FA Cup winner reveals sympathetic linesman saved him on EFL debut in front of Arsenal scout

Jeff Stelling had the chance to sit down with someone who can also consider Hartlepool United as having a major impact on their career.

Former Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson made his Football League debut against the talkSPORT Breakfast host’s beloved Monkey Hangers and found himself instantly indebted to the linesman.

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The 34-year-old announced his retirement earlier this month, having been released by Bromley at the end of last season.

It brought the curtain down on a 16-year playing career that started when he came through the youth ranks at Charlton.

The Addicks academy graduate was handed his Football League debut in February 2011 against Hartlepool in League One.

Just seven minutes into the second half, Jenkinson replaced the injured Simon Francis in a 2-1 defeat at Victoria Park.

Hartlepool superfan Stelling delighted in reminding the one-cap England international of the result on talkSPORT Breakfast.

“It was at Hartlepool,” Stelling reminisced. “February 2011. It must have been blooming freezing. And I’m delighted to say we won 2-1.

“Couldn’t let you go without reminding you!”

Jenkinson replied: “That was the one, where I spoke about: I flew into a tackle straight after I came onto the pitch and I was lucky to walk away with a yellow.

“And it was the linesman who said to me in my ear, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll tell the ref it was just the yellow.’

“I ended up getting a run in the team after that. Whereas, I could have obviously got a red.”

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Jenkinson previously revealed to A-Leagues All Access that an Arsenal scout was in attendance to watch his debut.

What may have happened to the defender had he been sent off that day is anybody’s guess, but instead he went on to make seven consecutive league starts for Charlton following his debut.

Jenkinson went on to sign for Arsenal that summer, where he went on to lift the FA Cup with now-Gunners manager Mikel Arteta in 2014.

His one senior cap for England came two years earlier when he featured for Roy Hodgson’s Three Lions against Sweden in 2012.

He ultimately made 70 appearances for Arsenal, with his one and only goal for the club coming in a 2-0 win at Norwich on the final day of the 2013/14 Premier League campaign.

Jenkinson has been a talkSPORT regular since leaving Arsenal, having previously revealed the best Gunners team he ever played with, while also likening ex-teammate Arteta to club legend Thierry Henry.

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What is Carl Jenkinson doing now?

Jenkinson returned to England with Bromley two years ago following a stint in the A-League with Melbourne City in Australia.

Injuries restricted him to just five League Two outings last season as Bromley won the title to secure their place in England’s third tier.

Reflecting on having now retired, Jenkinson told talkSPORT: “Enjoying my weekends. Just a bit of time with my fiancée doing different things.

“We just went to Brighton at the weekend, which you can never do when you’ve got a game of footy.

“So, yeah, just keeping busy, doing different stuff in the gym a lot, because I love that side of stuff; A bit of media work here and there.”