Jon Worthington Explained

Jon Worthington
Fullname:Jonathan Alan Spencer Worthington
Birth Date:16 April 1983
Birth Place:Dewsbury, England
Height:1.73m (05.68feet)[1]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Huddersfield Town (B Team Manager)
Youthyears1:1992–2002
Youthclubs1:Huddersfield Town
Years1:2002–2009
Clubs1:Huddersfield Town
Caps1:213
Goals1:12
Years2:2009
Clubs2:Yeovil Town (loan)
Caps2:9
Goals2:0
Years3:2009–2011
Clubs3:Oldham Athletic
Caps3:16
Goals3:0
Years4:2010–2011
Clubs4:Fleetwood Town (loan)
Caps4:3
Goals4:0
Years5:2011
Clubs5:Bradford City (loan)
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years6:2011
Clubs6:Bradford City
Caps6:15
Goals6:0
Years7:2011
Clubs7:Mansfield Town
Caps7:17
Goals7:0
Years8:2012–2014
Clubs8:FC Halifax Town
Caps8:35
Goals8:7
Totalcaps:309
Totalgoals:19
Manageryears1:2024
Managerclubs1:Huddersfield Town (caretaker)

Jonathan Alan Spencer Worthington (born 16 April 1983) is an English professional football coach and former player who coaches Championship club Huddersfield Town's under-19 and B Teams. He was interim manager of the side in 2024.[2]

Worthington previously played in the Football League for Huddersfield Town, Yeovil Town, Oldham Athletic and Bradford City and in the Conference for Fleetwood Town, Mansfield Town and FC Halifax Town. After retiring, Worthington worked as a physiotherapist at Halifax Town, before rejoining Huddersfield. Initially a physio in the club's academy, he subsequently became a youth team coach for the club.

Playing career

Huddersfield Town

Born in nearby Dewsbury,[1] Worthington began playing for Huddersfield Town at the age of nine, eventually moving through the club's youth academy and into the first team. He primarily plays as a hard tackling central midfielder. Many Terriers fans regarded Worthington as being the main lynchpin of the Town midfield. Other midfielders have attempted to fill that role such as Michael Collins, Andy Holdsworth, Adnan Ahmed, Mark Hudson and loan signing Ronnie Wallwork, but fans felt that the Town midfield four was incomplete without Worthington in the middle.

He was made captain in 2004 after previous captain Efe Sodje was stripped of the captaincy after being sent off in a Football League Trophy match against Blackpool which Town lost 6–3 in extra time. He was given the captaincy over Nathan Clarke who was named vice-captain.

Worthington picked up 16 yellow cards in the 2005–06 season. Another other low point was that through injury he missed Huddersfield Town's high-profile FA Cup tie against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2008.

Following Andy Ritchie's departure as manager of the Terriers in 2008, Worthington was relieved of his captaincy duties by caretaker manager Gerry Murphy, so he could focus on his playing duties. The captaincy was taken up by Rob Page.

Yeovil Town

After being out of new manager Lee Clark's plans, Worthington moved on loan to Yeovil Town on 30 January 2009. He made his debut the following day in the 1–0 win over Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road. His loan was extended by another month on 3 March, following impressive displays under new player-manager Terry Skiverton. He was recalled on 26 March. However, it was revealed on 17 April, that manager Lee Clark did not see Worthington in his future plans and said he was not going to offer him a new contract.

Oldham Athletic

On 26 May 2009, he joined Oldham Athletic, becoming Dave Penney's second new signing after Rob Purdie.

In July 2010 he was transfer-listed by the club, along with five other first team players.[3] He joined Fleetwood Town on loan on 18 November 2010 returning on 2 January 2011.[4] On 25 January 2011, he joined Bradford City on a one-month emergency loan deal.[5] He was recalled by Oldham after one match and released by the club on 27 January 2011 allowing him to seek another club before the closure of the winter transfer window..[6] He then signed for Bradford on a permanent basis, signing a four-month contract.[7]

Mansfield Town

In June 2011, it was announced that Worthington had joined Conference Premier side Mansfield Town on a one-year deal[8]

FC Halifax Town

In July 2012, he joined FC Halifax Town on a one-year deal.[9] Worthington was played in a more attacking role at Halifax than he had been used to previously in his career, but he had great success including two goals against Abbey Hey in the FA Cup in a 6–0 victory. Worthington also bagged a goal from the edge of the box on Boxing Day 2012 against Gainsborough Trinity. In January 2013, Worthington suffered an injury against Solihull Moors after going in for a challenge which won The Shaymen a penalty. He made his return against Droylsden in February and scored a goal in the 6–0 victory over The Bloods.

