Mark Jones (footballer, born 1984)

Mark Alan Jones (born 15 August 1984) is a retired Welsh footballer.

Mark Jones
Personal information
Date of birth (1984-08-15) 15 August 1984
Place of birth Wrexham, Wales
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2008 Wrexham 128 (22)
2008–2009 Rochdale 9 (0)
2009–2010 Wrexham 34 (4)
2010–2017 Bala Town 188 (29)
2017–2018 Airbus UK 12 (1)
2020– Ruabon Rovers
International career‡
2003–2006 Wales U21 5 (1)
2006–2008 Wales 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:55, 23 May 2018 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:00, 9 October 2009 (UTC)

Club career

Wrexham

He joined Wrexham as a trainee on 1 August 2002. He made his debut on 17 September 2002 in a 4–0 win over Exeter City, but only became an established player two seasons later. He has become particularly popular at the club as one of the most talented local players, and as a scorer of some spectacular long-range goals. Despite being a midfielder, he was one of the club's most regular goalscorers, with a ratio of 0.2 goals per game as of the end of the 2005–06 season.[1]

Following Wrexham's relegation from League Two, Jones, who had already declared his intention to leave the club,[2] was released at the end of the 2007–08 season.[3]

Rochdale

After a successful trial at the club, Rochdale announced on 15 August 2008 that they were seeking international clearance to complete the signing of Jones.[4] On 14 May 2009, it was announced that Mark Jones would leave Rochdale, along with 10 other players, after making 13 appearances for the club in all competitions.[5]

Return to Wrexham

In June 2009, Jones returned to Wrexham, signing a one-year deal.[6] Placed straight into the first-team on his return, Jones scored his first goal since moving back to Wrexham in a 3–0 win over Luton Town on 22 September.[7] At the end of the year, Jones was released by Wrexham for a second time.

Bala Town

Following his release from Wrexham, Jones signed for Welsh Premier League side Bala Town. In doing so he rejected offers from other Conference National sides in order not to move away from his home and also in the hope of enjoying playing football again, stating "I'm not enjoying playing football full-time at all and have not for a few years.[...] I began playing football as a youngster for the love of it, not for money, and I want to feel that way about football again."[8]

Airbus UK Broughton

Jones left Bala in 2017, joining Airbus UK Broughton.[9] In his first season, he made twelve league appearances, scoring once.[10]

Ruabon Rovers

In 2020 he joined North East Wales League team Ruabon Rovers.[11]

International career

As well as making several appearances for Wales under-21s, he has been called up to the senior Wales squad on two occasions. He made his international debut in a friendly against Liechtenstein on 14 November 2006.

Jones was named in the Wales squad ahead of more experienced players, such as Robert Earnshaw, for games against Iceland and the Netherlands in the summer of 2008.

Statistics
Club Performance
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Wrexham 2002–03 1000000010
2003–04 131000021151
2004–05 263201071354
2005–06 42131010124515
2006–07 305202110356
2007–08 160001000170
Subtotal 12822505111414927
Rochdale 2008–09 90300010130
Wrexham 2009–10 344200010374
Total 171 26 10 0 5 1 13 4 199 31

Honours

Wrexham

Individual

References
  1. www.soccerbase.com – The Internet Soccer Database
  2. "Mark Jones: Why I'm leaving Wrexham". Daily Post. 18 April 2008. Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  3. "Axe falls on 14 Wrexham players". BBC Sport. 25 April 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
  4. "Rochdale to finalise Jones deal". BBC Sport. 15 August 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
  5. "Rochdale tell 10 they can leave". BBC Sport. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
  6. "Mark completes Racecourse return". wrexhamafc.co.uk. 12 June 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
  7. "Wrexham 3–0 Luton". BBC Sport. 22 September 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  8. "Ex-Wales midfielder Mark Jones set for Welsh Prem move". BBC Sport. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  9. "Mark Jones signs for the Wingmakers". welsh-premier.com. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  10. "Cymru Alliance appearances 2017–18". Airbus UK Broughton F.C. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  11. https://www.wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk/player.php?id=244
  12. "Southend 0–2 Wrexham". BBC. 10 April 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  13. "Gerrard named player of the year". BBC Sport. 23 April 2006. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  14. "Player of the Season". Welsh Premier League. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  15. "Dream team 2010/11". welsh-premier.com. 3 June 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  16. "Dream team 2011/12". welsh-premier.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  17. "Dream team 2012/13". welsh-premier.com. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.