Leicester City In 100 Players: Jackie Sinclair

[davieG]

One of my all time favourite players terrific goal scoring stats. I've no idea why we sold him so soon 

 

 

https://www.lcfc.com/news/2634150/leicester-city-in-100-players-jackie-sinclair

 

 

Club Historian John Hutchinson's series continues with Scotland international winger Jackie Sinclair, whose pace, skill and goalscoring feats made him a firm crowd favourite in the mid-1960s.

Scottish winger Sinclair was signed by manager Matt Gillies for Leicester City in May 1965, for a fee of £25,000. Along with centre-forward Derek Dougan and (later in the season) Peter Rodrigues, Jackie was signed to help refresh the City squad which, since 1961, had reached two FA Cup Finals, played in Europe, come close to winning the 1963 league title, and had reached two League Cup Finals, winning one of them. 

He came to Leicester from Dunfermline Athletic. In the season before Jackie’s move to Filbert Street, and under the guidance of the ex-Leicester City Northern 
Ireland international Willie Cunningham, Jackie had starred in the Dunfermline side which came within a point of winning the league and then narrowly lost the Scottish FA Cup Final. 

His impact at Filbert Street was immediate. Jackie scored on his debut in the first game of the season against Liverpool. He played in every game as a winger that season and was the Club’s top scorer with 24 league and cup goals.

He had great pace, mesmeric footwork, was a great crosser of the ball, was adept at cutting inside and formed a great striking partnership with Dougan. His efforts were rewarded with a Scotland cap against Portugal at the end of the season. 

In his second season, continuing to play in a forward line which, for the most part, comprised Sinclair, Jimmy Goodfellow, Dougan, Davie Gibson and Mike Stringfellow, Jackie missed only one game and was once again the Club’s top scorer, this time with 22 goals.

In his third season at Filbert Street, Jackie was an ever-present, until December when he was surprisingly sold to Newcastle United for a fee of £67,500. This dismayed the fans, who had already seen the departures of Gordon Banks and Dougan towards the end of the previous season. 

In his two and a half seasons at Leicester, Jackie scored 50 goals in 103 top flight games and another three goals in cup competitions. Averaging nearly a goal every two games was a remarkable achievement for a winger. 

At Newcastle United, he won the UEFA Fairs Cup in 1969. He then moved to Sheffield Wednesday, before returning to Scotland to play for Dunfermline Athletic again prior to ending his career at Stenhousemuir. His cousin, Tommy Wright, played for Leicester City between 1989 and 1992. 

Jackie sadly died after a battle with cancer in September 2010. 

 

[Foxdiamond]

Jackie and Derek Dougan were sold too soon as mentioned. No doubt this lead to our struggles that resulted in relegation in 1969. 

[davieG]

16 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

Jackie and Derek Dougan were sold too soon as mentioned. No doubt this lead to our struggles that resulted in relegation in 1969. 

Did Gillies start to lose the plot/team about this time

[Foxdiamond]

1 minute ago, davieG said:

Did Gillies start to lose the plot/team about this time

I think so. A shame. I wish he had played Ken Leek in 61 final too 

[davieG]

1 hour ago, Foxdiamond said:

I think so. A shame. I wish he had played Ken Leek in 61 final too 

Cutting nose of to spite face springs to mind.

[Foxdiamond]

40 minutes ago, davieG said:

Cutting nose of to spite face springs to mind.

Yes, crazy. 

[jerry]

3 hours ago, davieG said:

One of my all time favourite players terrific goal scoring stats. I've no idea why we sold him so soon 

 

 

https://www.lcfc.com/news/2634150/leicester-city-in-100-players-jackie-sinclair

 

 

Club Historian John Hutchinson's series continues with Scotland international winger Jackie Sinclair, whose pace, skill and goalscoring feats made him a firm crowd favourite in the mid-1960s.

Scottish winger Sinclair was signed by manager Matt Gillies for Leicester City in May 1965, for a fee of £25,000. Along with centre-forward Derek Dougan and (later in the season) Peter Rodrigues, Jackie was signed to help refresh the City squad which, since 1961, had reached two FA Cup Finals, played in Europe, come close to winning the 1963 league title, and had reached two League Cup Finals, winning one of them. 

He came to Leicester from Dunfermline Athletic. In the season before Jackie’s move to Filbert Street, and under the guidance of the ex-Leicester City Northern 
Ireland international Willie Cunningham, Jackie had starred in the Dunfermline side which came within a point of winning the league and then narrowly lost the Scottish FA Cup Final. 

His impact at Filbert Street was immediate. Jackie scored on his debut in the first game of the season against Liverpool. He played in every game as a winger that season and was the Club’s top scorer with 24 league and cup goals.

He had great pace, mesmeric footwork, was a great crosser of the ball, was adept at cutting inside and formed a great striking partnership with Dougan. His efforts were rewarded with a Scotland cap against Portugal at the end of the season. 

In his second season, continuing to play in a forward line which, for the most part, comprised Sinclair, Jimmy Goodfellow, Dougan, Davie Gibson and Mike Stringfellow, Jackie missed only one game and was once again the Club’s top scorer, this time with 22 goals.

In his third season at Filbert Street, Jackie was an ever-present, until December when he was surprisingly sold to Newcastle United for a fee of £67,500. This dismayed the fans, who had already seen the departures of Gordon Banks and Dougan towards the end of the previous season. 

In his two and a half seasons at Leicester, Jackie scored 50 goals in 103 top flight games and another three goals in cup competitions. Averaging nearly a goal every two games was a remarkable achievement for a winger. 

At Newcastle United, he won the UEFA Fairs Cup in 1969. He then moved to Sheffield Wednesday, before returning to Scotland to play for Dunfermline Athletic again prior to ending his career at Stenhousemuir. His cousin, Tommy Wright, played for Leicester City between 1989 and 1992. 

Jackie sadly died after a battle with cancer in September 2010. 

 

he was never the same player after his marriage ! Probably coincidental but neverless true. His partnership with the Doug was one of the high lights of the sixties team though.

[Rob Clarke]

A very prolific goalscorer for a winger. You would feel a real buzz around the ground whenever he received the ball in the opponents half. City crowds through the generations have always loved wide players with skill and pace who could finish: Griffiths, Riley, Sinclair, Glover, Weller, Farrington, Wright, Mahrez.....

[mozartfox]

A great left winger. Saw him in my first ever Foxes game, a 4-2 trouncing of Arsenal at Highbury. It was October and we went top of Division 1 that Saturday evening.  Just the evening classified papers in those days. No Ceefax, Forums or BR in/out Polls.  Frigging boring.

[enmac]

Top player and one of my all time favourites. The only reason I can think of why we sold him would be to release funds for Lenny. Anyone know if there's another reason? 

[foxile5]

On 30/05/2022 at 13:43, Foxdiamond said:

I think so. A shame. I wish he had played Ken Leek in 61 final too 

Wasn't there something suspicious about the dropping of Ken Leek? 

 

Like suspicious to the point of the board meeting notes being expunged? 

[Foxdiamond]

35 minutes ago, foxile5 said:

Wasn't there something suspicious about the dropping of Ken Leek? 

 

Like suspicious to the point of the board meeting notes being expunged? 

Yes, I don't suppose we will ever know. Very sad for Ken and in turn the team

[enmac]

2 hours ago, foxile5 said:

Wasn't there something suspicious about the dropping of Ken Leek? 

 

Like suspicious to the point of the board meeting notes being expunged? 

Think I read somewhere that it was the board's decision. I can't be certain though as I'm not sure where I read it.