Roger Jones (footballer, born 1902) explained

Roger Jones
Fullname:Reginald Jones
Birth Date:1 September 1902
Birth Place:Burslem, England
Death Place:Bradeley, England
Height:[1]
Position:Left-half
Youthclubs1:Middleport
Youthclubs2:Ravensdale
Years1:1923–1937
Clubs1:Port Vale
Caps1:326
Goals1:19
Totalcaps:326
Totalgoals:19

Reginald "Roger" Jones (1 September 1902 – 11 December 1967) was an English footballer who played at left-half for Port Vale from 1923 to 1937. He made 346 appearances, 326 of which came in league games in the Football League. He helped the club to win the Third Division North title in 1929–30.

Career

Jones played for minor non-League sides Middleport and Ravensdale before joining Port Vale in July 1923.[2] He made his Second Division debut in the 1923–24 season, but remained a bit-part player in 1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27, and 1927–28.[2] He scored his first senior goal on 10 March 1928, in a 3–1 win over Southampton at The Dell.[2] He hit four goals in 19 games in 1928–29, including two in an 8–1 demolition of West Bromwich Albion at The Old Recreation Ground on 9 March.[2] Despite this comprehensive victory, Vale lost 17 of their 21 away games and were relegated at the end of the season.[2]

Vale rebounded straight away by winning the Third Division North title in 1929–30, with Jones featuring in 38 league games throughout the campaign.[2] His championship medal was valued at an auction in 2020 at £1,000.[3] The 1930–31 season was the club's most successful in terms of league position, as Vale finished fifth in the Second Division, just three places and seven points short of promotion into the First Division.[2] He struck two goals in 28 games in 1931–32, with both of his goals coming in a 2–2 draw with Millwall at The Den on 3 October.[2]

Jones featured 41 times in 1932–33, 29 times in 1933–34, and 30 times in 1934–35.[2] He scored once in 38 appearances in 1935–36, as the "Valiants" were relegated; Vale had finished just one point behind Barnsley, who avoided the drop.[2] Jones was released at the end of the 1936–37 season.[2] Ironically, he had just posted his most prolific season, scoring nine goals in 39 games, including hat-tricks against Mansfield Town and Halifax Town.[2]

Career statistics

Source:

SeasonClubDivisionLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale1923–24Second Division10100020
1924–25Second Division1102000130
1925–26Second Division80000080
1926–27Second Division70000070
1927–28Second Division81000081
1928–29Second Division1841000194
1929–30Third Division North3803010420
1930–31Second Division4012000421
1931–32Second Division2721000282
1932–33Second Division4011000411
1933–34Second Division2801000290
1934–35Second Division2901000300
1935–36Second Division3513000381
1936–37Third Division North3691020399
Total326191703034619
Career total326191703034619

Honours

Port Vale

1929–30[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: The lure of promotion. Port Vale . Athletic News . Manchester . 13 August 1923 . 6.
  2. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 158. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.
  3. Web site: Medal presented to footballer 90 years ago found at Bishton . hansonsauctioneers.co.uk . 21 July 2020.
  4. Book: Kent, Jeff. The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale. Witan Books. 1990. 124–150. From Glory to Despair (1929–1939). 0-9508981-4-7.