Craig Jones (footballer, born 1987)

Craig Jones
Personal information
Full name Craig Stephen Jones
Date of birth (1987-03-20) 20 March 1987
Place of birth Chester, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position Right wing, Right back
Club information
Current team
 Bury
Number 14
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2004–2005 Airbus UK Broughton 55 (9)
2005–2007 Aberystwyth Town 32 (11)
2007–2009 Rhyl 74 (14)
2009–2012 The New Saints 111 (25)
2012– Bury 114 (6)
National team
2007–2010 Wales under-23 semi-pro 6 (0)
2008–2012 Wales semi-professional 3 (3)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 09:54, 9 May 2015 (UTC).

† Appearances (goals)

Craig Jones (born 20 March 1987) is an English-born Welsh footballer who plays as a midfielder for League Two club Bury. He is also club captain at Bury. He is a three times Welsh Premier League champion. Jones is recognised for his quick pace and accurate passing, and plays on both the right and left wings, as well as in an integral, central role, behind the forward line. He previously played for Welsh clubs Airbus UK Broughton, Aberystwyth Town, Rhyl, and The New Saints. He is the son of Brynley Jones, the former Welsh Professional Footballer who played in The Football League for Chester as a midfielder.

Club career

Jones' career started with Airbus UK Broughton and Aberystwyth Town. He joined Rhyl in the May 2007,[1] winning a Welsh Premier League championship medal with the club and representing them in Europe. He then joined The New Saints in May 2009.[2] He played for the club in qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League, against clubs such as Helsingborg,[3] Anderlecht, and Bohemians scoring in both home legs against the Belgian and Irish champions. In July 2012, he played his final matches for The New Saints playing a significant role in both legs of the second-round qualifying matches of the UEFA Champions League against Swedish Treble-winning side (comprising Super Cup, League and Swedish Cup titles) Helsingborg. In total he scored 25 goals in 111 appearances for the club.[4]

In January 2012 he went on trial with Leeds United for seven days.[5] After attracting interest from several English League and European Clubs, Jones signed a two-year deal with League One club Bury in August 2012, after Bury paid out an undisclosed fee for his services from TNS.[6]

On the 14 December 2013, before Bury's match against Northampton, Craig was named as the club's new captain by new Bury manager David Flitcroft.

International career

Jones won 9 caps for Wales at the semi-pro under-23 level, and captained the side once. He was selected for the senior semi-pro team for the 2008 Four Nations, scoring a hat-trick against Gibraltar.[7]

Personal life

His father Brynley was also a professional football player, having played for Chester City in the Football League, as well as Bangor City and Oswestry Town.[8]

Honours

with Rhyl
with The New Saints

References

  1. ↑ "Craig Jones Signs For Rhyl". Aberystwyth Town. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "Rhyl wingman joins the Saints". The New Saints. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Champions League: Helsingborg 3–0 The New Saints". BBC Sport. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "Bury deal for The New Saints' Craig Jones". Shropshire Star. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  5. ↑ "Saints' wingman Jones in Leeds United trial". Welsh Premier League. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "Bury complete signings of Craig Jones and Mark Cullen". BBC Sport. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  7. ↑ "Hat-Trick for Belle Vue Boy as Wales beat Gibraltar". welshpremier.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "Following in Brynley's footsteps". Chester Chronicle. 16 November 2007. Retrieved 15 January 2012.

External links

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