010, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 win against Bristol Rovers in his third senior match for the club. ^[4]

On 20 October 2010, Jennings signed his first professional contract, which would run until the end of the 2011–12 season. ^[2] Ten days later, he scored a brace and made two assists in the 4–2 victory over Milton Keynes Dons. On 13 November, Jennings scored a winner against Plymouth Argyle with a twisting run from the halfway line. ^[5] In October 2010, Jennings received the award for Apprentice of the month from the LFE. ^[6]

His goal against Plymouth helped attract interest from larger clubs, ^[7] and Tranmere rejected an offer for Jennings from an unnamed Premier League club in the 2011 January transfer window. ^[8] In March 2011, he was voted League One Apprentice of the Year at the Football League awards and in May 2011 he was announced as Tranmere Rovers' Young Player of the Year. ^{[9] [10]}

Bayern Munich

In July 2011, Jennings signed for German club Bayern Munich, ^{[11] [12]} where he would initially play for Bayern Munich II the reserve team in the Regionalliga Süd. ^{[13] [14]} In late October 2011, Jennings' habituation into Germany was hindered after he suffered multiple ligament tears in his knee, sidelining him until March 2012. On 11 October 2012, Jennings scored his first goal in a Bayern shirt in a 2–0 friendly win over SpVgg Unterhaching. ^[15] On 27 October 2012, he scored his first competitive goal in Germany in a 2–1 loss away at Würzburger Kickers, ^[16] with his second following just six days later in a 2–2 draw at FC Augsburg II. ^[17]

Barnsley

On 18 June 2013, it was confirmed Jennings had signed for Barnsley on a three-year deal for a fee of £250,000 from Bayern Munich. ^[18] Upon arriving, Jennings spoke of disappointment of having not broken into the first team squad at Bayern Munich and his excitement at Barnsley and his eagerness to do well there. ^[19]

On 3 August 2013, he made his Barnsley debut against Wigan Athletic, coming on as a substitute in the second half for Tom Kennedy; however, he was sent off just five minutes after he came on, having misjudged a challenge on Wigan's James McArthur. ^[20] Subsequently, he was suspended for the following three games. While suspended, Jennings scored a hat-trick for the reserves and he scored his first senior goal for the club on 8 March 2014, in a 1–0 win against Nottingham Forest. ^[21]

Milton Keynes Dons

On 30 June 2015, following his release by Barnsley, Jennings signed for Championship side Milton Keynes Dons on a one-year contract having previous played for the club on loan for a short period in 2013. ^{[22] [23]} On 1 February 2016, Jennings left the club following the mutual termination of his contract having made only two appearances since signing. ^[24]

Return to football with Runcorn Town

On 28 September 2018, Jennings signed for non-league club Runcorn Town looking to "resurrect his career", with a view to returning to playing in the Football League once again. ^{[25] [26]} He made his debut for the club on 3 October against Congleton Town and three days later he scored his first goal for Runcorn in a 3–0 away win against Silsden. ^[27]

Prestatyn Town

On 4 December 2020, Jennings signed for Welsh club Prestatyn Town in the JD Cymru North Division. ^[28] He was unable to play any competitive games for the club as the season was cancelled due to Welsh government restrictions in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Return to Runcorn Town

In June 2021, he returned to Runcorn Town for a second spell with the club. ^[29]

Ramsbottom United

In early October 2021, he joined Ramsbottom United. ^[30] He made two league appearances for the club. ^[31]

Prescot Cables

On 22 October 2021, he joined Prescot Cables. ^[32]

Personal life

In August 2017, Jennings' eldest daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. ^[33]

Career statistics

As of matches played 2 October 2021.

