Caesar Jenkyns

Caesar Augustus Llewellyn Jenkyns (August 24, 1866 – July 23 1941) was a Welsh footballer.

Born in Builth Wells, Jenkyns played for a range of English clubs, as well as winning eight caps for Wales. After playing for several amateur sides in the Birmingham area, Jenkyns joined Small Heath (later renamed Birmingham) in 1888, and was at the club as they first joined the Football Alliance in 1889 and then became founder members of the Football League Second Division in 1892. By now he had made his debut for Wales and was club captain; he skippered Small Heath to promotion to the First Division in 1894, beating Darwen 3-1 in a test match.

Small Heath were relegated after two years in the top flight, and Jenkyns was tempted to move to London in April 1895, joining Woolwich Arsenal, who had joined the Second Division less than two years ago. He was immediately made Arsenal captain, and made his mark in Arsenal history by becoming the club's first ever international player, after winning a cap for Wales against Scotland on March 21, 1896.

Playing at centre-half (which in those days was a midfield position), Jenkyns scored six times in 27 matches for Arsenal and was regarded by the club as one of their star players. However, his stay at the Gunners did not last long; in the summer of 1896 he moved to Newton Heath (who later became Manchester United). He spent two seasons with the Manchester club, helping them to runners-up position in the Second Division in 1897. He finished his career with a spell at Walsall. Little is known of his post-football life, other than that he reportedly became a police officer in his native Wales.

He died aged 74 in 1941.