Sandy Kennon: the goalkeeper who helped Norwich City win the League Cup

...and reach the FA Cup semi-finals

Sandy Kennon (Getty)

Big and brave, gentle and jolly, goalkeeper Sandy Kennon was a colossal influence as Norwich City were promoted to the second tier of the Football League in 1959-60 and won the League Cup two seasons later, beating Rochdale in a two-legged final.

By then he had already entered Carrow Road folklore for his exploits late in the Canaries’ progress to the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1958-59 while still a Third Division club.

Kennon was called for his debut when Ken Nethercott was injured in the drawn sixth-round game at Sheffield United. Despite an early error which cost a goal, he shone in a 3-2 replay victory, then excelled in two last-four encounters with Luton Town, a 1-1 draw being followed by a 1-0 defeat. Thereafter he was a regular until supplanted by the younger Kevin Keelan midway through 1964-65.

The youngest of 13 children, South African-born Kennon joined Huddersfield Town in 1956 from Queen’s Park of Bulawayo after impressing for Rhodesia in two matches against an FA XI. After 80 appearances, a difference of opinion with manager Bill Shankly precipitated a step down a division to join Norwich in 1959.

His Carrow Road exit in March 1965 after 255 games also followed disagreement with a manager, this time Ron Ashman, who told him to hoof the ball downfield instead of attempting his favoured constructive throw-outs. That spring he signed for Colchester United, with whom he was demoted immediately to the basement, but he helped them rise again in 1965-66. He joined Lowestoft Town in 1967, becoming a bookmaker before returning to Carrow Road as a matchday host.

Neil Sandilands Kennon, footballer: born Regent’s Park, near Johannesburg 28 November 1933; died 17 August 2015.