Alf Jones
Encyclopedia
Alfred Jones was an English
professional footballer who made three appearances as a full back for England
in the 1880s.
and played junior football in the Walsall area before signing with Walsall Swifts, going on to become the club's first player to gain international recognition.
His first cap came on 11 March 1882 against Scotland
. Scotland won the match 5–1, with England's consolation goal coming from Howard Vaughton
. Despite the size of the defeat, Jones was retained in defence for the next international match against Wales
two days later. England were expected to claim a "comfortable victory", but the Welsh side "fought magnificently to secure a 5–3 victory", with Jones scoring an own goal in the 60th minute.
He then had a spell with Great Lever
in Bolton
, during which he collected his third and final England
cap in a 2–3 defeat by Scotland
on 10 March 1883.
He returned to Walsall in the summer of 1883 and two years later he joined Aston Villa
. He also had a spell at Burnley
, and in 1885 when Jones and Scotland
international Alex McLintock
played against a Blackburn Select XI, it was the first time that two international players had appeared in the same Burnley line-up. He later returned to Walsall in 1886 when he joined Walsall Town, who then amalgamated with Walsall Swifts to form Walsall Town Swifts in 1888.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who made three appearances as a full back for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in the 1880s.
Career
Jones was born in WalsallWalsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
and played junior football in the Walsall area before signing with Walsall Swifts, going on to become the club's first player to gain international recognition.
His first cap came on 11 March 1882 against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. Scotland won the match 5–1, with England's consolation goal coming from Howard Vaughton
Howard Vaughton
Oliver Howard Vaughton was an English international footballer who played as an inside left.He played as a forward for Aston Villa before the Football League was formed between 1880 and 1888. He was part of Villa's first FA Cup final victory in 1887...
. Despite the size of the defeat, Jones was retained in defence for the next international match against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
two days later. England were expected to claim a "comfortable victory", but the Welsh side "fought magnificently to secure a 5–3 victory", with Jones scoring an own goal in the 60th minute.
He then had a spell with Great Lever
Great Lever F.C.
Great Lever Football Club were an English football club founded in 1877. The club were based at the Woodside Ground, Great Lever, near Farnworth in Lancashire, within the town of Bolton, England. The club appeared in the F.A...
in Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, during which he collected his third and final England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
cap in a 2–3 defeat by Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
on 10 March 1883.
He returned to Walsall in the summer of 1883 and two years later he joined Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. He also had a spell at Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, and in 1885 when Jones and Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
international Alex McLintock
Alex McLintock
Alexander "Alex" McLintock , also known as Sandy McLintock, was a Scottish international footballer who initially played as a defender, but was used as a goalkeeper in the latter stages of his career. He started his career with Vale of Leven and was a part of the side that won three successive...
played against a Blackburn Select XI, it was the first time that two international players had appeared in the same Burnley line-up. He later returned to Walsall in 1886 when he joined Walsall Town, who then amalgamated with Walsall Swifts to form Walsall Town Swifts in 1888.