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Tranmere Rovers	2010–11 [4]	League One	29	6	1	0	0	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	32	6
Bayern Munich II	2011–12 [34]	Regionalliga Süd	20	0	—						20	0
	2012–13 [34]	Regionalliga Bayern	16	1							16	1
	Total		36	1	—						36	1
Barnsley	2013–14 [21]	Championship	27	3	0	0	0	0	—		27	3
	2014–15 [35]	League One	20	1	3	2	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	24	3
	Total		47	4	3	2	0	0	1	0	51	6
Milton Keynes Dons (loan)	2013–14 [21]	League One	6	0	0	0	—		—		6	0
Milton Keynes Dons	2015–16 [36]	Championship	1	0	0	0	1	0			2	0
	Total		7	0	0	0	1	0	—		8	0
Runcorn Town	2018–19	NWCFL Premier	12	6	—		—		2 [lower-alpha 2]	1	14	7
	2019–20		0	0	0	0			0	0	0	0
	2020–21		4	3	3	0			3	1	10	4
	Total		16	9	3	0	—		5	2	22	11
Prestatyn Town	2020–21	JD Cymru North Division							—
Runcorn Town	2021–22	NWCFL Premier	8	1	1	0	—		3	0	12	1
Ramsbottom United	2021–22	Northern Premier League	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
Career total			143	21	8	2	1	0	11	2	161	25

1. Appearances in Football League Trophy.
2. One appearance and goal in FA Vase and one appearance in NW Counties League Cup.

Honours

• Football League One Apprentice of the Year: 2010–11 ^[9]
• Tranmere Rovers Young Player of the Year: 2010–11 ^[10]

References

1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/07/2011 and 31/07/2011" (PDF). The Football Association. p. 36. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
2. "Tranmere Rovers | News | Latest News | Latest News | Jennings Signs First Professional Contract". tranmererovers.co.uk. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
3. "Rejection helped Tranmere's Dale Jennings – Garnett". BBC Sport. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
4. "Games played by Dale Jennings in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
5. "Dale Jennings scores wonder goal for Tranmere". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
6. "Apprentice Of The Month – October 2010". League Football Education. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
7. Corradino, Rafael (12 May 2011). "FC Bayern München: Interesse an Dale Jennings von Tranmere Rovers". Goal.com (in German).
8. "Rovers Turned Down Premier Bid For Jennings". League Football Education. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
9. "Jennings Scoops FL Apprentice Award". Tranmere Rovers FC. 21 March 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
10. "Tranmere Rovers | News | Latest News | Latest News | Showunmi Named Player Of The Season". tranmererovers.co.uk. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
11. "Tranmere Rovers | News | Latest News | Latest News | Jennings Completes Bayern Munich Move". tranmererovers.co.uk. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
12. Sefton, Conor (13 July 2011). "Dale Jennings completes dream move to Bayern Munich". The Times. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
13. "Dale Jennings completes Bayern Munich transfer from Tranmere Rovers". Liverpool Echo. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
14. "Deal perfekt: Die Bayern holen Jennings" (in German). kicker sportmagazin. 13 July 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
15. "Alaba makes comeback in 2–0 friendly win". FC Bayern Munich. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
16. "FCB II in Würzburg eiskalt ausgekontert" (in German). FC Bayern Munich. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
17. "FCB II teilt die Punkte mit Augsburg II" (in German). FC Bayern Munich. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
18. "Dale Jennings Signs for Barnsley – News – Barnsley Football Club". 18 June 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
19. "Dale Jennings: Barnsley sign Bayern Munich forward". BBC Sport. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
20. "Championship: Grant Holt scores as Wigan win 4–0 at Barnsley". Sky Sports. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
21. "Games played by Dale Jennings in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
22. "Dons make triple signing". Milton Keynes Dons. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
23. "Dale Jennings: MK Dons sign winger from Barnsley". BBC Sport. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
24. "Duo leave on loan, Dale departs". Milton Keynes Dons. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
25. "Dale Jennings: Ex-Bayern Munich winger joins Runcorn". BBC Sport. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
26. "Town swoop for Jennings". Runcorn Town Football Club. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
27. "Runcorn Town FC Official Website". www.runcorntownfc.co.uk. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
28. "Prestatyn Town FC pulls off major coup". Rhyl Journal. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
29. "Jennings returns to Town". Runcorn Town FC. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
30. Isaacs, Richard (2 October 2021). "Dale Jennings signs". Ramsbottom United FC. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
31. "Players". Ramsbottom United. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
32. "NEW SIGNING Dale Jennings". Twitter. Prescot Cables. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
33. "Dale Jennings: Former Bayern Munich winger returns after 'mentally tough' times". BBC Sport. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
34. Dale Jennings at Soccerway. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
35. "Games played by Dale Jennings in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
36. "Games played by Dale Jennings in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2018.

External links

• Dale Jennings at Soccerbase
• Dale Jennings at fussballdaten.de (in German)