Jimmy Fletcher

James Alfred Fletcher (10 November 1931 - 22 November 2020) was an English footballer of the 1950s and 1960s, who played professionally for Gillingham and as a semi-professional for various clubs in Kent. After retiring from football he became a successful breeder of racing greyhounds.^[2]

Born in the village of Wouldham in Kent, Fletcher began his career with the local team before joining Chatham Town of the Kent League. He subsequently played for other Kent-based non-league clubs Faversham Town and Maidstone United, where he was a leading goalscorer in the Corinthian League and was twice chosen to play for the England national amateur team.^[3]

In 1957 he turned professional with Gillingham of the Football League Third Division South and made his debut in the first game of the 1957–58 season, partnering Ron Saunders in attack.^[4] He failed to gain a regular place in the Gills' first team and left the club at the end of the season to join Southend United.^[3] He spent six months at Roots Hall but never played for the club's first team.^[1] In January 1959 he returned to the non-league scene, joining Gravesend & Northfleet of the Southern Football League, and later played for Dartford, Margate and Dover.^[3]

After retiring from football in 1964, Fletcher became a successful breeder of racing greyhounds and went on to win large amounts of money betting on his dogs. His greatest success came in 1991, when his consortium won £200,000 on a high-profile race at Wimbledon Stadium.^[3] In 2001, he lived in Sutton Valence near Maidstone and still regularly attended greyhound races.^[3]