Dan Jones (footballer, born 1994)

Dan Jones was born on 14 December 1994 in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.[3] He spent four years in the academy at Sunderland, before he started his career in Hartlepool United's youth system and established himself in the youth team in the 2012–13 season.[5][6] He was offered his first professional contract in April 2013.[7] Jones's progress was hampered after a knee injury in October 2013 which saw him ruled out for two months with a meniscus tear.[8] He made his first-team debut at Hartlepool's Victoria Park on 25 March 2014, coming on as a 65th-minute substitute in a 4–2 defeat to Mansfield Town.[9] He signed a new contract of undisclosed length with Hartlepool two months later.[10]

Having failed to play again under Colin Cooper's stewardship, Jones came into first-team contention during Sam Collins's caretaker spell.[11] On 7 October 2014, he made his first start in a 2–1 home defeat to Sheffield United in the Football League Trophy.[12] He was initially dropped to the bench by new permanent manager Paul Murray, who lasted six weeks in the role, before Jones established himself in defence following the appointment of Ronnie Moore in December.[13][14] He went on to start 23 League Two games primarily as a left-sided centre-half in the 2014–15 campaign, helping United to avoid relegation out of the Football League, and signed another new contract of undisclosed length in the summer.[14][15][16] He made 12 appearances in the 2015–16 season.[17] On 10 May 2016, Jones was released by Hartlepool; manager Craig Hignett said that "It might be the best thing that’s happened to him because Dan has got everything, but, for one reason or another, it hasn’t really clicked for him".[18][19]

Jones signed a one-year contract with newly-promoted League Two club Grimsby Town on 24 June 2016.[20] According to the Grimsby Telegraph, manager Paul Hurst saw him as "one for the future upon his arrival at Blundell Park".[21] He joined National League club Gateshead on a one-month loan on 7 October 2016.[22] Jones featured in three league games at the Gateshead International Stadium, but "Tynesiders" boss Neil Aspin said that "if Grimsby decide to loan him out again then he will be somebody we consider".[23] Jones instead joined National League North leaders AFC Fylde on a one-month loan, starting on 10 February 2017.[24] Dave Challinor, manager of the "Coasters", tried to extend the loan to keep Jones at Mill Farm, but his request was denied by Grimsby.[25] Upon returning to Grimsby, new manager Marcus Bignot said that "Dan is back with us now and is going to be important for us moving forward".[26] However Bignot was sacked three weeks later and, having made five appearances for Grimsby in the 2016–17 season,[27] Jones was released by new manager Russell Slade in May 2017.[28][29]

On 22 June 2017, Jones signed a one-year contract, with the option of another year, at National League club Barrow.[30] Speaking six days later, manager Paul Cox said that he had missed out on a number of other targets and that the transfer market was “the hardest in a number of years”.[31] Jones scored his first career goal on his Barrow debut in a 2–1 defeat away to Dagenham & Redbridge on 5 August.[16] It proved to be a difficult campaign however, with Cox leaving the club in August, and his replacement – Micky Moore – was sacked after three months despite being publicly backed in the media by Jones.[32] Jones missed a month of action with a knee injury, but the North-West Evening Mail reported that he had impressed new manager Adrian Pennock with his work rate on the sidelines.[33] He ended the 2017–18 season with three goals in 35 appearances as the Barrow finished one points above the relegation zone.[16] The following season Jones was named in the National League Team of the Year for the 2018–19 season despite Barrow finishing in tenth-place.[34]

On 5 June 2019, Jones joined newly promoted League Two club Salford City on a two-year contract.[35] However he struggled to break into Graham Alexander's first-team plans, with Ibou Touray preferred at left-back, and was limited to three league games.[36][37] On 10 February 2020, he rejoined Barrow on loan until the end of the 2019–20 season.[38] Barrow manager Ian Evatt stated that Jones would provide fresh competition for a team aiming to win the league and that he would provide cover for the centre-back position with Josh Granite out injured.[39] He was limited to four appearances during his second spell at Holker Street however, as due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England the season was curtailed on 16 March, and Barrow were promoted as league winners on a points-per-game basis.[40]

He joined fellow League Two side Harrogate Town on a season-long loan in September 2020.[41] He scored his first goal for Harrogate in an EFL Trophy tie against Leicester City U21s on 6 October.[42] However he missed three months after picking up a groin injury in training towards the end of November.[43] He scored his first Football League goal on 13 April, in a 2–2 draw with Leyton Orient at Wetherby Road, and was praised by manager Simon Weaver after the game.[44] He played for Harrogate at Wembley Stadium in the 2020 FA Trophy final, which had been delayed from the previous season due to the pandemic; Harrogate won the game 1–0, though Jones was substituted on 62 minutes after being shown a yellow card.[45] Jones did not play a first-team game for Salford during the 2020–21 season and left Moor Lane after not being offered a new contract by new manager Gary Bowyer.[46]

Jones playing for Port Vale (August 2022)

On 10 June 2021, he reached an agreement to join League Two club Port Vale on a two-year contract, with manager Darrell Clarke commenting that "I've always liked Dan to be honest ... he'll give us options in a number of positions defensively".[47] He played at left-back, right-back and centre-back in the opening three games of the 2021–22 season.[48] He played the first 21 league games of the season before being suspended for three games after picking up a straight red card for a foul on Oli Cooper in a 2–1 defeat at Newport County on 11 December.[49][50] He was then sidelined with a hamstring injury he picked up in training and featured for just 27 minutes in the second half of the campaign as the team secured promotion out of the play-offs.[51][52]

Jones made his first league start of 2022 and his first ever game at League One level in September, having rebuilt his fitness during the 2022–23 pre-season.[53] He replaced Connor Hall at centre-back follow a loss in form for Hall, though Jones dropped back to the bench the following month.[54] He played across the back five as the season progressed, winning the supporters' Player of the Match award playing in the centre of the back three in a 1–0 home win over Charlton Athletic on 19 November.[55] He went on to be named as the club's Player of the Month in a fan vote.[56] He picked up an ankle injury in February, which required surgery and saw him sidelined for the rest of the campaign.[57] Clarke praised Jones for his 30 appearances throughout the season, saying he had been a "model of consistency".[58] Jones signed a new two-year deal in May 2023; David Flitcroft, the club's director of football, said that "all his stats and data are on an upward trajectory... he is one of the top performers physically".[59] Jones stated that new manager Andy Crosby's accessibility and knowledge were key factors in his decision to sign a new deal.[60]

Jones was absent for much of the start of the 2023–24 season after suffering with illness and issues with his glutes.[61]