Mick Jones (footballer born 1947)
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mick" Jones is a former footballer and is a coach who is employed by Queens Park Rangers
as assistant manager to Neil Warnock
.
, then managed by Brian Clough
, and moved on to Notts County
in 1969. Having played a key part in County's promotions in 1971 and 1973 he then moved on to Peterborough United
later that year and helped the club to the Division Four championship in his first season, before leaving the country.
, initially as player-manager.
A successful spell at Kettering saw them in the FA Trophy
final in 1979 and after losing the final to Stafford Rangers
, he had his first taste of league management at Mansfield Town
. Jones spent two seasons at Mansfield before joining his former team mate Roy McFarland
at Bradford City
as assistant manager.
After a brief spell at Derby County together the two men went their separate ways, and after Jones had two years in charge of Halifax Town
he then joined Peterborough, initially as Noel Cantwell
's assistant, before taking over as manager in 1988.
It was at Peterborough that Jones met Neil Warnock
who he would go on to assist at Notts County
from 1989 to 1993, and Huddersfield Town
from 1993 to 1995, before joining Plymouth Argyle
in 1995, once again as Warnock's assistant. After Warnock left Argyle in 1997 Jones had a short, unsuccessful spell as manager at Home Park
and on being dismissed in 1998 had a spell managing the Brunei
national team, performing an amazing feat in getting the tiny Borneo
province to their first ever Malaysia Cup
final in 1999, beating Sarawak
by two goals to one to collect the trophy.
Jones remained with Brunei until 2002, returning to England for spells as assistant manager at Nuneaton Borough, and then manager of Telford United
before financial problems led to the collapse of the club.
In 2005, Jones resumed his partnership with Warnock at Sheffield United
. The club were promoted to the Premiership at the end of Jones' first season at the Blades, but were relegated again twelve months later, with both Warnock and Jones stepping down.
After this the two men spent a short period out of football before joining Crystal Palace
in October 2007, with the Eagles turning from relegation battlers to play-off semi-finalists under Warnock and Jones' stewardship.
On 1 March 2010 Jones joined Neil Warnock
at London rivals Queens Park Rangers
, as assistant manager.
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
as assistant manager to Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
.
Playing career
He started his career as a central defender for Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, then managed by Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
, and moved on to Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
in 1969. Having played a key part in County's promotions in 1971 and 1973 he then moved on to Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
later that year and helped the club to the Division Four championship in his first season, before leaving the country.
Management
Jones spent a brief spell as player-coach at now defunct Canadian outfit Ottawa Tigers, before he returned to England in 1976 to fill the manager's role at Kettering TownKettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
, initially as player-manager.
A successful spell at Kettering saw them in the FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
final in 1979 and after losing the final to Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
, he had his first taste of league management at Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
. Jones spent two seasons at Mansfield before joining his former team mate Roy McFarland
Roy McFarland
Roy Leslie McFarland is an English football manager who was also a player, notably at Derby County where he played 434 league games helping him to earn 28 caps for England.-Playing career:...
at Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
as assistant manager.
After a brief spell at Derby County together the two men went their separate ways, and after Jones had two years in charge of Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
he then joined Peterborough, initially as Noel Cantwell
Noel Cantwell
Noel Euchuria Cornelius Cantwell was an Irish cricketer and football player born in County Cork, Irish Free State...
's assistant, before taking over as manager in 1988.
It was at Peterborough that Jones met Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
who he would go on to assist at Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
from 1989 to 1993, and Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
from 1993 to 1995, before joining Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
in 1995, once again as Warnock's assistant. After Warnock left Argyle in 1997 Jones had a short, unsuccessful spell as manager at Home Park
Home Park
Home Park is an all-seater football stadium in the Central Park area of Plymouth, England, and is the home of Football League Two club Plymouth Argyle. The ground, given the nickname the Theatre of Greens by the club's supporters, has been Argyle's permanent residence since 1901...
and on being dismissed in 1998 had a spell managing the Brunei
Brunei M-League Team
The National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam used to enter a team in Malaysian football competitions. The team won the Malaysia Cup in 1999.-History:The Brunei team was formed in 1921 to participate in the Malaysia Cup....
national team, performing an amazing feat in getting the tiny Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
province to their first ever Malaysia Cup
Malaysia Cup
The Malaysia Cup is an annual association football tournament in Malaysia. It is currently the longest-running football competition in Asia...
final in 1999, beating Sarawak
Sarawak FA
The Football Association of Sarawak enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Sarawak...
by two goals to one to collect the trophy.
Jones remained with Brunei until 2002, returning to England for spells as assistant manager at Nuneaton Borough, and then manager of Telford United
Telford United F.C.
Telford United F.C. was an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire.The club existed under various names for a total of 132 years from its formation in 1872. The club was founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and played at this level for 25 years before being wound up in...
before financial problems led to the collapse of the club.
In 2005, Jones resumed his partnership with Warnock at Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. The club were promoted to the Premiership at the end of Jones' first season at the Blades, but were relegated again twelve months later, with both Warnock and Jones stepping down.
After this the two men spent a short period out of football before joining Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in October 2007, with the Eagles turning from relegation battlers to play-off semi-finalists under Warnock and Jones' stewardship.
On 1 March 2010 Jones joined Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
at London rivals Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, as assistant manager.