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David Jones (footballer, born 1984)

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For other people named David Jones, see David Jones (disambiguation).

David Jones
Jones in 2020
Personal information
Full name David Frank Llwyd Jones[1]
Date of birth (1984-11-04) 4 November 1984 (age 39)[1]
Place of birth Southport, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Wrexham (First team coach)
Youth career
1994–1995 Wrexham
1995–2003 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2007 Manchester United 0 (0)
2005–2006 → Preston North End (loan) 24 (3)
2006 → NEC (loan) 17 (6)
2006–2007 → Derby County (loan) 10 (1)
2007–2008 Derby County 32 (6)
2008–2011 Wolverhampton Wanderers 66 (6)
2011–2013 Wigan Athletic 29 (0)
2013 → Blackburn Rovers (loan) 12 (2)
2013–2016 Burnley 124 (2)
2016–2019 Sheffield Wednesday 57 (1)
2019–2020 Oldham Athletic 6 (0)
2021–2022 Wrexham 4 (1)
Total 381 (28)
International career
2004 England U21 1 (0)
Managerial career
2021–2022 Wrexham (player-coach)
2022– Wrexham (first team coach)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:32, 23 April 2023 (UTC)

David Frank Llwyd Jones (born 4 November 1984) is an English professional football coach and former player who is currently the first team coach at Welsh club Wrexham. Jones began his playing career at Manchester United, but struggled to get into the first team and was limited to appearances in the FA Cup and League Cup. He spent loan spells at Preston North End, NEC and Derby County, before joining Derby on a permanent basis in 2007 for a fee of £1 million. However, he left Derby after just one season to join Wolverhampton Wanderers in a deal worth £1.2 million. He spent three years with Wolves before joining Wigan Athletic. At the end of his second season there, he went on a brief loan spell with Blackburn Rovers, before joining Burnley. After three years with Burnley, he left for Sheffield Wednesday, where he spent another three years before being released at the end of the 2018–19 season. He joined Oldham Athletic on a free transfer but was released in January 2020. He was without a club while football was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in August 2021, he signed for Wrexham as a player-coach. In June 2022, he retired from football to become a coach full-time at Wrexham.

Jones represented England at under-21 level, but he also had a parental qualification to play for Wales.

Club career

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Manchester United

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Born in Southport, Jones joined Manchester United in 1995 at the age of 10.[3] He made eight appearances for the under-17 side in the 2000–01 season, and signed as an apprentice on 2 July 2001, before breaking into the Under-19 side in early 2002. He was made captain of the Under-19s at the start of the 2002–03 season, and went on to make 18 appearances, scoring one goal, as the team progressed to the final of the FA Youth Cup in April 2003, where a 2–0 victory over Middlesbrough in the second leg saw him lift the trophy at Old Trafford.

The following season saw Jones promoted to the reserve team, where he established himself as a regular in the heart of midfield. He was named as a substitute for a League Cup tie against West Bromwich Albion in December 2003, but did not feature in the game. In the 2004–05 season, Manchester United introduced a second reserve team to play in the Pontins' Holiday League, in addition to the existing FA Premier Reserve League North side. Jones was named as captain of the latter and also made regular appearances for the former. Jones experienced a great deal of success with the reserve sides, lifting the FA Premier Reserve League North trophy and then captaining the side to victory over Charlton Athletic Reserves (winners of the FAPRL South) to take the national title. He also featured as the reserves secured the Pontins Holiday League title and the Pontins Holiday League Cup, once again acting as captain as Manchester United were narrowly denied a fifth trophy at the hands of Manchester City Reserves in the final of the Manchester Seniors Cup.

Jones was allocated a squad number, 31, during the 2003–04 season and made his senior debut as a late substitute in a 1–0 home win over Arsenal in the League Cup. He made his full team debut in Manchester United's shock 0–0 home draw with non-league Exeter City in the FA Cup third round. Despite these opportunities Jones found it hard to break into the first team ahead of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes and spent much of the remainder of his Manchester United career either in the reserves or out on loan.

Preston North End

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For the 2004–05 season Jones was sent on a season long loan to Football League Championship side Preston North End to gain first-team experience making his debut at Watford on 6 August 2005. Good performances from the bench soon saw him established as first-choice in midfield and he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–0 away win at Ipswich Town on 29 August 2005. Jones played a key role in a long unbeaten run which pushed Preston up into the Championship play-off positions, making 24 appearances, including three as substitute, and scoring 3 goals.

