Di Jones

David Jones, known as Di Jones (1867 – 27 August 1902) was a Welsh footballer who played as a full-back for Oswestry, Chirk, Bolton Wanderers and Manchester City in the late 19th century. He also won 14 caps for the Welsh national team.[1]

Di Jones
Di Jones in 1890
Personal information
Full name David Jones
Date of birth 1867
Place of birth Trefonen, Shropshire, England
Date of death 27 August 1902 (aged 34–35)
Place of death England
Position(s) Full back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1882 Oswestry
1883 Chirk
1887 Newton Heath 0 (0)
1888–1898 Bolton Wanderers 228 (4)
1898–1902 Manchester City 114 (1)
National team
1888–1900 Wales 14 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Club career

Jones was born in Trefonen, Shropshire to Lot Jones, a coal miner[2] and labourer.[3] His nephew was the footballer, Lot Jones.

He began his career with Oswestry in 1882 and helped them win the Shropshire Cup.[4][5] Jones moved to Chirk, with whom he won the Welsh Cup in 1887 and 1888, the latter as captain.[6][7] He was then persuaded to join Newton Heath.[1] However, he soon moved on to Bolton Wanderers in March 1888 after just two friendly appearances for the Heathens.[1]

Jones was noted for his strong tackling and ability to kick with either foot, and he was capable of plying in either full–back position, though he normally appeared at left–back.[4]

Di Jones, playing as a full–back, made his League and Bolton Wanderers debut on 22 September 1888 at Deepdale, the home of Preston North End. Bolton Wanderers were defeated by the home team 3–1. Di Jones appeared in 12 of the 22 League matches played by Bolton Wanderers in season 1888–89. Di Jones, as a full–back (12 appearances), played in a Bolton Wanderers defence that kept one clean–sheet and restricted the opposition to one–League–goal–in–a–match twice.[5]

At Bolton, he captained the side in the 1894 FA Cup Final,[6] but finished on the losing side as Notts County defeated Wanderers 4–1. In ten years at Bolton, Jones made a total of 228 appearances and scored four goals, before moving to Manchester City, where his former Chirk teammate Billy Meredith was a player.[1] He made his Manchester City debut against Luton Town on 8 October 1898.[8] In his first season at City the club won promotion to the First Division, the highest level of English football. He scored one goal in 114 appearances for City.

Personal life and death

On 17 August 1902, Jones was playing in a pre-season practice match when he suffered a cut to his knee after falling on a piece of glass.[9] The wound became infected, and Jones died of blood poisoning and lockjaw on 27 August.[10]

International career

Jones made his debut for the Wales national team on 3 March 1888, playing at right-half in an 11–0 victory over Ireland at Wrexham. In a 12-year international career, Jones made a total of 16 appearances, but two, against Canada in 1891, were uncapped. His final Wales appearance came on 26 March 1900, a 1–1 draw with England in which he played at right-back.[11]

References
  1. Shury, Alan; Landamore, Brian (2005). The Definitive Newton Heath F.C. SoccerData. p. 68. ISBN 1-899468-16-1.
  2. British Census 1881 RG11; Piece: 2661; Folio: 85; Page: 18; GSU roll: 1341639.
  3. British Census 1891 RG12; Piece: 2118; Folio: 176; Page: 27; GSU roll: 6097228.
  4. Marland, Simon (2011). Bolton Wanderers The Complete Record. DB Publishing. p. 159. ISBN 978 1 85983 972 0.
  5. "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 2018-01-01. (registration & fee required)
  6. Ward, Andrew (1984). The Manchester City Story. Derby: Breedon. p. 9. ISBN 0-907969-05-4.
  7. "Welsh Cup Final 1886/87". Welsh Football Data Archive. Archived from the original on 17 May 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
  8. James, Gary (2006). Manchester City - The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon. p. 282. ISBN 1-85983-512-0.
  9. James, Gary (2008). Manchester – A Football History. Halifax: James Ward. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-9558127-0-5.
  10. Manchester Courier (28 August 1902). "The Death Of Di Jones". Manchester Courier, & Lancashire General Advertiser – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. Davies, Gareth (1995). Robinson, Michael (ed.). Soccer: The International Line-ups & Statistics Series – Wales 1876-1960. Cleethorpes: Soccer Book Publishing. pp. 8–16. ISBN 0-947808-66-3.
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