George Jones (footballer born 1918)
Encyclopedia
George Henry Jones was an English
football
player who played for Sheffield United between 1935-1950 in the position of Winger.
Jones was born in Sheffield
, and was one of the many players who lost the best years of their football careers to World War II
.
As a junior he played for Sheffield and Yorkshire Boys and, regularly turned out for Woodburn Alliance. He signed amateur forms for Sheffield United, and became a professional on his 17th birthday.
His debut in United colours was in a Central League
debut against Leeds United at Elland Road
, on a September evening in 1935. His first team debut was against West Ham United
at Bramall Lane
on 14 September 1936. He scored his first goal the following month against Rotherham United
in a County Cup
match at Bramall Lane on 5 October.
George had worked in the Engineering Shop of the English Steel Corporation.
When the World War II broke out in 1939, an uncle who worked at the Short Brothers' aircraft factory at Rochester in Kent
secured him a job there. While based in Rochester he played for the factory side and, later for Aldershot
, sometimes partnering Jimmy Hagan
.
After the War, he returned to Sheffield United and partnered inside-left Jack Pickering
, who could supply the superbly measured passes that a fast direct winger thrives on. Jones was naturally left footed, but could shoot with power with both feet, and was equally at home on the right wing as on the left. His pace as a winger helped supply chances for regular Sheffield United centre forward
Colin Collindridge.
Jones and Collindridge were involved in a thrilling match against Manchester United
at Bramall Lane on 31 January 1948. Jack Smith was injured after only seven minutes, and Collindrige went in goal. Within three minutes Jack Rowley
put Manchester United ahead. Ernest Jackson
missed a penalty
, but two goals by Jones earned Sheffield United a 2-1 victory in front of 45,125 spectators.
In the second match of the 1948-49 season
, Jones scored directly from a corner
, the match against Liverpool
at Anfield
ending in a 1-1 draw.
George was transferred to Barnsley
in 1950, and when his playing days were over took a newsagency
in Page Hall Road, Sheffield.
He died in 1995.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who played for Sheffield United between 1935-1950 in the position of Winger.
Jones was born in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, and was one of the many players who lost the best years of their football careers to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
As a junior he played for Sheffield and Yorkshire Boys and, regularly turned out for Woodburn Alliance. He signed amateur forms for Sheffield United, and became a professional on his 17th birthday.
His debut in United colours was in a Central League
Central League (football)
The Central League , is a football league in England for reserve teams primarily of Football League clubs in the Midlands and North of England....
debut against Leeds United at Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
, on a September evening in 1935. His first team debut was against 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...
at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
on 14 September 1936. He scored his first goal the following month against Rotherham United
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...
in a County Cup
County cup
County Cups in association football are knockout cup competitions held at a sub-regional level, intended to encourage competitive football at all levels. In English football, County Football Associations host a range of County Cups open to all affiliated members of the County FA...
match at Bramall Lane on 5 October.
George had worked in the Engineering Shop of the English Steel Corporation.
When the World War II broke out in 1939, an uncle who worked at the Short Brothers' aircraft factory at Rochester in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
secured him a job there. While based in Rochester he played for the factory side and, later for Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
, sometimes partnering Jimmy Hagan
Jimmy Hagan
James Hagan was an English football player and manager born in Washington, County Durham, England. He played between 1938 and 1958 for Sheffield United and once for England. As manager he had his greatest successes with S.L...
.
After the War, he returned to Sheffield United and partnered inside-left Jack Pickering
Jack Pickering
John Pickering was an English footballer who played for Sheffield United between 1925 and 1948. He played in the position of Inside-Left....
, who could supply the superbly measured passes that a fast direct winger thrives on. Jones was naturally left footed, but could shoot with power with both feet, and was equally at home on the right wing as on the left. His pace as a winger helped supply chances for regular Sheffield United centre forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
Colin Collindridge.
Jones and Collindridge were involved in a thrilling 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...
at Bramall Lane on 31 January 1948. Jack Smith was injured after only seven minutes, and Collindrige went in goal. Within three minutes Jack Rowley
Jack Rowley
John Frederick "Jack" Rowley was an English football striker from the 1930s to the 1950s, mainly remembered for playing for Manchester United. He was nicknamed "The Gunner" because of his prolific and explosive goalscoring, achieving scoring statistics with United of 208 goals in 422 appearances...
put Manchester United ahead. Ernest Jackson
Ernest Jackson
Ernest Jackson was a former footballer. He played as a right-half.Ernest Jackson joined Sheffield United from local amateur side Atlas & Norfolk F.C in 1932...
missed a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
, but two goals by Jones earned Sheffield United a 2-1 victory in front of 45,125 spectators.
In the second match of the 1948-49 season
1948-49 in English football
The 1948–49 season was the 69th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Portsmouth won the First Division title for the first time with a team of no recognised stars and very few international players. They won the league by five points from Manchester United and Derby...
, Jones scored directly from a corner
Corner kick
A corner kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football. It was first devised in Sheffield under the Sheffield Rules 1867...
, the match against 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...
at Anfield
Anfield
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...
ending in a 1-1 draw.
George was transferred to Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
in 1950, and when his playing days were over took a newsagency
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
in Page Hall Road, Sheffield.
He died in 1995.