NEC Nijmegen

[edit]

Jones' spell at Preston was followed by joining Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen on a loan deal until the end 2005–06 season. Wearing number five, he again had to spend time on the substitutes bench to begin with, but impressed sufficiently in brief appearances against Ajax and Sparta Rotterdam to be brought on at half-time against ADO Den Haag on 22 January 2006. Jones scored two goals in a 5–0 win to secure a place in the starting line-up for the next game, where he again scored twice, this time to salvage a draw against Willem II. One of those goals was from the penalty spot. He started every game for the rest of the season in a left centre midfield role in NEC's 4–3–3 formation. During a match against Heracles, he scored a goal from 30 yards. In the match against FC Groningen, he again scored a goal from a free kick, just 25 yards out, receiving the Man of the Match award. In the short time he was with NEC Nijmegen, he got himself placed second on their Man of the Year list, with 134 points, thirty points behind talented striker Romano Denneboom. The team ended 10th in 2006 and Jones returned to England having signed a new three-year deal at Manchester United.

Despite his success in the Netherlands, the arrival of £14 million Michael Carrick from Tottenham meant Jones was restricted to appearances in the League Cup. On 15 November 2006, a bid of £1 million from Derby County was accepted. The deal would see Jones initially move on loan to Pride Park until the January transfer window – the first possible opportunity to make the transfer a permanent one. In moving to Derby, Jones would link up once again with Billy Davies, manager of Preston during his loan spell there.[4]

Derby County

[edit]
Jones (7) attempting to tackle West Ham number 14 John Paintsil during his time at Derby County.

Jones' Derby career started promisingly, with the midfielder establishing himself as first choice in midfield and contributing significantly to Derby's push for promotion, including scoring a stoppage-time free-kick in the 1–0 home win against Sheffield Wednesday. Alex Ferguson once remarked that he had sold Jones too cheaply to Derby. However, as the season drew to a close Derby's form took a dip and Jones found himself moving to the fringes of the first team, only appearing as an 87th-minute substitute in the 1–0 victory over West Bromwich Albion in the Championship Playoff Final which promoted Derby to the Premier League.[5]

Despite Derby struggling on their return to the top flight Jones was unable to force himself into the first team on a regular basis, playing only 15 times in the league. He scored the first top flight goal of his career in Derby's 6–1 defeat at Chelsea on 12 March 2008. Jones was in and out of the side under new manager Paul Jewell, although he did make 12 of his 15 appearances that season under Jewell.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

[edit]

Jones signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers of the Championship on 27 June 2008 in a three-year deal for a reported fee of £1.2 million.[6] He made his Wolves debut on the opening day of the 2008–09 season at Plymouth Argyle and scored his first goal in a 5–1 win over Nottingham Forest on 30 August. He became a regular fixture in the first team squad throughout the season until a suspected injury halted his run in early 2009. He returned to the side during the final stages as the club eventually won promotion to the Premier League as champions, Jones' second promotion in three seasons.

Jones' return to the top flight was initially curtailed by several injury setbacks to a troublesome knee problem that had occurred in the previous season.[7] However, he returned to the central midfield in early 2010 at the expense of Nenad Milijaš and scored his first Premier League goal for Wolves when he finished an 18-pass move to defeat Tottenham Hotspur.[8] His performances during the remainder of the season helped the club to survival and saw Jones be offered a new contract.[9] However, Jones rejected a new contract with Wolves, with only 12 months left to run on his existing deal. Despite rejecting a new contract, Jones will continue to give 100 per cent in the upcoming season.[10] After scoring an opener for Wolves in a 2–1 win over Stoke City on the opening day, Jones is still hoping to sign a new contract with the club.[11] Jones scored the fifth goal in the game in a 5–0 win over Doncaster Rovers putting Wolves through to the next round of the FA Cup. Since February 2011, Jones has not featured since early February under McCarthy.

However, Jones failed to agree the terms of a new contract and he instead exited Wolves at the expiry of his deal in May 2011.[12]

Wigan Athletic

[edit]
Jones warming up before the match against Bolton on 15 October 2011.

