:John Jones (footballer, born 1856)
{{short description|Welsh footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = John Jones
|image =
|caption =
|fullname =
|birth_date = 1856
|birth_place = Wrexham, Wales
|death_date = {{death year and age|1899|1856}}
|death_place = Wrexham, Wales
|height =
|position = Left Wing
|youthyears1 =
|youthclubs1 =
|years1 = 1876–1878
|clubs1 = Druids
|caps1 =
|goals1 =
|years2 = 1878–1879
|clubs2 = Oswestry
|caps2 =
|goals2 =
|years3 = 1879–1885
|clubs3 = Druids
|caps3 =
|goals3 =
|totalcaps =
|totalgoals =
|nationalyears1 = 1877
|nationalteam1 = Wales
|nationalcaps1 = 1
|nationalgoals1 = 0
}}
John Jones (1856 – 25 April 1899) 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.
Football career
Jones worked as a coal-miner at Gwersyllt, near Wrexham and joined the Druids club, based in his home town of Ruabon, in 1875.{{cite book |title=Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players |last1=Davies |first1=Gareth |last2=Garland |first2=Ian |year=1991 |publisher=Bridge Books |isbn=1-872424-11-2|page=108}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/welsh_football/index.htm#y1876|title=The Story of Welsh Football |work=1876 Kenrick's Challenge|publisher=www.wrexham.gov.uk|accessdate=22 February 2010}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/welsh_football/1876programme.htm|title=1876 Programme|work=The Story of Welsh Football|publisher=www.wrexham.gov.uk|accessdate=22 February 2010}} The Welsh were well defeated, conceding four goals without reply.{{cite web|url=http://www.wfda.co.uk/international_details.php?id=1|title=Scotland 4 Wales 0 (25 March 1876)|publisher=Welsh Football Data Archive|accessdate=22 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112145200/http://wfda.co.uk/international_details.php?id=1|archive-date=12 January 2017|url-status=dead}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.wfda.co.uk/welshcup_final_detail.php?id=1|title=Wrexham 1 Druids 0 (30 March 1878)|work=Welsh Cup Final|publisher=Welsh Football Data Archive|accessdate=22 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112020204/http://wfda.co.uk/welshcup_final_detail.php?id=1|archive-date=12 January 2017|url-status=dead}}
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, this time emerging victorious against Ruthin 2–1, with Jones scoring Druids' second goal.{{cite web|url=http://www.wfda.co.uk/welshcup_final_detail.php?id=3|title=Druids 2 Ruthin 1 (13 March 1880)|work=Welsh Cup Final|publisher=Welsh Football Data Archive|accessdate=22 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306023143/http://www.wfda.co.uk/welshcup_final_detail.php?id=3|archive-date=6 March 2010|url-status=dead}}
Druids were victorious in the Welsh Cup in the next two seasons, defeating Newtown White Star 2–0 in 1881{{cite web|url=http://www.wfda.co.uk/welshcup_final_detail.php?id=4|title=Druids 2 Newtown White Star 0 (26 March 1881)|work=Welsh Cup Final|publisher=Welsh Football Data Archive|accessdate=22 February 2010|archive-date=6 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306023150/http://www.wfda.co.uk/welshcup_final_detail.php?id=4|url-status=dead}} and Northwich Victoria 5–0 in 1882.{{cite web|url=http://www.wfda.co.uk/welshcup_final_detail.php?id=5|title=Druids 5 Northwich Victoria 0 (8 April 1882)|work=Welsh Cup Final|publisher=Welsh Football Data Archive|accessdate=22 February 2010|archive-date=6 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306023154/http://www.wfda.co.uk/welshcup_final_detail.php?id=5|url-status=dead}}
Druids again reached the final in 1883, losing 1–0 to Wrexham.{{cite web|url=http://www.wfda.co.uk/welshcup_final_detail.php?id=6|title=Wrexham 1 Druids 0 (21 April 1883)|work=Welsh Cup Final|publisher=Welsh Football Data Archive|accessdate=22 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302103725/http://www.wfda.co.uk/welshcup_final_detail.php?id=6|archive-date=2 March 2012|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.wfda.co.uk/welshcup_final_detail.php?id=8|title=Druids 3 Oswestry White Stars 1 (March 1885)|work=Welsh Cup Final|publisher=Welsh Football Data Archive|accessdate=22 February 2010|archive-date=6 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306023422/http://www.wfda.co.uk/welshcup_final_detail.php?id=8|url-status=dead}}
After Football
Jones lived on Bridge Street, Ruabon and worked for many years as the chief clerk at the Great Western Railway Station.{{Cite web|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000496/18990429/061/0008|title=}}
Death
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/North/westminster.htm#Westminster Article on North Wales coal-mines, including Gwersyllt]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, John}}
Category:Footballers from Ruabon
Category:Year of death missing
Category:Welsh men's footballers
Category:Oswestry Town F.C. players
Category:Wales men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards