Jackie Whent

John Richard Whent... sports family (lawn bowler father Chris, soccer/bowler brother Charlie)... he was three years old when his family moved from Darlington to Vancouver in January 1924... he served in World War II... he married in June 1946... he was 79 years old when he passed away on 25 August 1999 in Sacramento, CA, USA... his daughter Linda was born on a Brighton & Hove Albion matchday in England...

posthumously honoured by the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame as a player... posthumously honoured by the Soccer Hall of Fame of British Columbia... in 1950, he was one of 16 footballers shortlisted in a Best in 50 Years poll by The Canadian Press...

with Westminster Royals FC, a Canada Soccer Football Championship winner (Challenge Trophy in 1953) and North American Championship winner (Jack Diamond Trophy in 1953)... a one-time Pacific Coast League winner (1946-47)... in Canada, an all-star selection both before (1947) and after (1954) a stint in England and USA...

wrote Al Windsor in January 1940, “this slim but sturdy youngster at centre is undoubtedly the best thing that has happened to St. Saviours this season. Like Hap Smith, Whent maneouvres for shots and relies on placed kicks rather than hard boots for his goals. He’s a treat to watch in action”... wrote Austin Delany in October 1954, he is “the best centre half in the (Pacific Coast) league”...