Jimmy Jenkins, arguably the sport's most enduringly popular official and the oldest living Socceroo, has passed away, aged 98.
Jenkins, who worked for 50 years at the Bulli track, was a "jack of all trades'' there, identifying the dogs, letting them in and out of the kennels for each race, and even cleaning the kennel block when racing concluded.
He had begun work at Bulli in 1963 but was also Chief steward for 17 years at the Saturday afternoon non-TAB fixtures on the now defunct MOSS VALE track and 12 years in the same role at Nowra, in that circuit's pre-TAB days.
His soccer career began with his local Corrimal Rangers team in 1940 and he retired from football after a season with Woonona in 1953.
Despite his small stature (just over 172cm tall) Jimmy was selected to play for Australia as goalkeeper in two test matches against Yugoslavia in Sydney and Melbourne in 1949.
Although Yugoslavia won each game 3-1, Jimmy treasured the memory of playing for his country in the early days of Australian soccer.
When I interviewed him seven years ago he told me: "My pay for each match was seven pounds 10 shillings ($14.20) yet I had to take three days off work with no pay each time.
"And because the Soccer Federation had no money back then, I even had to hand my Test jersey back for the next Australian goalkeeper to wear.''
Jimmy Jenkins' connection with greyhound racing began when he earned pocket money as a primary school pupil in the early 1930s exercising a dog called Bella Kelly for his next door neighbour at Corrimal.
"She won four races at the old Wollogong track when the lure was attached to the outside rail and although kids were not allowed to go greyhound racing in those days, I knew every piece of loose tin surrounding the course and would sneak in to watch every meeting,'' he said.
"When I was old enough to get a trainer's licence I had some success but the highlight was watching all the early greats, such as Ribby, Sentinel, Gay Toby and the best of them all, Chief Havoc.''
