Lindy Delapenha facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lloyd Lindbergh Delapenha | ||
| Date of birth | 20 May 1927 | ||
| Place of birth | Spanish Town, Jamaica | ||
| Date of death | 26 January 2017 (aged 89) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1948–1950 | Portsmouth | 8 | (1) |
| 1950–1958 | Middlesbrough | 260 | (90) |
| 1958–1960 | Mansfield Town | 115 | (27) |
| 1960 | Hereford United | ||
| 1964 | Burton Albion | ||
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Lloyd Lindbergh "Lindy" Delapenha (born May 20, 1927 – died January 26, 2017) was a famous Jamaican footballer and sports reporter. He made history as the first Jamaican to play professional football in England. From 1948 to 1960, he played for big clubs like Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, and Mansfield Town. Lindy even helped Portsmouth win two league titles. This made him the first black player to win a top-division championship medal in English football.
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Early Life and Sports Beginnings
Lindy Delapenha started playing football at age 11 for Wolmer's Schools in Jamaica. He scored his first goal in the Manning Cup competition. Lindy was a talented athlete who played many sports at Munro College. As a schoolboy, he even competed in 16 different events over a short time in England.
After school, Lindy joined the British Armed Forces and served in the Middle East after World War II. While playing football for the British Army, a scout from England saw his amazing skills.
Professional Football Career
Lindy had a tryout with Arsenal, a famous English club. He did not sign with them, but in April 1948, he joined Portsmouth. This made him the first Jamaican to play professional football in England.
While some people thought he was the first non-white player in the English top league, others like Arthur Wharton played earlier. However, Lindy was the first black player for several clubs he joined. These included Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Mansfield Town, and Burton Albion.
Time at Middlesbrough
In April 1950, Lindy moved to Middlesbrough. This is where his career really took off! He played as a winger or an inside-forward. Lindy became Middlesbrough's top scorer in the 1951–52, 1953–54, and 1955–56 seasons. Overall, he scored 93 goals in 270 games for the club.
Later Clubs
In June 1958, Lindy transferred to Mansfield Town. He scored 27 goals in 115 games over two years. He then retired from top-level league football in 1960. Lindy continued to play non-league football for Hereford United and Burton Albion. He even won the Southern League Cup with Burton in 1964.
Life After Football
Lindy Delapenha returned to Jamaica in 1964. He played cricket for a short time. He also helped the Boys' Town football team move up from Division 3 to Division 1. Lindy coached athletics and football at his old school, Wolmer's Schools, in the mid-1960s.
Soon after, he became the director of sports at the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC). At JBC, he helped cover cricket and the Commonwealth Games. He also played a big part in bringing international football to Jamaica. Lindy worked at JBC for 30 years.
Lindy Delapenha passed away on January 26, 2017, at 89 years old, after having a stroke. He is remembered as a pioneer in Jamaican and English football.
