David Jones (footballer born 1940)
Encyclopedia
David Willmott Llewellyn Jones (born 9 April 1940) is an English
former professional footballer who scored 72 goals in 184 appearances in the Football League
playing for Crewe Alexandra
, Birmingham City
and Millwall
, where he spent the majority of his career.
, Cheshire
. He began his football career as a youngster with Crewe Alexandra
, and was capped
by England
at youth level. An inside forward
, Jones became Crewe's youngest goalscorer, aged 16 years 144 days, in a match against Gateshead
on 10 September 1956, a record
which as of March 2009 he still holds. At the end of the 1956–57 season, Jones turned professional with First Division
club Birmingham City
. He was integrated gradually into the first team, deputising occasionally for experienced forwards Peter Murphy
and Bryan Orritt
, and had played nine games in the top flight when his progress was disrupted by a leg injury. In December 1959, Jones moved to Millwall
of the Fourth Division
.
His first full season brought Jones 23 goals; in the next, 1961–62, he was Millwall's joint top scorer alongside Peter Burridge
with 22 goals apiece as the club won the Fourth Division title. They promptly sold Burridge, and despite Jones's contributions, two years later they were relegated
back to the Fourth Division. Following their relegation, the size of the squad was halved; Jones was among those cut. After 71 goals in 165 league games, he moved to South Africa
where he played for Johannesburg Rangers.
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...
former professional footballer who scored 72 goals in 184 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
playing for Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
, Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
and Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, where he spent the majority of his career.
Playing career
Jones was born in KingsleyKingsley, Cheshire
Kingsley is a civil parish and a village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is approximately 5 miles south east of the town of Frodsham....
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. He began his football career as a youngster with Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
, and was capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
by 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...
at youth level. An inside forward
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
, Jones became Crewe's youngest goalscorer, aged 16 years 144 days, in a match against Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
on 10 September 1956, a record
Crewe Alexandra F.C. club records
-Club records:The following are club records since its establishment in 1877- Football League record :* 1892 – 1896 Division Two* 1921 – 1958 Division Three * 1958 – 1963 Division Four* 1963 – 1964 Division Three...
which as of March 2009 he still holds. At the end of the 1956–57 season, Jones turned professional with First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
club Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. He was integrated gradually into the first team, deputising occasionally for experienced forwards Peter Murphy
Peter Murphy (footballer born 1922)
Peter Murphy , often referred to as "Spud" Murphy, was an English footballer who played as an inside left. He played professionally for three clubs, Coventry City, Tottenham Hotspur and Birmingham City...
and Bryan Orritt
Bryan Orritt
Bryan Orritt is a Welsh former professional footballer who played as an inside forward or wing half. He made more than 200 appearances in the Football League, and was capped three times for Wales at under-23 level....
, and had played nine games in the top flight when his progress was disrupted by a leg injury. In December 1959, Jones moved to Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
of the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
.
His first full season brought Jones 23 goals; in the next, 1961–62, he was Millwall's joint top scorer alongside Peter Burridge
Peter Burridge
Peter Burridge is an English-born former footballer who played as an inside forward in the 1950s and 1960s.-Playing career:...
with 22 goals apiece as the club won the Fourth Division title. They promptly sold Burridge, and despite Jones's contributions, two years later they were relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
back to the Fourth Division. Following their relegation, the size of the squad was halved; Jones was among those cut. After 71 goals in 165 league games, he moved to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
where he played for Johannesburg Rangers.
Honours
with Millwall- Football League Fourth DivisionFootball League Fourth DivisionThe Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
champions: 1961–62