Jack Froggatt

Infobox Football biography
playername= Jack Froggatt


fullname = Jack Froggatt
nickname = Jolly Jack
dateofbirth = birth date|1922|11|17|df=y
cityofbirth = Sheffield
dateofdeath = Death date and age|1993|2|17|1922|11|17|df=y
countryofbirth = England
countryofdeath = England
position = Left half
years = 1946-1954 1954-1957 1957-1963
clubs = Portsmouth Leicester City Kettering Town
caps(goals) = 279 (65) 143 (18) 220 (57)
nationalyears = 1949-1953
nationalteam = England
nationalcaps(goals) = 013 0(2)

'Jolly' Jack Froggatt (17 November 1922 – 17 February 1993) was an English football player.

Career

Coming from a footballing family, Jack Started his football career in 1945, whilst in the RAF. Froggatt's father, Frank and second cousin, Redfern Froggatt both played for Sheffield Wednesday, with the latter racking up 434 games for The Owls.

Previously working in his fathers butcher shop, the Sheffield-born winger signed for Pompey as a centre-half but managed to persuade manager Jack Tinn to play him as an outside-left. Jack crowned his Pompey debut in 1945 with a second-half goal at The Dell in a War League South match with Southampton and went on to become a regular goalscorer. He had alarming speed, excellent ball control and was very strong in the air, making him one of the most versatile players Pompey have ever had.

A stocky player, who was known for his robust running and sharp shooting meant that 'Jolly Jack' earned his first England Cap in late 1949, where he scored on his international debut, from the outside-left position in a 9-2 victory over Northern Ireland at Maine Road. [ [http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/famousplayers/Jack-Froggat--Jolly-Jack.1396873.jp Jack Froggat - Jolly Jack - Portsmouth Today ] ]

For his Club, Froggatt formed part of the formidable trio of Scoular, Froggatt and Dickinson; often seen as the most powerful half-back line in immediate post-war football as Pompey won consecutive first division titles in 1948–49.

With Dougie Reid taking the number 5 shirt in Froggat's last season, Jack reverted to the wing again. Reluctantly leaving in March 1954, the winger went on to play 143 matches for Leicester City, scoring 18 goals. In September 1957 Jack went on to sign for Kettering Town for a fee of £6000.

Jack made his debut at Rockingham Road in November 1957 in the 3-1 win over Barry Town in front of 3,819, he scored his first goal for the club against Cheltenham Town two weeks later in the home 2-1 win.

During his Poppies career the Sheffield born genius scored three hat-tricks, the first in the 6-4 thriller against Spalding United in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying round in October 1958. His second hat-trick was scored in April 1959 in the Southern League North West Division against Kidderminster Harriers as the Poppies ran out 4-3 victors at Rockingham Road during their promotion season. His final trio came against Gloucester City on 15 April 1961 as Kettering ran out a 6-1 score line in the Southern League Division One, a Championship season as the Poppies returned to the Southern League Premier.

Jack was the player/manager of the club from January 1958, replacing Harold Mather until September 1961. Under his tenure in the hot seat he saw promotion, a relegation and a Championship season. Jack was succeeded by Wally Akers, but he still continued to play for the the Poppies. His final league game for the Poppies came in the 1-3 defeat by Chelmsford City on March 23 1963.

Jack's 20-year football career came to an end on May 6, 1963, a benefit match against one of his former clubs, Portsmouth. 1,800 turned out to see 'Pompey' race into a 4-0 lead after just 35 minutes, before goals from Dennis Randall, Froggatt and George Armour made the score more respectable. Retiring from football, Froggatt returned to Portsmouth to become a publican. For 22 years, he kept the Manor House in Cosham, The Milton Arms near Fratton Park and a hotel in Partridge Green, West Sussex.

References