Bradley Jones
Encyclopedia
Bradley Scott "Brad" Jones (born 19 March 1982) is an Australia
n football (soccer) player who plays for Liverpool
as a goalkeeper. He was a member of the Middlesbrough
team for over a decade, and also had a number of loan spells at a succession of lower league clubs; Shelbourne
, Stockport
, Rotherham
, Blackpool
and Sheffield Wednesday
. In August 2010, he made a £2.3m move to Liverpool. In March 2011, after only two games for the Reds, he joined Derby on loan until the end of the season.
, Perth, Western Australia
to an English father. Jones signed for Bayswater City SC
in Western Australia.
, and signed a professional
contract in March 1999. He made his first team debut in the FA Cup
third round against Notts County
in 2004 and later that season won a League Cup
winners medal.
He had loan spells at several clubs; in the 2001–02 season he played two games for Irish club side Shelbourne, He made his début against local rivals Bohemians
at Dalymount Park
and conceded 4 goals in a 6–4 victory one of which was direct from his own goal kick. Later he had loan spells at Stockport County and Blackpool. In the 2005–06 season, playing for Middlesbrough, Jones saved a Ruud van Nistelrooy
penalty which left the match against Manchester United
level at 0–0.
In August 2006, Jones was loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday for a period of three months. He made a somewhat up-and-down start to his loan spell, making some vital saves as well as conceding penalties in successive games against Plymouth Argyle
and Leeds United
. On 21 October, his own fans turned on him and attacked him by throwing coins and other missiles during the home game against Queens Park Rangers
.
With his mentor in Mark Schwarzer
moving to Fulham
, Jones became first choice goalkeeper at Middlesbrough. He picked up an injury in the second game of the 2008–09
season, and subsequently missed the next two games. Jones regained his place in the Middlesbrough first team in January 2009 and remained first choice as Middlesbrough were relegated from the Premier League. Another pre-season injury saw him miss the start of the season but he regained his place after new signing Danny Coyne
conceded 5 against West Bromwich Albion
. He remained in the Boro side for the rest of the season, although they failed to gain promotion from the Championship
.
from the directors' box, along with captain Steven Gerrard
, Emiliano Insua
, Alberto Aquilani
and Dirk Kuyt
. He was handed the number 1 shirt after goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri
left the club on 23 August, ahead of Liverpool's clash with Manchester City.
Jones made his unofficial début in Jamie Carragher
's testimonial against an Everton XI, and impressed with a string of saves. Jones made his debut for Liverpool in the League Cup
3rd Round tie against Northampton Town
on 23 September 2010. The game ended 2-2 after extra time before Liverpool lost on penalties. A couple of weeks later, Jones injured his shoulder
in training, and would be out for up to a month. Reserve goalkeeper Martin Hansen took his place on the bench until Jones was back fit as Liverpool's other backup goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi
was on loan at nearby club Tranmere Rovers. He made his second start for the club on 15 December 2010 in a Europa League game against Utrecht, getting his first clean sheet for the Reds.
Unfortunately for Jones this was to be his last game of the 2010-2011 season.
and went on to concede 16 goals in his 7 games at Derby, including another four against Burnley
(2-4) and three against Norwich City
(2-3). He came in for criticism from Derby manager Nigel Clough
after his mistake let Bristol City
take an early lead in Derby's final home game of the season, in a match the club eventually lost 2-0. It turned out to be Jones' last Derby game He was an unused substitute in Derby's 2-1 defeat at Reading
on the last day of the Championship season before returning to Liverpool, after being replaced by academy goalkeeper Ross Atkins
.
in a friendly match. He made his first senior international start on 2 June 2007 against Uruguay
. He was part of Australia's début campaign in the 2007 Asian Cup, but he did not feature in any of their matches. Additionally, he was selected as one of the three goalkeepers in Australia's final 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
, but he left the squad to return to his family following news of his son being diagnosed with leukemia
, and he did not return to the tournament.
Australia:
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n football (soccer) player who plays for Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
as a goalkeeper. He was a member of the Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
team for over a decade, and also had a number of loan spells at a succession of lower league clubs; Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
, Stockport
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, Rotherham
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
, Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
and Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. In August 2010, he made a £2.3m move to Liverpool. In March 2011, after only two games for the Reds, he joined Derby on loan until the end of the season.
Early career
Jones was born in ArmadaleArmadale, Western Australia
Armadale is a suburb within the City of Armadale, located on the south-eastern edge of Perth's metropolitan area. The major junction of the South Western and Albany Highways, which connect Perth with the South West and Great Southern regions of Western Australia respectively, is located within the...
, Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
to an English father. Jones signed for Bayswater City SC
Bayswater City SC
Bayswater City Soccer Club is a football club based in Bayswater, Western Australia. They play in the Football West State League Premier Division.-History:...
in Western Australia.
Middlesbrough
He was then signed by Middlesbrough after he was released by Norwich, playing in their youth systemYouth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
, and signed a professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
contract in March 1999. He made his first team debut in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
third round against Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
in 2004 and later that season won a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
winners medal.
He had loan spells at several clubs; in the 2001–02 season he played two games for Irish club side Shelbourne, He made his début against local rivals Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
and conceded 4 goals in a 6–4 victory one of which was direct from his own goal kick. Later he had loan spells at Stockport County and Blackpool. In the 2005–06 season, playing for Middlesbrough, Jones saved a Ruud van Nistelrooy
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Rutgerus Johannes Martinus "Ruud" van Nistelrooy, , is a Dutch footballer who plays as a striker for Málaga CF in Spain's La Liga. He is the second-highest goalscorer in Champions League history with 60 goals...
penalty which left the match against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
level at 0–0.
