George Jones (footballer born 1918)

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Personal information
George Jones
Full name	George Henry Jones
Date of birth	November 27, 1918(1918-11-27)
Place of birth	Sheffield, England
Date of death	1995
Playing position	Winger
Youth clubs
	Woodburn Alliance
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1936–1950 1950–1951	Sheffield United Barnsley Total	0141 (36) 0022 0(6) 0163 (42)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

George Henry Jones (born November 27, 1918 – died 1995^[1]) 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.

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[edit] References

Clarebrough, Denis (1989). Sheffield United F.C., The First 100 years. Sheffield United Football Club. ISBN 0-9508588-1-1.
They Played At The Lane, Sheffield United Match Day Programme, 20 September 1988.