*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Jimmy Fletcher
Appearances: 63 Goals: 12
Date / Year of birth: 10th November 1931
Position: Striker / Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 1961/62
Season of last appearance: 1962/63
Also played for: Wouldham, Chatham Town, Faversham Town, Maidstone United, Gillingham (27,13), Southend United (0), Gravesend & Northfleet, Dartford and Dover
6' 0" tall, pacy England Amateur international born in Wouldham, near Rochester who started his career with his hometown club and then joined Chatham for the 1954/55 season before moving to Faversham halfway through the campaign.
Jimmy then spent two seasons with Maidstone, playing twice for the England Amateur team, and during the 1956/57 campaign he scored four times in a Kent Senior Cup tie at Sittingbourne but still finished up on the losing side as Maidstone went down 5-4.
In July 1957 Jimmy was being signed by Gillingham and he scored 13 times in 27 first team appearances for the Gills during the 1957/58 season. He also played in the club's record 10-1 win over Gorleston in the FA Cup, scoring twice.
Jimmy then moved to Southend in July 1958 but didn't make the senior side there and in January 1959 he dropped back into non-league football, joining Gravesend & Northfleet.
Jimmy enjoyed a great start to his Fleet career, scoring 14 goals in 18 appearances before the end of the 1958/59 season. His tally included a hat-trick in a 6-3 win over Guildford at Stonebridge Road on 11.3.59. During the 1959/60 campaign Jimmy was the club's leading goalscorer, finding the net 18 times in 46 appearances and he scored another hat-trick as the Fleet drew 3-3 at home to Kettering on 2.4.60. At the end of the season Jimmy joined Dartford.
He left the Darts to join Margate in February 1962 having scored 29 goals in 67 appearances for them, 20 of his goals had come during the 1961/62 season. Jimmy's transfer fee was paid by an anonymous supporter.
Jimmy made his debut in a 3-2 defeat against Corby at Hartsdown Park on 17.2.62 and went on to make 20 appearances for Margate before the end of the 1961/62 campaign, scoring four times. His goals included both in a 2-1 win at Rugby in the Southern League Cup semi-final on 14.3.62. He gained a reputation as something of a utility player and at the annual club meeting at the end of the season manager Almer Hall singled Jimmy out for praise, describing him as "an excellent clubman".
During the 1962/63 season he made a further 43 appearances and scored eight times. On 3.11.62 Jimmy was in the Margate side that lost 3-1 at Millwall in the FA Cup 1st Round. His goals included one in the 2nd Leg of the Kent Floodlight Cup Final on 13.5.63 as Margate beat Maidstone 3-0 at Hartsdown Park to secure the trophy. However Jimmy was released at the end of the campaign after Margate had won the Southern League Division One title.
He joined Dover for 1963/64 and after scoring 13 goals during the season, including a hat-trick in a 9-1 win over Barry at Crabble on 3.4.64, Jimmy retired in June 1964.
He worked at Aylesford Paper Mills during his time with Margate and his hobbies were dog breeding and shooting.
After his retirement Jimmy made a full-time career of his dog breeding hobby and he was very successful in that field. He often won large sums of money betting on his greyhounds and in 1991 Jimmy and his associates won £200,000 when Glengar Ranger triumphed in a major race at Wimbledon.
In 2001 Jimmy was living in Sutton Valence and was still a regular visitor to greyhound meetings.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
SLC |
KSC |
KSS |
|
|
1961/62 (MFC) |
20 (66) |
N/A |
4 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (5TH OF 20) |
2R |
RU |
SF |
W |
|
| Played in Southern
League Cup Final 1st Leg (07.04.62 - drew 2-2 at Cambridge
United). Played in Southern League Cup Final 2nd Leg (14.04.62 - lost 2-1 to Cambridge United at home). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
SLC |
KSC |
KSS |
KFC | |
|
1962/63 (MFC) |
43 (66) |
N/A |
8 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (1ST OF 20) |
1R |
SF |
RU |
W |
W |
| Margate won Southern
League Division One title and promoted to Premier
Division. Played in FA Cup 1st Round (03.11.62 - lost 3-1 at Millwall). Played and scored in Kent Floodlight Cup Final 2nd Leg (13.05.63 - beat Maidstone United 3-0 at home). | |||||||||