Coaching career

In the summer of 2014, Worthington was appointed as player-physiotherapist at FC Halifax Town.[10]

After retiring from playing at the end of the 2014–15 season, Worthington returned to Huddersfield Town as academy physio.[11] Having spent four years as a physio in the Huddersfield academy, in June 2019 Worthington was appointed the club's new under-17 coach.[12] The following year, Worthington was promoted to under-19 coach.[13] In January 2021, he took on the additional role of B Team coach.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Huddersfield Town2002–03Second Division220100000230
2003–04Third Division393102040463
2004–05League One393101010423
2005–06League One414201031475
2006–07League One282100010302
2007–08League One250101000270
2008–09League One190002110221
Total21312707110123714
Yeovil Town (loan)2008–09League One9090
Oldham Athletic2009–10League One160001000170
2010–11League One0000000000
Total160001000170
Fleetwood Town (loan)2010–11Conference Premier3030
Bradford City2010–11[14] League Two160160
Mansfield Town2011–12Conference Premier1700000170
FC Halifax Town2012–13Conference North2565340349
2013–14Conference Premier1011010121
2014–15Conference Premier00001010
Total35763604810
Career total309191338116134624

Personal life

Worthington studied at the University of Salford for a degree in Physiotherapy, graduating in 2015.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: J. Worthington: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 1 January 2021.
  2. Web site: Threlfall-Sykes. David. 5 January 2021. JON WORTHINGTON STEPS INTO B TEAM ROLE. 6 January 2021. htafc.com. en-gb.
  3. News: Transfer-listed Players . Oldham Athletic AFC . 2010-07-26 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100728010640/http://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/page/NewsUpdate/0%2C%2C10337~2102116%2C00.html . 28 July 2010 .
  4. News: Worthington back home . Oldham Athletic AFC . 5 January 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120905185617/http://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/page/NewsUpdate/0%2C%2C10337~2258547%2C00.html . 5 September 2012 .
  5. News: Wothington leaves on loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 25 January 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120908093438/http://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/page/NewsUpdate/0%2C%2C10337~2276151%2C00.html . 8 September 2012 .
  6. News: Wothington contract terminated. Oldham Athletic AFC. 27 January 2011. 27 January 2011.
  7. News: Worthington deal made permanent . Bradford City AFC . 27 January 2011 . 27 January 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110129012203/http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10266~2277516%2C00.html . 29 January 2011 .
  8. News: Worthington puts pen to paper . Mansfield Town FC . 20 June 2011 . 20 June 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120612040636/http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10325~2379289%2C00.html . 12 June 2012 .
  9. Web site: Shaymen Make Double Swoop. NonLeagueDaily.com. 5 July 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131231001508/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?&newsmode=FULL&nid=86003. 31 December 2013.
  10. Web site: Former Huddersfield Town captain Jon Worthington named FC Halifax Town's club physio for season ahead . Booth . Mel . YorkshireLive . Reach plc . 1 July 2014 . 1 January 2021 .
  11. Web site: Former Huddersfield Town skipper Jon Worthington back on familiar turf . Thomson . Doug . YorkshireLive . Reach plc . 30 June 2015 . 1 January 2021 .
  12. Web site: Jon Worthington becomes under-17 coach . htafc.com . Huddersfield Town A.F.C. . 13 June 2019 . 1 January 2021 .
  13. Web site: Jon Worthington – Coaching – Academy Staff . htafc.com . Huddersfield Town A.F.C. . 1 January 2021 .
  14. Worthington made one appearance for Bradford City on loan from Oldham Athletic before signing permanently in the January transfer window.
  15. News: PFA members graduate from the University of Salford . Professional Footballer's Association. 14 July 2015. 3 September 2015.