Full name Reginald Jones Name Roger Jones Playing position | Place of death Bradeley, England Place of birth Burslem, England | |
Date of birth (1902-09-01)1 September 1902 Date of death 11 December 1967(1967-12-11) (aged 65) | ||
Reginald "Roger" Jones (1 September 1902 – 11 December 1967) was an English footballer who played at left-half for Port Vale from 1923 to 1937. He made a total of 346 appearances, 326 of which came in league games in the Football League. He helped the club to win the Third Division North title in 1929–30.
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Playing career
Jones played for minor non-league sides Middleport and Ravensdale, before joining Port Vale in July 1923. He made his Second Division debut in the 1923–24 season, but remained a bit-part player in 1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27, and 1927–28. He scored his first senior goal on 10 March 1928, in a 3–1 win over Southampton at The Dell. He hit four goals in 19 games in 1928–29, including two in an 8–1 demolition of West Bromwich Albion at The Old Recreation Ground on 9 March. Despite this comprehensive victory, Vale lost 17 of their 21 away games, and were relegated at the end of the season.
Vale rebounded straight away by winning the Third Division North title in 1929–30, with Jones featuring in 38 league games throughout the campaign. The 1930–31 season was the club's most successful in terms of league position, as Vale finished fifth in the Second Division, just three places and seven points short of promotion into the First Division. He struck two goals in 28 games in 1931–32, with both of his goals coming in a 2–2 draw with Millwall at The Den on 3 October.
Jones featured 41 times in 1932–33, 29 times in 1933–34, and 30 times in 1934–35. He scored once in 38 appearances in 1935–36, as the "Valiants" were relegated; Vale had finished just one point behind Barnsley, who avoided the drop. Jones was released at the end of the 1936–37 season. Ironically he had just posted his most prolific season, scoring nine goals in 39 games, including hat-tricks against Mansfield Town and Halifax Town.