| John Jones | |
| Birth Date: | 1856 |
| Birth Place: | Wrexham, Wales |
| Death Place: | Wrexham, Wales |
| Position: | Left Wing |
| Years1: | 1876–1878 |
| Clubs1: | Druids |
| Years2: | 1878–1879 |
| Clubs2: | Oswestry |
| Years3: | 1879–1885 |
| Clubs3: | Druids |
| Nationalyears1: | 1877 |
| Nationalteam1: | Wales |
| Nationalcaps1: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
John Jones (1856 – 25 April 1899) was a Welsh amateur footballer who spent most of his football career with Druids, and played for the Wales national football team in their first international match in 1876.
Jones worked as a coal-miner at Gwersyllt, near Wrexham and joined the Druids club, based in his home town of Ruabon, in 1875.[1]
In February 1876, he took part in trials organized by Llewelyn Kenrick (one of the founders of the Druids club) to select Welsh players to represent their country in a match against Scotland.[2] The match was played at Hamilton Crescent, Partick, the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club on 25 March 1876, with Jones playing on the left wing.[3] The Welsh were well defeated, conceding four goals without reply.[4]
Jones was known throughout North Wales football circles as "Dirty Jack"; this was not in reference to his occupation but to his style of football. In common with many players of the 1880s, he was a "tough and vigorous opponent who gave no quarter".[1]
Druids reached the final of the inaugural Welsh Cup on 30 March 1878, losing 1–0 to local rivals Wrexham.[5]
In 1878, the Druids disbanded temporarily following the loss of their ground at Plasmadoc, with Jones spending a season playing for Oswestry. By 1879, he was back with Druids with the club again reaching the Welsh Cup final, defeating Ruthin 2–1, with Jones scoring the Druids second goal.[6]
Druids were victorious in the Welsh Cup in the next two seasons, defeating Newtown White Star 2–0 in 1881[7] and Northwich Victoria 5–0 in 1882.[8]
Druids again reached the final in 1883, losing 1–0 to Wrexham.[9] Jones did not feature in the 1884 final, but returned in 1885, now playing in goal[1] as Druids defeated Oswestry White Stars 3–1 in a replay.[10]
Jones lived on Bridge Street, Ruabon and worked for many years as the chief clerk at the Great Western Railway Station.[11]
John Jones died from side effects of typhoid on 25 April 1899.[11]