Luke Jones (footballer)

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Luke Jones
Personal information
Full nameLuke Joseph Jones[1]
Date of birth (1987-04-10) 10 April 1987
Place of birthDarwen, England[2]
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3]
Playing positionDefender
Club information
Current clubStevenage
Number6
Youth career
Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2005–2006Blackburn Rovers0(0)
2005–2006→ Cercle Brugge (loan)8(0)
2006Ashton United1(0)
2006–2008Shrewsbury Town14(0)
2008→ Kidderminster Harriers (loan)6(0)
2008–2009Kidderminster Harriers30(1)
2009–2010Mansfield Town25(2)
2010–2011Forest Green Rovers45(2)
2011–2012Kidderminster Harriers39(4)
2012–2013Mansfield Town32(8)
2013–Stevenage2(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:12, 10 August 2013 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Luke Joseph Jones (born 10 April 1987) is an English footballer who plays for League One side Stevenage. He plays in the position of central defence and can also operate at right back.

Jones started his career at Blackburn Rovers, playing regularly at youth and reserve level without making any first-team appearances. During his time with the Lancashire club, Jones was loaned out to Cercle Brugge of the Belgian First Division. He was released by Blackburn in the summer of 2006 and, after a brief spell at Ashton United, joined League Two side Shrewsbury Town in November 2006. He featured sporadically for Shrewsbury and spent time out on loan at Conference National club Kidderminster Harriers in February 2008. Jones signed for Kidderminster on a permanent basis ahead of the 2008–09 season and played regularly. After a year at Kidderminster, he spent one season at Mansfield Town, before becoming Forest Green Rovers' club captain for the 2010–11 campaign. He returned to Kidderminster the following season, and then re-joined another of his former clubs, Mansfield Town, in June 2012. His second spell at Mansfield was a successful one, with the club winning the Conference National title. At the end of the season, in May 2013, Jones signed for League One side Stevenage on a free transfer.

Career

Early career

Jones began his career as a trainee at Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, where he progressed through the various youth ranks and helped the youth team reach the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup in 2004.[4] He captained the U18 side on their way to winning the Premier Academy League in 2005, and was also a regular for the reserve team throughout the 2004–05 season.[4][5] The following season, Jones spent the campaign on loan at Cercle Brugge of the Belgian First Division in order to gain first-team experience, and made eight appearances during his year-long stay with the club.[4] On returning to his parent club in the summer of 2006, Jones was released, and did not make a first-team appearance during his time at Blackburn.[4][6]

Shrewsbury Town

Following his release from Blackburn, Jones joined Northern Premier League side Ashton United on a short-term basis in September 2006, and made one league appearance for the club during his brief stay.[5][7] After a trial period with League Two team Shrewsbury Town a month later,[8] he joined the club on a permanent deal in November 2006, for the remainder of the 2006–07 season.[9] Jones made his debut for Shrewsbury in a 2–0 away defeat to Hereford United in the FA Cup on 21 November, coming on as a second-half substitute in the match.[10] He went on to make five appearances during his first two months with the club,[11] and also impressed for the reserve side.[12] As a result, his contract was extended in February 2007, by another year until the summer of 2008.[12] Jones made twelve appearances during his first season with the club, including in both legs of the League Two play-off semi-final against MK Dons.[11] He was named on the team-sheet for the play-off final at Wembley in May 2007, but was unable to play after injuring his knee during the warm-up before the game.[13] The knee injury required surgery,[13] and it was four months later before he was able to return to full training.[14]

