Leslie Jones (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Leslie Jenkin Jones was a Welsh
professional footballer
, as a youngster Jones began his career at his local side Aberdare Athletic
, while also working at his fathers butchers shop, before signing for Cardiff City
in 1929, He made his debut in a 1-0 defeat during a South Wales derby
against Swansea Town
. Despite Cardiff struggling and falling down the league during his time there he scored 31 goals in 142 league games. He eventually moved to Coventry City
in January 1934 and went on to score 27 goals in his first full season for the club, which earned him the first of his eleven caps for Wales
. His impressive scoring record at Highfield Road
- seventy goals in 138 games - meant Jones attracted interest from various clubs and Coventry managed to resist a £7,000 offer from Tottenham Hotspur
but couldn't resist an even higher offer from Arsenal
in 1937.
Jones made his Arsenal debut against Grimsby Town
on 6 November 1937, scoring in a 2-1 defeat, and he helped the club to a league title in the 1937-38
season; Jones played as a withdrawn inside forward
for Arsenal and consequently scored fewer goals – just three in 31 appearances that season. He won a Charity Shield medal the following season but his career at Arsenal was limited due to the outbreak of World War II
.
During the war he served in the Royal Air Force
but still found time to play 71 wartime games and five wartime internationals for Wales. By the time the war ended, he was 35 and his final game for Arsenal was against West Ham United
in the FA Cup
on 9 January 1946. In total he played 50 times for the club, scoring three goals. In June 1940, he was one of five Arsenal players who guested for Southampton
in a victory over Fulham
at Craven Cottage
.
He was released by Arsenal on a free transfer in 1946 and joined Swansea Town
as a player-coach. His stay at the Vetch Field
was short and he left to take over as player-manager at non-league side Barry Town
before returning to the Football League with his final club, Brighton & Hove Albion
, before retiring.
In June 1950 he was appointed manager of Scunthorpe United
, becoming the clubs first Football League manager and guided them to a twelfth place finish in their first season in the League. Towards the end of the season his relationship with the board detioriated and he resigned at the end of the season.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
professional footballer
Career
Born in AberdareAberdare
Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
, as a youngster Jones began his career at his local side Aberdare Athletic
Aberdare Athletic F.C.
Aberdare Athletic Football Club were a Welsh football club founded in 1893 and based in Aberdare. They joined the Football League in 1921 but were replaced by Torquay United after failing to be re-elected in 1927.-History:...
, while also working at his fathers butchers shop, before signing for Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in 1929, He made his debut in a 1-0 defeat during a South Wales derby
South Wales derby
The South Wales derby is a football local derby between Welsh clubs Cardiff City and Swansea City and is regarded as one of the most fierce rivalries in British football....
against Swansea Town
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
. Despite Cardiff struggling and falling down the league during his time there he scored 31 goals in 142 league games. He eventually moved to Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
in January 1934 and went on to score 27 goals in his first full season for the club, which earned him the first of his eleven caps for 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...
. His impressive scoring record at Highfield Road
Highfield Road
The Highfield Road Stadium was a football stadium in the city of Coventry, England. It was the home ground for Coventry City F.C. until the club moved to the new Ricoh Arena after the 2005-06 season...
- seventy goals in 138 games - meant Jones attracted interest from various clubs and Coventry managed to resist a £7,000 offer from Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
but couldn't resist an even higher offer from Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in 1937.
Jones made his Arsenal debut against Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
on 6 November 1937, scoring in a 2-1 defeat, and he helped the club to a league title in the 1937-38
1937-38 in English football
The 1937–38 season was the 63rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season is notable as the reigning champions Manchester City became the only team to have won the League title one season then been relegated the next.-Honours:...
season; Jones played as a withdrawn 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...
for Arsenal and consequently scored fewer goals – just three in 31 appearances that season. He won a Charity Shield medal the following season but his career at Arsenal was limited due to the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
During the war he served in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
but still found time to play 71 wartime games and five wartime internationals for Wales. By the time the war ended, he was 35 and his final game for Arsenal was against West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
on 9 January 1946. In total he played 50 times for the club, scoring three goals. In June 1940, he was one of five Arsenal players who guested for Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in a victory over Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
.
He was released by Arsenal on a free transfer in 1946 and joined Swansea Town
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
as a player-coach. His stay at the Vetch Field
Vetch Field
The Vetch Field was a multi-purpose stadium in Swansea, Wales. It was used mostly for football matches and was the home ground of Swansea City until the Liberty Stadium opened in 2005. Opened in 1912, the ground held around 12,000 at the time of its closure, but upwards of 30,000 at its peak...
was short and he left to take over as player-manager at non-league side Barry Town
Barry Town F.C.
Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...
before returning to the Football League with his final club, Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
, before retiring.
In June 1950 he was appointed manager of Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
, becoming the clubs first Football League manager and guided them to a twelfth place finish in their first season in the League. Towards the end of the season his relationship with the board detioriated and he resigned at the end of the season.