Arguably the finest footballer to ply his trade with Doncaster Rovers, Alick Jeffrey made his League debut in September 1954 aged only 15 years, 229 days and remains Rovers’ youngest ever player. An inside-forward of immense talent and strength, he benefited from the management of Peter Doherty, himself a former international inside-forward. His career was effectively split in two by injury: after 80 appearances for Rovers in Division Two in which he scored 38 goals; he sustained a broken leg playing for England Under-23s at Bristol in October 1956. At that point he was believed to be close to a move to Manchester United and to full England international honours.
The injury forced Alick to retire from professional football, but after working with future Rovers manager George Raynor at Skegness Town, he made a playing comeback in Sydney, Australia. In 1963 he re-joined Rovers and although no longer a contender for international football, he proved invaluable to his first club’s cause. Over the next six seasons he contributed 101 goals. He was top scorer in the country in 1964-65 with 36 League goals and his 22 the following season helped Rovers win the Division Four Championship. At the time he left the club to join Lincoln City, Alick was leading scorer in the 1968-69 campaign, helping Rovers secure their second Fourth Division title.
After retiring from football for a second time, Alick became a pub landlord in Doncaster. When John Ryan, a huge admirer who had watched Alick play in the 1960s, became Rovers chairman in September 1998 he appointed Alick to be the club’s President. Sadly, Alick died, aged only 61, two years later while on holiday in Benidorm. To most people in football Alick Jeffrey represents a great unfulfilled talent, but to Rovers fans he remains a true legend, perhaps the greatest player to represent our club.
Rovers Debut: 15th September 1954, Division Two vs. Fulham (home) Won 4-0.
Final game: 14th January 1969, Division Four vs. Halifax Town (home) Drew 0-0.
Rovers Career: Football League: 262 appearances, 127 goals. All senior games: 293 appearances, 139 goals
Honours with Rovers: Division Four Championship 1965-55, 2 England Under-23 caps, 3 England Amateur International caps, 1 Great Britain Amateur International cap