Jones returned to first-team action three months into the 2007–08 season, but, with strong defensive competition, struggled to hold down a regular place in the team.[15] He subsequently joined Conference National side Kidderminster Harriers on a one-month loan deal in February 2008,[16] and made his debut shortly after, playing the whole match in a 0–0 draw with Northwich Victoria at Aggborough.[17] The loan agreement was extended for a further month on 3 March,[18] after Jones had made five appearances for Kidderminster.[15] However, after making two further appearances, during which Kidderminster kept two clean sheets,[19][20] new Shrewsbury manager Paul Simpson chose to recall Jones prematurely and he returned to his parent club on 12 March.[21] The decision to recall Jones just hours before Kidderminster's match with Stevenage angered Kidderminster manager Mark Yates, who stated — "I was put in a position that I shouldn't have been in at five o'clock on the night of a game. But we try and do things properly and for Luke's sake I left him out".[21] On returning to Shrewsbury, Jones made three further appearances that season,[15] but was ultimately released by the club at the end of the season.[22] During his time at the club, he played 19 times in all competitions.[23]

Kidderminster Harriers

After his successful loan spell earlier in the season, Jones joined Kidderminster on a permanent basis in May 2008, signing a one-year contract.[24] He started in the club's first game of the 2008–09 season, a 1–1 home draw with newly promoted Lewes,[25] and scored his first professional goal later that month, on 25 August, heading in a corner with just ten minutes remaining as Kidderminster twice came from behind to draw 2–2 with Burton Albion.[26] He received the first red card of his career in October 2008, described as a "stupid" dismissal in Kidderminster's 5–1 away victory against King's Lynn in the FA Cup.[27] Jones added another goal to his tally that season when he scored in the club's 3–2 win over Burscough in the FA Trophy on 16 December 2008.[28] He was a regular fixture in the side's defence during the first half of the season as Kidderminster were fighting for one of the four play-off positions.[29] However, after Kidderminster lost 3–1 to Cambridge United on 17 February 2009, a game in which Jones gave away a penalty after fouling Scott Rendell in the area, he did not feature again for two months.[30] He returned to first-team action on 1 April, as Kidderminster comfortably secured a 5–1 away win against Woking,[31] and went on to make four further appearances during the remainder of the season.[32] Jones made 33 appearances and scored twice during a season that witnessed Kidderminster narrowly miss out on the play-off places, finishing in sixth, two points behind the final play-off position.[29] He was one of seven players that were released by the club on 12 May 2009, with manager Mark Yates admitting finances played a key part in not being able to offer some players new contracts.[33]

Mansfield Town

Shortly after leaving Kidderminster, Jones signed for fellow Conference National side Mansfield Town on a one-year deal.[34] Mansfield manager David Holdsworth stated — "Luke is a centre-half who can also play at right-back. He is strong and commanding and someone who I think the fans will like".[34] He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2009–10 campaign, playing the whole 90 minutes as Mansfield beat Crawley Town 4–0 at Field Mill.[35] Jones played regularly during the first six months of the season, and scored twice, both goals coming in the club's 4–1 away victory at Forest Green Rovers on 30 January 2010.[36] However, he was sent-off in Mansfield's 3–1 away defeat to eventual champions Stevenage on 9 February,[37] and would go on to make just two further appearances during the remaining three months of the season due to both suspension and injury.[38][39] Jones made 27 appearances that season in all competitions and scored two goals.[38] He left Mansfield when his contract expired in May 2010.[23]

Forest Green Rovers

A month later, on 17 June 2010, Jones signed for another Conference National side in the form of Forest Green Rovers, joining on a one-year contract.[40] He was made first-team captain at The New Lawn ahead of the 2010–11 season, and went on to make his debut against his former club, Mansfield Town, playing the whole game in a 3–1 away loss on 14 August 2010.[41] Three days later, Jones opened his goalscoring account for the season when he headed in Lee Fowler's floated corner in the club's 3–0 home victory over Wrexham.[42] He scored one further time during the season, in Forest Green's final game of 2010, giving his side the lead with another headed goal in a 4–2 win against Bath City.[43] Jones finished the season having played every minute in all but one league game, and made 46 appearances during his one year at the club.[44] He was named as Forest Green's Player of the Year for the 2010–11 season at the end of season awards.[45]

