Jimmy Jones (footballer, born 1928)

Jimmy Jones

Personal information
Full name	James Jones
Date of birth	(1928-07-25)25 July 1928
Place of birth	Keady, Northern Ireland
Date of death	13 February 2014(2014-02-13) (aged 85)
Height	5 ft 9+1⁄2 in (1.77 m)[1]
Position(s)	Centre forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1943–1944	Sunnyside	5	(7)
1944–1945	Glenavon Juniors	25	(36)
1945–1946	Shankill Young Men	22	(40)
1946–1949	Belfast Celtic	33	(43)
1950	Larne	0	(0)
1950–1951	Fulham	0	(0)
1951–1962	Glenavon	222	(269)
1962–1963	Portadown	14	(8)
1963–1964	Bangor	20	(12)
1964–1965	Newry Town	34	(31)
Total		369	(443)
International career
1947–1959	Irish League XI	24	(11)
1947	Northern Ireland Youth	1	(2)
1956–1957	Northern Ireland	3	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

James Jones (25 July 1928 – 13 February 2014) was a Northern Irish footballer who played as a forward. He is the leading goalscorer in the history of Irish League football with a total of 647 goals.^[2] According to RSSSF, he scored more than 809 goals in official matches, which makes him one of the most prolific goal scorers of all time.^[3]

In a career spanning almost 20 years, Jones started his career with Belfast Celtic. After having his leg broken by rival supporters, he spent over a year out of the game, before returning at intermediate level with Larne. After a short spell there and a season in English football with Fulham, he joined Glenavon where he helped to propel the club to the most successful period in their history. He later represented Portadown, Bangor and Newry Town. He also won 3 caps for Northern Ireland, scoring 1 goal.