On 2 August 2011, Jones was signed by Wigan Athletic on a free transfer after impressing on trial during the pre-season.[13] On the opening day of the Premier League season Jones was on the bench for the match against Norwich City, but was not used.[14] He made his Wigan debut on 13 September 2011 as Wigan lost 2–1 to Crystal Palace in the League Cup.[15] He made his league debut after coming on for Jordi Gomez in the 71st minute of a 3–1 loss to Everton on 17 September 2011.[16]

Blackburn Rovers

[edit]

On 2 March 2013, Jones completed an emergency loan move to Blackburn Rovers for the remainder of the season.[17] He made his debut the same day and scored in a 3–2 defeat to Peterborough United.[18] He later thanked Wigan manager Roberto Martínez for allowing him the opportunity to go out on loan.[19]

Burnley

[edit]

After media speculation that Jones would make his loan deal at Ewood Park permanent,[20] it was a surprise to many when Jones began training with Rovers' East Lancashire rivals, Burnley in July 2013. Jones was included in Sean Dyche's squad that embarked on a pre-season training camp in Cork, which included a friendly against Cork City, in which Jones played.[21] Jones played in Burnley's other pre-season victories against Tranmere Rovers, Carlisle United and Sparta Rotterdam and on 1 August 2013, Jones completed a permanent move to Burnley on a free transfer.[22] Jones scored his first goal for Burnley on 6 August in a 4–0 win at York City along with goals from Junior Stanislas, Danny Ings and a first goal for new arrival Scott Arfield. Jones scored his first league goal for the club on 1 March 2014, during a 2–0 win over Derby County.

Sheffield Wednesday

[edit]

On 16 August 2016, Jones joined Championship side Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee.[23] He scored his first goal for Sheffield Wednesday – his first for almost two years – in a 1–1 draw against Sunderland on 16 August 2017.[24]

He was released by Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the 2018–19 season.[25]

Oldham Athletic

[edit]

After his release by Sheffield Wednesday, Jones trained with former employers Burnley but only to keep his fitness levels up while looking for a new club. He joined Oldham Athletic on a free transfer, but would be released only a few months later, having played six games for the club.[26][27]

Wrexham

[edit]

On 17 August 2021, Jones joined Wrexham as a player-coach after a successful trial.[28] On 1 June 2022, after his contract as a player-coach ended, Wrexham offered Jones the opportunity to continue in his role as the Club's First Team Coach.[29]

Coaching career

[edit]

Jones joined Wrexham on 17 August 2021 joined as a player-coach[28] and a year later was named as reserve team manager.[30] In June 2022 Jones retired as a player and was appointed as Wrexham's First team coach.

International career

[edit]

Jones was called up to the England under-21 squad during the 2003–04 season. Although qualified to play for Wales, Jones opted to play for England at that level and made what was to be his only appearance for the under-21 side in a 2–2 away draw with Sweden on 30 March 2004, coming on as a second-half substitute for Nigel Reo-Coker.

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 4 December 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester United 2003–04[31] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2004–05[32] Premier League 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
2005–06[33] Premier League 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0
2006–07[34] Premier League 0 0 — 2 0 0 0 2 0
Total 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 4 0
Preston North End (loan) 2005–06[33] Championship 24 3 — 1 0 — 25 3
NEC (loan) 2005–06[35] Eredivisie 17 6 — — 0 0 17 6
Derby County 2006–07[34] Championship 28 6 2 0 — 2[a] 0 32 6
2007–08[36] Premier League 14 1 0 0 1 0 — 15 1
Total 42 7 2 0 1 0 2 0 47 7
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2008–09[37] Championship 34 4 2 0 1 0 — 37 4
2009–10[38] Premier League 20 1 2 1 2 0 — 24 2
2010–11[39] Premier League 12 1 2 1 1 0 — 15 2
Total 66 6 6 2 4 0 — 76 8
Wigan Athletic 2011–12[40] Premier League 16 0 0 0 1 0 — 17 0
2012–13[41] Premier League 13 0 2 0 3 0 — 18 0
Total 29 0 2 0 4 0 — 35 0
Blackburn Rovers (loan) 2012–13[41] Championship 12 2 — — — 12 2
Burnley 2013–14[42] Championship 46 1 1 0 2 1 — 49 2
2014–15[43] Premier League 36 0 1 0 1 0 — 38 0
2015–16[44] Championship 41 1 2 0 0 0 — 43 1
2016–17[45] Premier League 1 0 — — — 1 0
Total 124 2 4 0 3 1 — 131 3
Sheffield Wednesday 2016–17[45] Championship 29 0 1 0 — 1[a] 0 31 0
2017–18[46] Championship 27 1 5 0 1 0 — 33 1
2018–19[47] Championship 1 0 0 0 1 0 — 2 0
Total 57 1 6 0 2 0 1 0 66 1
Oldham Athletic 2019–20[27] League Two 6 0 0 0 — — 6 0
Wrexham 2021–22[48] National League 4 1 0 0 — — 4 1
Career total 381 28 21 2 18 1 3 0 423 31
  1. ^ a b Appearances in Football League Championship play-offs