Return to Kidderminster

Despite being offered a new contract by Forest Green after impressing in his year there, Jones opted to return to former club Kidderminster Harriers on 18 May 2011.[46] He signed a one-year deal with the club.[46][47] Jones started in the club's first match of the 2011–12 season, a 3–2 home defeat to Gateshead.[48] He scored twice within the space of two weeks at the end of August and start of September, both of which headed goals; the first in a 3–1 win at Newport County,[49] before briefly giving Kidderminster the lead in an eventual 2–2 home draw with Ebbsfleet United.[50] Jones went on to score two further times during the season, both goals coming in the club's seven-match unbeaten run towards the end of the season.[51] His goal in Kidderminster's 2–1 win over Southport at Haig Avenue on 7 April came in the 91st minute of the match,[52] continuing the club's trend of scoring late goals.[53] A week later, on 14 April, he headed in the club's fifth goal in a 6–1 home win against Kettering Town.[54] He was a mainstay in central defence during the campaign, and scored four goals in 39 appearances as Kidderminster missed out on the play-off places after once again finishing in sixth place.[51][55] He left Kidderminster at the end of the season when his contract expired.[23]

Second spell at Mansfield

In June 2012, Jones re-joined another of his former clubs for a second time when he returned to Mansfield Town on a free transfer.[56] On signing Jones, Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox said — "We watched Luke a number of times last season. He is a good all-round solid defender, who is strong in the air and in the tackle. He is a no-nonsense character who will add grit to our backline".[56] Jones stated he made the move due to Mansfield's "realistic chance of promotion to the Football League".[57] He started the season playing regularly, and scored two goals in eight appearances from defence in the opening two months of the season.[58][59][60] Following Mansfield's 3–1 away loss to Ebbsfleet United on 8 September,[61] Jones featured just once in the next three months[58] – scoring in the match, a convincing 3–0 victory at Macclesfield Town in November 2012.[62] Jones returned to the first-team in January 2013, starting in a 3–1 away win against Stockport County.[63]

He remained a regular fixture in the club's defence for the remainder of the season, with Mansfield pushing for promotion back to the Football League.[58] He scored his fourth goal of the season when he headed in Colin Daniel's cross to add to Mansfield's lead in a 5–0 win over Dartford at Field Mill.[64] Two weeks later, on 16 February, he scored once again, poking in from close range to restore Mansfield's lead in a victory over Cambridge United.[65] Jones' sixth of the season came when he headed in James Jennings' centre to give the club an important 2–1 away win against Woking on 6 March 2013.[66] He scored the only goal of the game on the hour mark in Mansfield's 1–0 away win at Tamworth on 30 March, subsequently earning Mansfield a club record eleventh consecutive victory, as the run propelled them to the top of the Conference National table.[67] He added one final goal to his tally in what was a goalscoring season for the defender, his eighth of the campaign coming in a 3–1 home win against Macclesfield Town, a win that moved Mansfield two points clear at the top with just three games remaining.[68] Mansfield secured the title courtesy of a 1–0 win against Wrexham on the last day of the season,[69] with Jones scoring eight times in 32 matches during the season.[58][70]

Stevenage

Jones rejected the offer of a new contract at Mansfield following his "highly-impressive season" with the club,[71][72][73] and instead signed for League One side Stevenage on 21 May 2013.[74][75] Jones made his Stevenage debut on the opening day of the 2013–14 season, playing the first 68 minutes as the club lost 4–3 at home to Oldham Athletic.[76]

