Ray Jones (footballer, born 1988)
 Jones playing for QPR | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Raymond Barry Bankote Jones[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 28 August 1988 | ||
| Place of birth | East Ham, London, England | ||
| Date of death | 25 August 2007 (aged 18) | ||
| Place of death | East Ham, London, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| ?–2006 | Queens Park Rangers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2006–2007 | Queens Park Rangers | 33 | (5) |
| Total | 33 | (5) | |
| National team | |||
| 2006 | England U19 | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Raymond Barry Bankote "Ray" Jones (28 August 1988 – 25 August 2007) was an English professional footballer who played for Queens Park Rangers as a striker until his death in 2007.
Career
He was rejected as a youth team player at Colchester United before impressing the coaches at Queens Park Rangers (QPR). He made his debut for QPR's first team against Watford in the closing stages of the 2005–06 season and scored his first league goal at Loftus Road against Hull City on 23 September 2006. On 17 November 2006, Jones scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over high flying Cardiff City.
On 5 September 2006, Jones came on as a substitute for the England under-19s against the Netherlands, hence earning his only youth cap.[2]
Many Premier League clubs showed interest in Jones after several solid performances for Rangers, and then QPR manager John Gregory at one point was resigned to him leaving,[3] but stated he may have been "ill advised" by his agent. However, after scoring in a 1–0 victory over Colchester United on 1 January 2007 he pledged his future to the club, which rang true a week later as he signed a new three and a half-year deal,[4] which would have kept him at the club until 2010. Colchester United made a £200,000 offer for Jones in June 2007, which was rejected by QPR, but made another bid the following day, which was also turned down.[5] In total, Jones played 37 games (19 as sub) for QPR in all competitions, scoring six goals.[6]
Death
Jones died, along with two others, in a car accident in East Ham, London in the early hours of 25 August 2007 when the vehicle he was travelling in collided with a bus.[7] As a mark of respect QPR postponed their upcoming game with Burnley, who in turn replaced it with an open training session with proceeds going to the charity of QPR's choice.[8] QPR have also decided to retire the number 31 shirt in memory of Jones who wore the shirt during his time at Loftus Road.[9] In their league game against Southampton on 1 September 2007 at Loftus Road all of the Queens Park Rangers players carried Jones' name on the back of their shirts as a mark of respect.[10]
His funeral was held at the East Ham Nature Reserve church, just a short distance away from where he died, on 6 September 2007 followed by a burial at the City of London Cemetery. In attendance were the whole Jones family along with the QPR Squad and their then manager John Gregory and many former school mates and friends. Fans also held memorial Service at Shepherds Bush. His death was three days away from his 19th birthday.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Queens Park Rangers | 2005–06[11] | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006–07[12] | Championship | 31 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 35 | 6 | |
| Career total | 33 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 37 | 6 | ||
References
- ↑ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2007). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2007–08. Mainstream Publishing. p. 223. ISBN 9781845962463.
- ↑ "Lions held by Holland". The Football Association. 5 September 2006. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
- ↑ "QPR chief resigned to Jones exit". BBC Sport. 14 December 2006. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
- ↑ "Striking ace Jones commits to QPR". BBC Sport. 6 January 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
- ↑ "QPR reject second Colchester bid". BBC Sport. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
- ↑ "Ray Jones Player Profile". Queens Park Rangers F.C. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
- ↑ "QPR's Ray Jones dies in car crash". BBC Sport. 25 August 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
- ↑ "Burnley Pay Their Respects". Queens Park Rangers F.C. 25 August 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
- ↑ "Remembering Ray – Number 31". Queens Park Rangers F.C. 28 August 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
- ↑ "Shirt tribute for striker Jones". Queens Park Rangers F.C. 29 August 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2007.
- ↑ "Games played by Ray Jones in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
- ↑ "Games played by Ray Jones in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 18 December 2012.