It’s a family affair at the home of the Hatters
Jennings brothers team up at Stockport
THE CHANCE to finally play together was too good to turn down for talented brothers James and Connor Jennings – even more so at their ambitious hometown club Stockport County.
Left-back James, 32, has ended a three-and-half year association with National League rivals Wrexham while forward Connor, four years his junior, left Tranmere Rovers after 140 appearances.
The duo are the latest to sign up to the Hatters’ big plans under owner Mark Stott, who took over the club in January and is now planning a Football League return.
“When we both knew the opportunity was there for us to play together for our home town club it was a no-brainer,” James, who will also be joined at Edgely Park by Mark Kitching, signed from Hartlepool, told The NLP. “It had to be someto thing like this to leave Wrexham. I had a good relationship with everyone there, the fans and really loved every minute. The only thing that I can look in a negative way is the fact we didn’t get promotion.”
Connor, meanwhile, has recently played a key part in back-to-back play-off successes with Tranmere before being cruelly relegated on points-pergame this season.
Challenge
“I’m dropping out of the League to join a Football League club,” he said. “It’s got the fanbase, it’s got everything there and now all these exciting plans and ambitions.
“It’s a fresh challenge and it reminds me a bit of Tranmere when I first moved. You get a feeling deep down that you know it’s the right move and it’s going to be a successful one.”
The siblings have played against each other on a few occasions but never as part of the same team.
They came close when James almost joined Wrexham when Connor was there from 2014 to 2016 and then the full-back had an offer from Tranmere, but had already verbally agreed a deal with Cheltenham Town. Even growing up it was a rare sight.
“It was more me and my parents trying to get Connor into football,” said James, who started his career in Manchester City’s academy before signing for Macclesfield. “I think he was more bothered about playing with his friends in the garden, he was into Action Man and things like that.
Special move
“I was in an academy whereas he was just playing for his local team. He would go out and play and do well but wasn’t interested. We used to force him get his kit on and go to training. When he did play he was really good!”
“Once I was there I enjoyed but I didn’t go down the path my brother did,” Connor added, having started at Stalybridge Celtic. “I used to love watching him at Macclesfield but I probably never thought I’d have a career out of it. The team Macc had at the time was superb and to see James involved in it all it probably did make me think maybe I should try and push into football.
“To go back to Stockport is a special move. I remember watching County back in school in League One. I went to Wembley when they won the League Two play-offs.
“I scored against them for Stalybridge in the FA Trophy and that was a great feeling knowing all my friends were in the Cheadle End watching. To comeback now with all these exciting plans I think is fitting.”