Honours

Mansfield Town
Individual

Career statistics

As of 10 August 2013.
Club Season League[A] FA Cup League Cup Other[B] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Blackburn Rovers 2005–06[77] 0000000000
Cercle Brugge 2005–06 8000000080
Ashton United 2006–07[78] 1000000010
Total 9000000090
Shrewsbury Town 2006–07[79] 70100040120
2007–08[80] 7000000070
Total 140100040190
Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 2007–08[81] 6000001070
Kidderminster Harriers 2008–09[82] 301100021332
Total 361100031402
Mansfield Town 2009–10[83] 252200000272
Total 252200000272
Forest Green Rovers 2010–11[84] 452100000462
Total 452100000462
Kidderminster Harriers 2011–12[85] 394000000394
Total 394000000394
Mansfield Town 2012–13[86] 328000000328
Total 328000000328
Stevenage 2013–14[87] 2000100030
Total 2000100030
Career totals 2021750107121518
A. ^ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League, Football Conference and Northern Premier League.
B. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the FA Trophy, Conference League Cup, Football League Trophy and play-offs.

References

  1. ↑ Hugman, Barry J. (ed) (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8. 
  2. ↑ "Luke Jones – ESPN". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  3. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Luke Jones – Mansfield Town". Mansfield Town F.C. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  4. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Two in – two out at Ashton". Non-League Daily. 23 September 2006. Retrieved 9 June 2008. 
  5. ↑ "Luke Jones – Profile". Harriers Online. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  6. ↑ "Grantham 1–1 Ashton Utd". SoccerFactsUK. 23 September 2006. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  7. ↑ "Triple boost for Green". Non-League Daily. 9 October 2006. Retrieved 9 June 2008. 
  8. ↑ "Shrewsbury bag ex-Blackburn man". BBC Sport. 3 November 2006. Retrieved 23 April 2007. 
  9. ↑ "Hereford 2–0 Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 21 November 2006. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  10. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Games played by Luke Jones in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  11. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Jones handed new Shrewsbury deal". BBC Sport. 16 February 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2008. 
  12. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Jones targets pre-season return". BBC Sport. 7 June 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2008. 
  13. ↑ "Jones close to Shrewsbury return". BBC Sport. 11 September 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2008. 
  14. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "Games played by Luke Jones in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  15. ↑ "Constable & Bevan leave Harriers". BBC Sport. 1 February 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  16. ↑ "Kidderminster 0–0 Northwich". BBC Sport. 2 February 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  17. ↑ "Harriers extend Jones loan-spell". BBC Sport. 3 March 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  18. ↑ "Kidderminster 6–0 Stafford". BBC Sport. 4 March 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  19. ↑ "Kidderminster 1–0 Grays Athletic". BBC Sport. 8 March 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  20. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Yates angered by Jones recall". BBC Sport. 14 March 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  21. ↑ "Five go as Shrews start clear-out". BBC Sport. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2008. 
  22. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 "Luke Jones – Soccerbase". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  23. ↑ "Three new players in at Harriers". BBC Sport. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2008. 
  24. ↑ "Kidderminster 1–1 Lewes". BBC Sport. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  25. ↑ "Burton 2–2 Kidderminster". BBC Sport. 25 August 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  26. ↑ "King's Lynn 1–5 Kidderminster". BBC Sport. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  27. ↑ "Harriers win but Yates not happy". BBC Sport. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  28. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "English Conference Premier 2008–2009 : Table". Statto.com. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  29. ↑ "Kidderminster 1–3 Cambridge Utd". BBC Sport. 17 February 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  30. ↑ "Woking 1–5 Kidderminster". BBC Sport. 1 April 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  31. ↑ "Games played by Luke Jones in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  32. ↑ "Kidderminster boss releases seven". BBC Sport. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2010. 
