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Paul Jones

Birthdate: 18 April 1967 Birthplace: Chirk, Wales Other clubs: Kidderminster Harriers (1986-91), Wolverhampton Wanderers (1991-96), Stockport County (1996-97), Southampton (1997-2004), Wolverhampton Wanderers (2 / 2004-06), Watford (loan 2004-05), Millwall (loan 2005), Queens Park Rangers (2006-07), Bognor Regis Town (2007) Bought from: Southampton Signed for LFC: on loan, 09.01.2004 International debut: 27.05.1997 vs. Scotland International caps: 50/0 - 07.10.2006

Liverpool debut: 10.01.2004 Last appearance: 17.01.2004 Contract expiry: 28.01.2004 Win ratio: 50% W:1 D:0 L:1 Total games/goals opposite LFC: 13 / 0 LFC league games/goals: 2 / 0 Total LFC games/goals: 2 / 0

Player profile

An experienced Premiership goalkeeper loaned from Southampton through January 2004 as Kirkland and Dudek were both on the injury list. The oldest player to make his debut for Liverpool since World War II, 36 years, eight months and 23 days old. Jones kept a clean sheet against Aston Villa at Anfield but conceded two goals in his second and final game at White Hart Lane. Funnily enough Jones turned up for Liverpool "Legends" team in 2012 as it toured Thailand.

"I was a fanatical Liverpool supporter growing up and I still am a fan today," Jones told LFC.tv in 2012. "Everyone in north Wales supported Liverpool when I was younger so to get the chance to emulate my boyhood hero Ray Clemence and play in goal for Liverpool was a real dream come true. I'd never touched the This is Anfield sign when I was an opposition player - I think that tradition should be reserved for Liverpool players - so to get to touch it and know that I was touching it as a Liverpool player meant everything."

Related Quotes

"Call me strange, but to my mind Paul Jones is one of the most exciting signings Liverpool FC have made for many years. Don't get me wrong, I hope he's only with us for a few weeks, because I wish Jerzy and Chris, two World Class keepers, speedy recoveries and returns to first team action. But Paul's signing is that all-too-rare occurrence, a really inspiring Roy of the Rovers story. There he is, making his debut for the team he loved as a boy and has always followed affectionately, at the age of 36 years .... and three quarters!! I wonder if Liverpool FC have ever had an older debutant? In the war years, perhaps, when they'd take any old pro who happened to be passing through Liverpool - but that doesn't count! (Editor's note: only one other player has been an older debutant for the Reds - Ted Doig, another keeper, at the age of 37 years 10 months back in 1904)

What's more, this story has happened like the best Boys' Own stories, out of the blue, a final chance for a dream come true, due to a freak series of events which could not have been predicted even 24 hours before Paul's arrival at Melwood on Thursday. Great stuff. He was about to sign a longer contract, doubtless more lucrative, with another premiership club when the call came. Or at least that's how he told it on Friday when he signed, but I wonder whether in fact it was Jones who made the first contact with Liverpool, through his agent, as soon as the extent of Dudek's injury became apparent? Personally I'd like to think so.

So anyway, wasn't it brilliant that Jones got a great reception from the Kop, communicated well with his defenders (burning Igor's eardrums - deservedly - a few times), commanded his box and made a couple of fine saves ... and kept a very encouraging first clean sheet on his debut... because let's face it, the omens for that weren't great."

Internet scribe Nigel Shaw on Paul Jones