Jones Tommy Image 2 Tranmere Rovers 1927

Description

Born in Tonypandy, Rhondda, winger Tommy Jones began his football career with junior club Pandy All Blacks in 1924 and Mid Rhondda United in 1925, before joining Third Division (North) Tranmere Rovers in February 1926, making his Football League debut against Ashington that December, scoring in a 2-1 victory. He soon became a regular member of the Rovers team,  and after three seasons with the Wirral club, Jones left Tranmere he was signed by League Champions Sheffield Wednesday in June 1929 for a “substantial fee”, having made 28 goals in 92 appearances.

Jones’ debut for Wednesday, a 3-1 away win over Liverpool on 5 April 1930, was his only appearance for the club in his first season with them. With Mark Hooper well established as the first-choice at outside-right, the 1930-31 season also saw Jones only make one appearance, scoring Wednesday’s only goal in a 4-1 away defeat to Manchester United. The season resulted in the first of three consecutive third-place finishes for Wednesday, the second of which saw Jones score four goals in 11 appearances, before scoring one more goal in 10 appearances in 1932-33. The 1933-34 season was much less successful for the Owls, as they finished the season in 11th place in the First Division; however Jones made just six appearances, and failed to get on the scoresheet.

Jones signed for Manchester United in June 1934 after 6 goals in 29 appearances for The Owls and his debut came at home to Bradford City on 25 August 1934 in a 2-0 win to United, both goals being scored by Tom Manley. Jones scored four goals in 22 appearances for United that season, before being sold to Watford for £1500 in May 1935. At Vicarage Road, he became a popular figure with the fans and he remained with Watford until the outbreak of the Second World War (during which he guested for Arsenal), and indeed returned to Watford after the War playing 5 FA Cup ties in the 1945-46 season, after which he signed for Guildford City in June 1946, already nearly 38, after 27 goals in 140 appearances for The Hornets.

Later in 1946 he returned to Tranmere Rovers spending 6 seasons as trainer and coach, also acting as caretaker manager for one match in 1946, before joining Workington in the same role in 1953, becoming their caretaker manager from September 1953 to January 1954, and also from February to June 1957.