Tommy Jones (footballer, born 1909)
 Jones in 1927 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas John Jones | ||
| Date of birth | 6 December 1909 | ||
| Place of birth | Tonypandy, Wales | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1.74 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| ?–1926 | Mid Rhondda | ? | (?) |
| 1926–1929 | Tranmere Rovers | 90 | (28) |
| 1929–1934 | Sheffield Wednesday | 29 | (6) |
| 1934–1935 | Manchester United | 20 | (4) |
| 1935–1939 | Watford | 121 | (23) |
| 1946 | Guildford City | ? | (?) |
| Total | 260 | (61) | |
| International career | |||
| 1931–1933 | Wales | 2 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1946 | Tranmere Rovers | ||
| 1953–1954 | Workington (caretaker) | ||
| 1957 | Workington (caretaker) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Thomas John Jones (born 6 December 1909;
Career
Club career
Born in Tonypandy, Rhondda,[2] Jones began his football career with Mid Rhondda, before joining Tranmere Rovers of the Football League Third Division North in 1926. When the Tranmere manager, Bert Cooke, went to sign Jones, he was told by his father: "Yes, my boy can play football but he can fight, too. Whenever anyone is in trouble, off comes his coat and up come his sleeves." Despite his father's claims, Jones was in reality a fairly mild player but it took some time for him to live the story down.[3] Jones was a strongly built winger who had a habit of cutting inside the defence.[3]
After three seasons with the
Jones signed for Manchester United in 1934 and his debut came at home to Bradford City on 25 August 1934; the match resulted in a 2–0 win to United, both goals being scored by Tom Manley. Jones made his FA Cup debut for United on 26 January, playing in a 0–0 draw away to Nottingham Forest in the Fourth Round. He then played in the replay four days later, but the team lost 3–0. Jones amassed a total of four goals in 22 appearances (league and cup) for United that season, before being sold to Watford for £1500 in May 1935.[6]
At
International career
Shortly after his breakthrough into the Sheffield Wednesday side in 1931, Jones was selected for the
Coaching career
In August 1946 Jones took up a coaching position at his former club Tranmere Rovers,[3] and he subsequently became manager for a short time prior to the appointment of Ernie Blackburn.[7] He spent seven years coaching Tranmere, before taking up a similar position with Workington in 1953.[3] He spent a brief period as caretaker-manager at the end of 1953 prior to Bill Shankly's appointment, and he was caretaker again in 1957 after Norman Low departed.[8][9]
He was named assistant trainer at Birmingham City in August 1958, and then spent two years as West Bromwich Albion's assistant trainer from 1966 to 1968 before retiring from football altogether.[3]
References
- ^ "Watford. Greater thrust in attack needed". Sunday Dispatch Football Guide. London. 23 August 1936. p. xii – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
- ^ ISBN 1-872424-11-2.
- ^ a b c d e Sheffield Wednesday stats at the Wednesday archive
- ^ "Sheffield Wednesday results 1929–30 at statto.com". Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
- ^ Graham, Mark. "Thomas John Jones". MUFCInfo.com. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
- ^ "Tranmere Rovers Managers Since 1912". Tranmere Rovers FC. 12 May 2010. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
- ^ "Tommy Jones". Managers. Workipedia. Retrieved 18 December 2010. [dead link]
- ^ "Bill Shankly". Managers. Workipedia. Retrieved 18 December 2010. [dead link]