| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mark Alan Jones[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 15 August 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Wrexham, Wales | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Bala Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2002–2008 | Wrexham | 128 | (22) |
| 2008–2009 | Rochdale | 9 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Wrexham | 34 | (4) |
| 2010– | Bala Town | 33 | (7) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2003–2006 | Wales U21 | 5 | (1) |
| 2006– | Wales | 2 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 07:26, 21 August 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Mark Alan Jones (born 15 August 1984 in Wrexham) is a Welsh footballer currently playing for Welsh Premier League side Bala Town.
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He joined Wrexham as a trainee on 1 August 2002. He made his debut on 17 September 2002 in a 4–0 win over Exeter City, but only became an established player 2 seasons later. He has become particularly popular at the club as one of the most talented local players, and as a scorer of some spectacular long-range goals. Despite being a midfielder, he was one of the club's most regular goalscorers, with a ratio of 0.2 goals per game as of the end of the 2005–06 season.[2]
Following Wrexham's relegation from Football League Two, Jones, who had already declared his intention to leave the club,[3] was released at the end of the 2007–08 season.[4]
After a successful trial at the club, Rochdale announced on 15 August 2008 that they were seeking international clearance in order to complete the signing of Jones.[5] On 14 May 2009, it was announced that Mark Jones would leave Rochdale, along with 10 other players, after making 13 appearances for the club in all competitions.[6]
In June 2009, Jones returned to Wrexham, signing a one-year deal.[7] Placed straight into the first-team on his return, Jones scored his first goal since moving back to Wrexham in a 3-0 win over Luton Town on 22 September.[8] At the end of the year, Jones was released by Wrexham for a second time.
Following his release from Wrexham, Jones signed for Welsh Premier League side Bala Town. In doing so he rejected offers from other Conference National sides in order not to move away from his home and also in the hope of enjoying playing football again, stating "I'm not enjoying playing football full-time at all and have not for a few years.[...] I began playing football as a youngster for the love of it, not for money, and I want to feel that way about football again."[9]
As well as making several appearances for Wales Under-21's, he has been called up to the senior Wales squad on two occasions. He made his international debut in a friendly against Liechtenstein on 14 November 2006.
Jones was named in the Wales squad ahead of more experienced players, such as Robert Earnshaw, for games against Iceland and the Netherlands in the summer of 2008.
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| Wrexham | 2002–03 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003–04 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 1 | |
| 2004–05 | 26 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 35 | 4 | |
| 2005–06 | 42 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 45 | 15 | |
| 2006–07 | 30 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 6 | |
| 2007–08 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Subtotal | 128 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 149 | 27 | |
| Rochdale | 2008-09 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Wrexham | 2009-10 | 34 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 4 |
| Total | 171 | 26 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 4 | 199 | 31 | |
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