Players - Bill Jones

Bill Jones
Birthdate: 13 May 1921
Birthplace: Whaley Bridge, England
Date of death: 26 December 2010
Other clubs: Hayfield St Matthews; York City, Leeds United, Reading (wartime guest), Ellesmere Port Town
Signed from: Hayfield St Matthews
Signed for LFC: 24.09.1938
International debut: 14.05.1950 vs. Portugal
International caps: 2/0 - 18.05.1950
Liverpool debut: 31.08.1946
Last appearance: 24.04.1954
Debut goal: 07.09.1946
Last goal: 16.09.1953
Contract expiry: 25.05.1954
Win ratio: 36.82% W:102 D:74 L:101
Honours: League Championship 1946/47
Wartime games/goals: 20 / 4
League games / goals: 256 / 17
Total games / goals: 277 / 17

Player Profile

Jones joined Liverpool as a teenager in 1938 but his career and life was soon put on hold as World War II immediately deprived him of several years of competitive football. By the time the Football League resumed 'normal service' on the last day of August 1946, Jones was 24 years old but he immediately made up for lost time by helping his club win the League title, playing in 26 of the 42 League matches and scoring twice. Although the club would never reach such heights again for nearly 20 years, Jones was a regular member of the side for the next seven seasons. He featured most often at centre-half but was an extremely versatile man who could play, and play well, in several different positions. Jones was capped by his country twice at centre-half. "Had Liverpool not rescued me from the obscurity of a minor Derbyshire club, I should probably have tried to earn a living at cricket or golf," Jones said in the souvenir brochure for the 1950 FA Cup final. "My leaning was towards the latter, and golf is still my main hobby. I plead guilty to being one of the most superstitious fellows in our side. I always avoid being third behind the skipper on leaving the dressing room. Why? I have not the faintest idea."

Jones played in Liverpool's first-ever Wembley cup final against Arsenal in 1950, but had to settle for a runners-up medal. But unfortunately the club never built on the little success it had enjoyed in the immediate post-war years and from 1950 onwards their final League placing got steadily worse until in 1953/54, which proved to be Jones' last season at Anfield, relegation which had been narrowly avoided the previous season became a reality. It was a sad end to a fine Anfield career. Jones was put up for sale and joined Ellesmere Port Town as player-coach. Bill is the grandfather of Liverpool's Rob Jones and followed his grandson's career closely: "We are very proud of his achievements and I have to admit he is a better player than I was. He is a lot faster for a start."

When former Liverpool captain and legend, Donald Mackinlay, was asked in 1955 about the best Liverpool players he had ever seen, he singled out Bill. "One of the finest centre-halves I have ever seen. I would have loved to have played behind him. What a tragedy it was he was moved about such a lot."

Jones died on Boxing Day 2010 at the Countess of Chester Hospital, aged 89.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 256 21 0 0 0 277
1945-1946 0 0 0 0 0 0
1946-1947 26 6 0 0 0 32
1947-1948 41 2 0 0 0 43
1948-1949 38 4 0 0 0 42
1949-1950 26 3 0 0 0 29
1950-1951 38 1 0 0 0 39
1951-1952 36 3 0 0 0 39
1952-1953 26 1 0 0 0 27
1953-1954 25 1 0 0 0 26
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
16 1470 Burnley
15 1350 Arsenal
15 1350 Wolves
14 1260 Manchester United
14 1260 Chelsea
13 1170 Blackpool
13 1170 Charlton Athletic
12 1080 Portsmouth
12 1080 Sunderland
12 1080 Bolton Wanderers
11 990 Aston Villa
11 990 Stoke City
10 900 Manchester City
10 900 Huddersfield Town
10 900 Middlesbrough
10 900 Derby
10 900 Newcastle United
10 900 Everton
9 810 Preston North End
7 630 Sheffield United
6 540 Fulham
5 450 Sheffield Wednesday
5 450 Tottenham
4 360 Grimsby Town
4 360 Blackburn Rovers
3 300 Nottingham Forest
3 270 Cardiff City
3 270 WBA
3 270 Birmingham City
2 180 Leeds United
1 90 Norwich City
1 90 Walsall
1 90 Notts County
1 90 Workington
1 90 Gateshead
Total Venue
137 Home
135 Away
5 Neutral
Total Competition
256 League
21 FA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
171 69 43 59 40.4% George Kay
100 29 30 41 29% Don Welsh
6 4 1 1 66.7% Caretaker Manager
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 17 0 0 0 0 17
1945-1946 0 0 0 0 0 0
1946-1947 2 0 0 0 0 2
1947-1948 1 0 0 0 0 1
1948-1949 0 0 0 0 0 0
1949-1950 0 0 0 0 0 0
1950-1951 4 0 0 0 0 4
1951-1952 2 0 0 0 0 2
1952-1953 2 0 0 0 0 2
1953-1954 6 0 0 0 0 6
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Wartime Appearances / Goals
Season Appearances Goals
1941-1942 5 1
1942-1943 5 0
1943-1944 2 0
1944-1945 1 0
1945-1946 7 3
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 31.08.1946 Sheffield United Bramall Lane League
50 29.11.1947 Manchester City Maine Road League
100 08.01.1949 Nottingham Forest City Ground FA Cup
150 30.08.1950 Manchester United Old Trafford League
200 27.10.1951 WBA Anfield League
250 20.04.1953 Manchester United Old Trafford League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 24 07.09.1946 Chelsea Anfield League
Related Articles
Rob Jones - Right-back destined for the top

Rob talks to LFChistory.net about the highs and lows of his remarkable playing career.

Liverpool say "Same to you" after Farrell got his gift!

The Liverpool Football Echo on 24 December, 1949.

Related Quotes

"We are very proud of his achievements and I have to admit he is a better player than I was. He is a lot faster for a start."

Bill talking proudly of his grandson, Rob Jones.

"Had Liverpool not rescued me from the obscurity of a minor Derbyshire club, I should probably have tried to earn a living at cricket or golf. My leaning was towards the latter, and golf is still my main hobby. I plead guilty to being one of the most superstitious fellows in our side. I always avoid being third behind the skipper on leaving the dressing room. Why? I have not the faintest idea."

Bill Jones in 1950

"One of the finest centre-halves I have ever seen. I would have loved to have played behind him. What a tragedy it was he was moved about such a lot. Why Liverpool let him go this season I just don’t know."

Former Liverpool captain, Don MacKinlay, on Bill Jones in 1955

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