William Jones (Welsh footballer born 1876)
Encyclopedia
William James Jones was a Welsh
international footballer who played his club football for Kettering and West Ham United
of the Southern League
. He was killed in action in Macedonia
in the First World War.
, near Aberdare
and started his football career with Aberdare Athletic
in 1898, becoming team captain in 1901. In March 1901, he became the first player from South Wales league football to be selected for Wales
, when he played in the 1–1 draw with Scotland
followed by a 6–0 defeat by England
. (In the latter match, four goals were scored by Steve Bloomer
.)
Described as "a sound tackler who played well within himself" who was "adept at feeding the wingmen", his transfer to Kettering in September 1901 was "much regretted" in his home town. He failed to settle at Kettering and in December he moved to West Ham United
in a swap with Peter Kyle
. He was relatively successful at the East London club, with only two defeats in 15 Southern League
appearances.
In the summer of 1902, he returned to Wales joining Aberaman Athletic
. At the end of his first season there, he helped Aberaman become the first club from South Wales to reach the final of the Welsh Cup
; unfortunately, the final was a one-sided affair with Wrexham winning 8–0. From 1904 to 1906, Jones finished his career at Rogerstone.
, Jones was a member of the Royal Welch Fusiliers
. He was killed in action
and buried at the Doiran Military Cemetery in the north of Greece, near the south-east shore of Lake Doiran.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international footballer who played his club football for Kettering and West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
. He was killed in action in Macedonia
Macedonian front (World War I)
The Macedonian Front resulted from an attempt by the Allied Powers to aid Serbia, in the autumn of 1915, against the combined attack of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria. The expedition came too late and in insufficient force to prevent the fall of Serbia, and was complicated by the internal...
in the First World War.
Football career
Jones was born in the village of PenrhiwceiberPenrhiwceiber
Penrhiwceiber is a former Welsh coal mining village and community deep in the South Wales Valleys of Wales. Penrhiwceiber is situated in the Cynon Valley in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, it lies 1 mile south of the town of Mountain Ash...
, near Aberdare
Aberdare
Aberdare is an industrial town in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Dare and Cynon. The population at the census was 31,705...
and started his football career with Aberdare Athletic
Aberdare Athletic F.C.
Aberdare Athletic Football Club were a Welsh football club founded in 1893 and based in Aberdare. They joined the Football League in 1921 but were replaced by Torquay United after failing to be re-elected in 1927.-History:...
in 1898, becoming team captain in 1901. In March 1901, he became the first player from South Wales league football to be selected for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
, when he played in the 1–1 draw with Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
followed by a 6–0 defeat by England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. (In the latter match, four goals were scored by Steve Bloomer
Steve Bloomer
Steve Bloomer was an English footballer and manager who played for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England during the 1890s and 1900s. Bloomer remains a legend at Derby County and the club anthem, Steve Bloomer's Watchin', is played before every home game...
.)
Described as "a sound tackler who played well within himself" who was "adept at feeding the wingmen", his transfer to Kettering in September 1901 was "much regretted" in his home town. He failed to settle at Kettering and in December he moved to West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in a swap with Peter Kyle
Peter Kyle
Peter Kyle was a Scottish footballer.Born in Rutherglen, Glasgow, Kyle played at centre-forward, first for junior clubs Larkhill and Royal Albert before joining Clyde...
. He was relatively successful at the East London club, with only two defeats in 15 Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
appearances.
In the summer of 1902, he returned to Wales joining Aberaman Athletic
Aberaman Athletic F.C.
Aberaman Athletic Football Club is a Welsh football club that currently play in the Welsh Football League Division One. Their ground is situated on Cardiff Road, Aberdare, between the suburb of Aberaman and the village of Abercwmboi....
. At the end of his first season there, he helped Aberaman become the first club from South Wales to reach the final of the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
; unfortunately, the final was a one-sided affair with Wrexham winning 8–0. From 1904 to 1906, Jones finished his career at Rogerstone.
International appearances
Jones made four appearances for Wales in official international matches, as follows:| Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Goals | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 March 1901 | Racecourse Ground Racecourse Ground The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League... , Wrexham Wrexham Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England... |
1–1 | 0 | 1901 British Home Championship | |
| 18 March 1901 | St James' Park St James' Park St James' Park, known for sponsorship reasons as the Sports Direct Arena, is an all-seater stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the home of Newcastle United Football Club and is the sixth largest football stadium in the United Kingdom with a capacity of between 52,387 and 52,409.St James'... , Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne... |
0–6 | 0 | 1901 British Home Championship | |
| 3 March 1902 | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | 0–0 | 0 | 1902 British Home Championship | |
| 15 March 1902 | Cappielow Park, Greenock Greenock Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland... |
1–5 | 0 | 1902 British Home Championship | |
| Win | Draw | Loss |
Death
In World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Jones was a member of the Royal Welch Fusiliers
Royal Welch Fusiliers
The Royal Welch Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. It was founded in 1689 to oppose James II and the imminent war with France...
. He was killed in action
Killed in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
and buried at the Doiran Military Cemetery in the north of Greece, near the south-east shore of Lake Doiran.
Honours
Aberaman AthleticAberaman Athletic F.C.
Aberaman Athletic Football Club is a Welsh football club that currently play in the Welsh Football League Division One. Their ground is situated on Cardiff Road, Aberdare, between the suburb of Aberaman and the village of Abercwmboi....
- Welsh CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
finalists: 1903