Jones Bob Image 2 Bolton Wanderers 1936

Description

Everton, Liverpool born goalkeeper Bob Jones played junior football for Ferndale Athletic in 1923 before joining First Division Everton in 1924 as understudy to Alfie Harland, making his Football League debut at Manchester City that November and playing 3 times in a single season at Goodison Park before joining Southport in the close season of 1925. At Haig Avenue his appearances over the next four seasons were similarly occasional, and he only managed 16 appearances before he was signed by First Division Bolton Wanderers in the midst of the 1929-30 season, making 7 appearances before the season end as Dick Pym’s lengthy Bolton career came towards its end, and in his first full season of 1930-31 he played 37 games as Pym played his final 3 matches.

Despite their relegation in 1933, Jones missed one match during 1934-35 as they both won promotion back to the First Division as Second Division runners up, and made the FA Cup semi final where they lost to eventual runners up 2-0 in a replay at The Victoria Ground. But back in the First Division he faced increasing competition for the gloves from Fred Swift and Stan Hanson, before joining Cardiff City in the summer of 1937 after 244 appearances for The Trotters. He was ever present at Cardiff in 1937-38 but lost his place in November 1938 playing just twice more, and after 65 appearances returned to Southport in the summer of 1939. However before he’d made a further appearance The Second World War intervened and signalled an end to his football career.

NB in the photograph he is pictured with Harry Goslin and George Taylor.