John Jones (footballer born 1856)
Encyclopedia
John Jones was a Welsh amateur footballer who spent most of his football career with Druids
, and played for the Wales national football team
in their first international match in 1876.
, near Wrexham
and joined the Druids
club, based in his home town of Ruabon
, in 1875.
In February 1876, he took part in trials organized by Llewelyn Kenrick
(one of the founders of the Druids club) to select Welsh players to represent their country in a match against Scotland
. The match
was played at Hamilton Crescent
, Partick
, the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club on 25 March 1876, with Jones playing on the left wing. The Welsh were well defeated, conceding four goals without reply.
Jones was known throughout North Wales football circles as "Dirty Jack"; this was not in reference to his occupation but to his style of football. In common with many players of the 1880s, he was a "tough and vigorous opponent who gave no quarter".
Druids reached the final of the inaugural Welsh Cup
on 30 March 1878, losing 1–0 to local rivals Wrexham.
In 1878, the Druids disbanded temporarily following the loss of their ground at Plasmadoc, with Jones spending a season playing for Oswestry. By 1879, he was back with Druids with the club again reaching the Welsh Cup final, defeating Ruthin 2–1, with Jones scoring the Druids second goal.
Druids were victorious in the Welsh Cup in the next two seasons, defeating Newtown White Star 2–0 in 1881 and Northwich Victoria
5–0 in 1882.
Druids again reached the final in 1883, losing 1–0 to Wrexham. Jones did not feature in the 1884 final, but returned in 1885, now playing in goal as Druids defeated Oswestry White Stars 3–1 in a replay.
Druids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
, and played for the Wales national football team
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...
in their first international match in 1876.
Football career
Jones worked as a coal-miner at GwersylltGwersyllt
Gwersyllt is an urban village and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales....
, near Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
and joined the Druids
Druids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
club, based in his home town of Ruabon
Ruabon
Ruabon is a village and community in the county borough of Wrexham in Wales.More than 80% of the population of 2,400 were born in Wales with 13.6% speaking Welsh....
, in 1875.
In February 1876, he took part in trials organized by Llewelyn Kenrick
Llewelyn Kenrick
Samuel Llewelyn Kenrick was a Welsh solicitor who became the founder of the Football Association of Wales and organised the first Welsh international football match against Scotland in 1876...
(one of the founders of the Druids club) to select Welsh players to represent their country in a match 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...
. The match
Scotland v Wales (1876)
The first international match for the Wales national football team came on 25 March 1876 when they played Scotland at Hamilton Crescent, Partick, the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club, with the Scots claiming an emphatic 4–0 victory...
was played at Hamilton Crescent
Hamilton Crescent
Hamilton Crescent is a cricket ground located in the Partick area of Glasgow, Scotland. It is the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club.Hamilton Crescent is famous for holding the first ever international football match, played between Scotland and England...
, Partick
Partick
Partick is an area of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde, just across from Govan. To the west lies Whiteinch. Partick was a Police burgh from 1852 until 1912 when it was incorporated into the city.-History:...
, the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club on 25 March 1876, with Jones playing on the left wing. The Welsh were well defeated, conceding four goals without reply.
Jones was known throughout North Wales football circles as "Dirty Jack"; this was not in reference to his occupation but to his style of football. In common with many players of the 1880s, he was a "tough and vigorous opponent who gave no quarter".
Druids reached the final of the inaugural Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
on 30 March 1878, losing 1–0 to local rivals Wrexham.
In 1878, the Druids disbanded temporarily following the loss of their ground at Plasmadoc, with Jones spending a season playing for Oswestry. By 1879, he was back with Druids with the club again reaching the Welsh Cup final, defeating Ruthin 2–1, with Jones scoring the Druids second goal.
Druids were victorious in the Welsh Cup in the next two seasons, defeating Newtown White Star 2–0 in 1881 and Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
5–0 in 1882.
Druids again reached the final in 1883, losing 1–0 to Wrexham. Jones did not feature in the 1884 final, but returned in 1885, now playing in goal as Druids defeated Oswestry White Stars 3–1 in a replay.
Honours
DruidsDruids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
- Welsh CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
- Winners: 1880, 1881, 1882 & 1885
- Finalists: 1878 & 1883