  33. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Holdsworth rebuilds for new term". BBC Sport. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  34. ↑ "Mansfield 4–0 Crawley". BBC Sport. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  35. ↑ "Forest Green 1–4 Mansfield". BBC Sport. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  36. ↑ "Stevenage 3–1 Mansfield". BBC Sport. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  37. ↑ 38.0 38.1 "Games played by Luke Jones in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  38. ↑ "Mansfield v Rushden & D'mnds". BBC Sport. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  39. ↑ "Forest Green Rovers sign eight players". BBC Sport. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  40. ↑ "Mansfield 3–1 Forest Green". BBC Sport. 14 August 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  41. ↑ "Forest Green 3–0 Wrexham". BBC Sport. 17 August 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  42. ↑ "Bath City 2–4 Forest Green Rovers". BBC Sport. 28 December 2010. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  43. ↑ "Games played by Luke Jones in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  44. ↑ 45.0 45.1 "Harriers to bring back Luke Jones". Express and Star. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  45. ↑ 46.0 46.1 "Defender Luke Jones rejoins Kidderminster Harriers". BBC Sport. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  46. ↑ "Defender Jones returns". Kidderminster Harriers F.C. 18 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  47. ↑ "Kidderminster Harriers 2–3 Gateshead". BBC Sport. 13 August 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  48. ↑ "Newport County 1–3 Kidderminster". BBC Sport. 29 August 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  49. ↑ "Kidderminster 2–2 Ebbsfleet Utd". BBC Sport. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  50. ↑ 51.0 51.1 "Games played by Luke Jones in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  51. ↑ "Southport 1–2 Kidderminster". BBC Sport. 7 April 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  52. ↑ "Kidderminster Harriers: the late-goal kings who keep stealing the show". BBC Sport. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  53. ↑ "Kidderminster 6–1 Kettering". BBC Sport. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  54. ↑ "English Conference Premier 2011–2012 : Table". Statto.com. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  55. ↑ 56.0 56.1 "Mansfield Town re-sign Luke Jones". BBC Sport. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  56. ↑ "Luke Jones eyes Mansfield Town promotion push". BBC Sport. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  57. ↑ 58.0 58.1 58.2 58.3 "Games played by Luke Jones in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  58. ↑ "Gateshead 4–1 Mansfield". BBC Sport. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  59. ↑ "Mansfield 2–0 Tamworth". BBC Sport. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  60. ↑ "Ebbsfleet Utd 3–1 Mansfield". BBC Sport. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  61. ↑ "Macclesfield 0–3 Mansfield". BBC Sport. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  62. ↑ "Stockport 1–3 Mansfield". BBC Sport. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  63. ↑ "Mansfield 5–0 Dartford". BBC Sport. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  64. ↑ "Mansfield 3–1 Cambridge Utd". BBC Sport. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  65. ↑ "Woking 1–2 Mansfield". BBC Sport. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  66. ↑ "Tamworth 0–1 Mansfield". BBC Sport. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  67. ↑ "Mansfield 3–1 Macclesfield". BBC Sport. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  68. ↑ "Mansfield 1–0 Wrexham". BBC Sport. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  69. ↑ "English Conference Premier 2012–2013 : Table". Statto.com. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  70. ↑ "Mansfield Town: Lee Beevers one of 11 offered new deals". BBC Sport. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  71. ↑ "Mansfield Town: Jamie McGuire signs following Fleetwood exit". BBC Sport. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  72. ↑ "Stags defender Luke Jones joins League One Stevenage". Chad. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  73. ↑ "Westley begins recruitment process". Stevenage F.C. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  74. ↑ "Stevenage bring in Oumare Tounkara and Luke Jones". BBC Sport. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013. 
  75. ↑ "Stevenage 3–4 Oldham". BBC Sport. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013. 
  76. ↑ "Blackburn 2005/2006 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  77. ↑ "Player Details: Season 2005–2006". SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  78. ↑ "Shrewsbury Town 2006/2007 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  79. ↑ "Shrewsbury Town 2007/2008 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  80. ↑ "Kidderminster 2007/2008 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  81. ↑ "Kidderminster 2008/2009 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  82. ↑ "Mansfield 2009/2010 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  83. ↑ "Forest Green 2010/2011 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  84. ↑ "Kidderminster 2011/2012 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  85. ↑ "Mansfield 2012/2013 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 
  86. ↑ "Stevenage 2013/2014 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 22 May 2013. 

External links

Stevenage F.C. – current squad
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