We received an email from Australia on Xmas Day about one of our greatest ever players.

"Although I have never been to Rochdale or ever seen them play, through the kind words of your fans, you have done proud the memory of a man I once knew.

Reg Jenkins was indeed the strongest man U ever bumped into in sport. As a founder member of the Whitsand Bay Lifesaving Club (Millbrook's Local beach), I played beach football with Reg on several occasions. Reg had finished his Argyle and Exeter careers and moved on to the Gulls.

In the Summer, he would come to the beach, often with a couple of old Argyle pals. We were all 15 to 20 year olds and on our broad flat beach, we often played up to six hours straight. Reg thought chasing us lot around was a great way to train for the season ahead. Reg and his pals were around 24/25 and lasted a most an hour on the sand.

I once recall Reg hot on my tail. I stamped on the ball and as he ran over to me and the ball, I flicked it out to our left wing before he turned around, it was in the back of his side's net. To the derision of my mates, I recall Reg giving me a withering look followed by a smile.

The next time I gathered the ball, a split second later I recall being bumped off my feet and landing six feet away. Always the gentleman, Reg dusted the sand off me and gave me a hug which nearly broke this 16 year old's ribs.

As we didn't have nets on the beach, I never saw Reg break any. I do recall once, him giving four of a lesson in weight transference in what he described as being the greatest aid to a top centre forward. In a genius display, we couldn't even get close to the ball.
I was 71 this month and was dismayed like all of Rochdale to hear of Reg's passing. Then again, half or more of us he played with on that beach have passed. Being 1961 to 1964, Reg wasn't married and I have never met his family. I have been in Oz now for 50 years but I've never forgot what Reg taught us all about football.

He was known as Alley Jenkins to the Millbrook kids due to his propensity to hammer a ball into every back alley gate in Millbrook.

Fond memories of one of nature's gentlemen.

Leigh Brook, Noosa Heads, Queensland, Australia.

Photo: Action Images

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