Jones Herbert Image 3 Blackburn Rovers 1930

Description

Blackpool, Lancashire born left back Herbert “Taffy” Jones played for South Shore Strollers before the First World War, during which he was wounded by shrapnel when a shell exploded nearby while serving on The Western Front and subsequently honourably discharged from the Army. As a result of his wartime experiences he became a pacifist and remained so for the rest of his life.

Having recovered and with the War ended, he played for South Shore in 1919 and Fleetwood in 1920 before joining his hometown club, Second Division Blackpool, making his Football League debut in a goalless draw against Hull City at Bloomfield Road on 16th December 1922. He went on to make a further 13 appearances during the 1922-23 campaign, in what was Bill Norman’s final season in charge of The Seasiders.

Under new manager Major Frank Buckley, Jones was a regular starter and Blackpool finished fourth the Division in 1923-24, and when First Division Blackburn Rovers approached Blackpool with a view to signing Jones in January 1926, Blackpool accepted the £6,000 offer, and he moved east across Lancashire after 103 games for The Seasiders.

Jones went on to make 262 appearances for Rovers between 1925 and 1934. He won the FA Cup with the club in 1928 when they beat Huddersfield Town 3-1 in the Final at Wembley, and remained a regular in the side until losing his place in March 1933.

While at Blackburn, Jones won six caps for England, making his international debut in 2-1 victory against Scotland at Hamden Park on 2nd April 1927, winning 3 caps on their 1927 European tour and playing in October 1927 in a defeat to Ireland in Belfast. His final cap was also against the Scots in the infamous (from an England perspective) “Wembley Wizards” defeat on 31st March 1928, and like several of the line up, he wasn’t picked again. He also represented The Football League on three occasions.

After 262 appearances for Blackburn Rovers, Jones joined Brighton & Hove Albion for a season in the 1934 close season, making 43 appearances before he finished his career back on the Fylde with Fleetwood Town, re-joining them in 1935, already aged nearly 40, his final club before his eventual retirement.