[7] Kenrick also played for the Shropshire Wanderers[3] in the 1874–75 season in which he helped them reach the semi-final of the FA Cup, when they were defeated 1–0 by the Old Etonians.

In January 1876, a London-based Welshman, G. Clay-Thomas, placed an advertisement in The Field newspaper proposing that a Welsh team be formed to play Scotland or Ireland at rugby.

[9] He told The Field that the footballers of North Wales accepted the challenge and he advertised for players: Test matches will take place at the ground of the Denbighshire County Cricket Club at Wrexham for the purpose of choosing the Cambrian Eleven.

Although Kenrick corresponded with several Welsh clubs and the Universities in order to raise a team he was criticised for allegedly overlooking players from the south.

Sadly we have no record of the words actually used by the police constable as he stood sternly surveying the scene in the Wynnstay Arms, Ruabon, on that May night in 1876; but what they amounted to was that even if the gentlemen were busy forming the Football Association of Wales it was past closing time so would they mind forming it somewhere else…[14]Fortunately, Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn was in attendance; as the local JP (and also the sitting Member of Parliament), he went next door, opened the Court, extended the hotel's licensing hours, thus enabling the meeting to continue.

He made the final break a few months later over the minor issue of the allocation of gate money to Welsh Cup semi-finalists and finalists.

The match was a cliffhanger, with no score until the Wrexham forwards charged the Druids' defenders to take the ball over the line to win the game in the final minute, with James Davies being credited with the goal.

[21] As captain of the Druids, Kenrick collected the cup from Sir Evan Morris, who acclaimed him as the founder of Welsh football.

[27] Described as "a small, muscular player and a full-back with a reputation as a fearsome shoulder-charger",[3] Kenrick had retired from playing and was attending the match against England at Alexandra Meadows, Blackburn on 26 February 1881 as a spectator.

Jack Powell missed his train connection at Chester and Kenrick turned out in his everyday clothes to give "a splendid performance" at right-back.

[3] Some years later, William Pierce Owen recalled the match at Blackburn:It was snowing and hailing and we had been playing for some time, when I saw what I thought was a spectator breaking into the field and making a violent attack upon Marshall and Rostron, the English right wing.

[28] According to the Wrexham Advertiser:(John) Hawtrey, the English goalkeeper, threw the ball out but was charged over at the same time and (Jack) Vaughan running up placed the leather safely through the goal for Wales.

[30] Kenrick was Clerk to the Ruabon Magistrates from 1896 and was appointed coroner for East Denbighshire in 1906, a post he held until his death in 1933.

It was far better for a young man to take part in football, cricket or any other healthful experience in the fresh air than to be hanging around billiard tables and public houses in an atmosphere meeting with tobacco smoke and the smell of intoxicating liquor.