Members News: Former Sky Blues England Int’l Back Is 66 Today. ‘Happy Birthday’ Kenny!

Kenny Sansom in the Sky Blue

We are delighted to wish recent CCFPA recruit Kenny Sansom a very ‘Happy Birthday’ today! Very much a Londoner, Kenny was born in Camberwell on 26th September 1958 and is therefore celebrating his 66th birthday today!

From humble origins Kenny certainly found fame through football. He was discovered playing for juior team Spring Park Wolves and, already an England schoolboy, was scouted by many London professional clubs before finally joining Crystal Palace. A left back throughout his career Kenny played six seasons and nearly 200 games for the Eagles from 1974-80 (scoring four times) as they rose from being a Third to First Division outfit. In 1980 he moved across London to Arsenal for a big fee and spent the rest of his career playing top flight football.

Kenny Sansom (England)

Kenny played just short of 400 times (six goals) for the Gunners over eight seasons and further developed his England international career, which had begun at the Palace, eventually totting up a massive 86 appearances (netting once) for his country between 1979-88. His time at Highbury eventually soured under ‘gaffer’ George Graham so Kenny tried a season with Newcastle United (24 appearances) where he was unable to help them escape relegation to Division Two. He then returned to his home city for a couple of seasons with Q.P.R. where he played 82 times scoring twice between 1989-91.

Terry Butcher brought Kenny to Highfield Road for £100k in March 1990 to add experience to the Sky Blues’ defence and the full back continued as largely first choice under successive Sky Blues’ ‘gaffers’ Terry Butcher, Don Howe and Bobby Gould for almost three years in the early nineties clocking up 55 appearances before Bobby decided to let him go on a free transfer to Everton in February 1993 once Phil Babb had started to show his capabilities in the City defence. 

Kenny Sansom clears

He stayed only a month with the Toffees returning to the capital in March after seven appearances (and a goal) to play for Brentford. He only played eight times for the Bees in 1992-93 as his career wound down and his swansong was a single First Division appearance for Watford in 1994-95. In a long Football League career Kenny clocked up thirteen goals in 768 top flight games – a magnificent record! Before finally hanging up his boots Kenny played short spells with three non-league outfits, Croydon, Chertsey Town and Slough Town.

Marcus Hall & Kenny Sansom at LD22

In later life, sadly, Kenny has had to face a number of well publicised challenges in his personal life affecting his business life and health and has done intermittent media work as a pundit in recent seasons.

LD24: Kenny (centre) comes onto th pitch at h-t

We were very pleased to see Kenny back in Coventry again when he came to his first Legends Day in 2022 and followed up with appearances at both LD23 and LD24. Each time he enjoyed meeting up with the other Former Players attending the reunion.

Have a great birthday today Kenny! We look forward to entertaining you again back at a Sky Blue game and/or CCFPA function in Coventry this season! 

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.