Jones Abraham England Team Image 1 9th April 1904

Description

Tipton, Staffordshire born centre half Abraham Jones began his football career in Army football while serving with The Cameron Highlanders, before signing for First Division club West Bromwich Albion in 1897, making his Football League debut against Bolton Wanderers the same November, scoring in a 2-0 victory. He immediately became a first team regular, missing only one match for The Baggies in 1898-99, but after Albion’s relegation in 1901, when he was also part of Albion’s FA Cup semi final defeat to eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park, he was signed by Second Division club Middlesbrough after 10 goals in 117 appearances for West Bromwich Albion.

In his first season at Middlesbrough he was an ever present as Middlesbrough won promotion to the First Division, finishing as Second Division runners up. He was a regular for three further seasons as ‘Boro established themselves in the top flight, and he was selected for the England squad that played Scotland in Glasgow in April 1904, although he was a non playing reserve and never won a full international cap. However he lost his place in Middlesbrough’s team in December 1905 and played only once more for ‘Boro the following February before signing for Southern League club Luton Town in the 1906 close season after 9 goals in 149 appearances for Middlesbrough. He played for Luton until his eventual retirement in 1908.

NB Taken outside St Enoch’s Hotel, Glasgow, after the match at Celtic Park, Glasgow on 9th April 1904, which England had won 1-0 with a Steve Bloomer goal, this image includes the following players:

From top left:

Steve Bloomer – Derby County

Abraham Jones – Middlesbrough (reserve)

Bernard Wilkinson – Sheffield United

Alex Leake – Aston Villa

Alf Common – Middlesbrough (reserve)

Fred Blackburn – Blackburn Rovers

Jock Rutherford – Newcastle United

Vivian Woodward – Tottenham Hotspur

Herbert Burgess – Manchester City

Samuel Wolstenholme -Everton

Bob Crompton – Blackburn Rovers (Captain)

Stanley Harris – Old Westminsters & Cambridge University, Corinthians

Tom Baddeley played in goal, but isn’t in the photograph due probably to 2 broken fingers, apparently he needed brandy to help revive him (kill the pain) after the match. Who is the face in the window? We shall never know!