In August 2006, Jones was loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday for a period of three months. He made a somewhat up-and-down start to his loan spell, making some vital saves as well as conceding penalties in successive games against Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
and Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
. On 21 October, his own fans turned on him and attacked him by throwing coins and other missiles during the home game against Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
.
With his mentor in Mark Schwarzer
Mark Schwarzer
Mark Schwarzer OAM is an Australian association football player who plays as a goalkeeper. He currently plays for Premier League club Fulham. He rose to prominence during his time at North-East England football club Middlesbrough...
moving to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, Jones became first choice goalkeeper at Middlesbrough. He picked up an injury in the second game of the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season, and subsequently missed the next two games. Jones regained his place in the Middlesbrough first team in January 2009 and remained first choice as Middlesbrough were relegated from the Premier League. Another pre-season injury saw him miss the start of the season but he regained his place after new signing Danny Coyne
Danny Coyne
Daniel "Danny" Coyne is a Wales international footballer who plays for Middlesbrough as a goalkeeper. He has previously played for Tranmere Rovers, Grimsby Town, Leicester City and Burnley.-Tranmere Rovers:...
conceded 5 against West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
. He remained in the Boro side for the rest of the season, although they failed to gain promotion from the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
.
Liverpool
On 17 August 2010, Jones joined Liverpool F.C. in a deal worth £2.3 million. He qualifies as a "home-grown" player under the new Premier League rules. On 19 August, Jones watched Liverpool's UEFA Europa League play-off 1st leg tie at AnfieldAnfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
from the directors' box, along with captain Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard
Steven George Gerrard MBE is an English footballer who plays for and captains Premier League club Liverpool. He also has 89 caps for the England national team. He has played much of his career in a centre midfielder role, but he has also been used as a second striker and right winger...
, Emiliano Insua
Emiliano Insúa
Emiliano Adrián Insúa Zapata is an Argentine football defender who plays for Sporting CP and for the Argentina national team.Insúa is a European Union citizen due to one of his grandparents being a Spanish citizen.-Early career:...
, Alberto Aquilani
Alberto Aquilani
Alberto Aquilani is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Milan on loan from Liverpool. He is also part of the Italian national team. Aquilani is a central midfielder, who can operate in a holding position or an attacking position in the hole behind the strikers...
and Dirk Kuyt
Dirk Kuyt
Dirk Kuyt is a Dutch footballer who plays for English club Liverpool. He started his career as a striker, but he has been converted into a winger and plays the position for both Liverpool and the Netherlands national team....
. He was handed the number 1 shirt after goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri
Diego Cavalieri
Diego Cavalieri is a Brazilian goalkeeper, currently playing for Fluminense. He is of Italian ancestry and holds both an Italian and Brazilian passport.-Palmeiras:...
left the club on 23 August, ahead of Liverpool's clash with Manchester City.
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
Jones made his unofficial début in Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher
James Lee Duncan "Jamie" Carragher is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League side Liverpool...
's testimonial against an Everton XI, and impressed with a string of saves. Jones made his debut for Liverpool in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
3rd Round tie against Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
on 23 September 2010. The game ended 2-2 after extra time before Liverpool lost on penalties. A couple of weeks later, Jones injured his shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
in training, and would be out for up to a month. Reserve goalkeeper Martin Hansen took his place on the bench until Jones was back fit as Liverpool's other backup goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi
Péter Gulácsi
Péter Gulácsi is a Hungarian footballer who plays for Hull City as a goalkeeper, on loan from Liverpool. He was signed by Liverpool on the summer transfer deadline 2008, from MTK, after he had spent the 2007–08 season on loan with the club....
was on loan at nearby club Tranmere Rovers. He made his second start for the club on 15 December 2010 in a Europa League game against Utrecht, getting his first clean sheet for the Reds.
Unfortunately for Jones this was to be his last game of the 2010-2011 season.
Derby County
At the end of March, Jones joined on loan to Derby for the remainder of the 2010-11 season. Jones made his debut in a 4-1 loss to CardiffCardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
and went on to concede 16 goals in his 7 games at Derby, including another four against Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
(2-4) and three against Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
(2-3). He came in for criticism from Derby manager Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough
Nigel Howard Clough is an English former footballer and the current manager of Derby County. Playing predominately as a striker, but later in his career was used as a midfielder, Clough was capped by England 14 times in the early 1990s....
after his mistake let Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
take an early lead in Derby's final home game of the season, in a match the club eventually lost 2-0. It turned out to be Jones' last Derby game He was an unused substitute in Derby's 2-1 defeat at Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
on the last day of the Championship season before returning to Liverpool, after being replaced by academy goalkeeper Ross Atkins
Ross Atkins
Ross Michael Atkins is an English football goalkeeper currently playing for Burton Albion on loan from Derby County.-Club career:...
.
International career
Jones received his first senior international call up on 5 February 2007 to replace Mark SchwarzerMark Schwarzer
Mark Schwarzer OAM is an Australian association football player who plays as a goalkeeper. He currently plays for Premier League club Fulham. He rose to prominence during his time at North-East England football club Middlesbrough...
in a friendly match. He made his first senior international start on 2 June 2007 against Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
. He was part of Australia's début campaign in the 2007 Asian Cup, but he did not feature in any of their matches. Additionally, he was selected as one of the three goalkeepers in Australia's final 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, but he left the squad to return to his family following news of his son being diagnosed with leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
, and he did not return to the tournament.
Personal Life
Jones's six year old son Luca Jones died on 18th November 2011 after a year-long battle with leukaemia. Liverpool's players and staff wore black armbands as a mark of respect in their subsequent 2-1 victory over Chelsea.Honours
Middlesbrough:- UEFA Cup (runners-up): 2005–06
- Football League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
: 2003–04
Australia:
- 2011 Asian Cup (runners-up)