Honours

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Wolverhampton Wanderers

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  2. ^ "David Jones". Sheffield Wednesday FC. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  3. ^ McKenna, Chris (22 June 2007). "Jones salutes Reds influence". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Rams bag Man Utd midfielder Jones". BBC Sport. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  5. ^ Fletcher, Paul (28 May 2007). "Derby 1–0 West Brom". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  6. ^ "Wolves complete deal for Jones". BBC Sport. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Surgery sidelines Wolves' Jones". BBC Sport. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Wolves' David Jones thrilled with goal against Spurs". BBC Sport. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Jones rewarded with new Wolves deal". Express and Star. Midland News Association. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  10. ^ "Jones rejects new Wolves deal". Sky Sports. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  11. ^ "Jones hopes for Wolves deal". Sky Sports. 16 August 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  12. ^ "Boss's praise for departing Jones". wolves.co.uk. 27 May 2011. Archived from the original on 31 May 2011.
  13. ^ "Latics Sign Dave Jones". wiganlatics.co.uk. Wigan Athletic FC. 2 August 2011. Archived from the original on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  14. ^ "Match Report: Wigan 1 – 1 Norwich City". 13 August 2011.
  15. ^ "Crystal Palace 2 – 1 Wigan". BBC. 13 September 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  16. ^ "Everton 3 – 1 Wigan". BBC. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Wigan's David Jones joins Blackburn on emergency loan". BBC Sport. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  18. ^ "Blackburn 2-3 Peterborough". BBC Sport. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  19. ^ "Blackburn: Wigan's David Jones thanks Roberto Martinez for move". BBC Sport. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  20. ^ "Blackburn Hoping to Land David Jones on Permanent Deal". Sky Sports. 8 June 2013.
  21. ^ "David Jones appears in Burnley friendly win at Cork City". BBC Sport. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  22. ^ "David Jones: Burnley sign midfielder on free transfer". BBC Sport. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  23. ^ "Owls sign David Jones". Sheffield Wednesday Official Site. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  24. ^ "Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Sunderland". BBC Sport. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  25. ^ "Sheffield Wednesday: George Boyd & Gary Hooper among six players released". BBC Sport. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  26. ^ "David Jones Departs". Oldham Athletic. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  27. ^ a b "Games played by David Jones in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  28. ^ a b "Experienced midfielder David Jones joins Wrexham as player-coach". Wrexham AFC. 17 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  29. ^ "Wrexham AFC retained list". www.wrexhamafc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  30. ^ "Club to enter Reserve team into Central League".
  31. ^ "Games played by David Jones in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  32. ^ "Games played by David Jones in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  33. ^ a b "Games played by David Jones in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  34. ^ a b "Games played by David Jones in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  35. ^ "Games played by David Jones in 2005/2006 for NEC". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  36. ^ "Games played by David Jones in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  37. ^ "Games played by David Jones in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  38. ^ "Games played by David Jones in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  39. ^ "Games played by David Jones in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  40. ^ "Games played by David Jones in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  41. ^ a b "Games played by David Jones in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  42. ^ "Games played by David Jones in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  43. ^ "Games played by David Jones in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  44. ^ "Games played by David Jones in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  45. ^ a b "Games played by David Jones in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  46. ^ "Games played by David Jones in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  47. ^ "Games played by David Jones in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  48. ^ "David Jones | Football Stats | No Club | Season 2021/2022 | 2003-2022 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  49. ^ Bostock, Adam (4 May 2010). "De Laet's delight". ManUtd.com. Manchester United Football Club. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
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