Steve Jones (Northern Irish Footballer)

Stephen Graham Jones (born 25 October 1976) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Sandbach United football club. He has been capped 29 times by Northern Ireland and played for 20 clubs in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Club career

Early career

Jones was born in Derry, Northern Ireland and moved to Manchester with his family at age 13. In his late teens, he played for Chadderton in the North West Counties Division One before signing for Blackpool in July 1995. After spending time playing for Blackpool's youth and reserve teams, he signed for Bury on a free transfer in July 1996. Unable to settle at Bury and frustrated by the lack of first-team opportunities, Jones decided to move to the Republic of Ireland and sign for League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers in July 1997, stating that Rovers manager Nicky Reid's offer of a full-time contract was what ultimately made up his mind.

On 30 August 1997, he made his debut for ''The Bit o' Red'' in the league match against Bohemians, scoring just before half-time in the 2–2 draw at The Showgrounds. He spent almost two seasons with Sligo and won the League of Ireland Cup after playing in the final against Shelbourne in February 1998. Overall, he played 46 games and scored 6 goals for Sligo before moving to Bray Wanderers in January 1999. Jones made his debut for Bray on 22 January, playing in the 0–0 league draw with Finn Harps at Carlisle Grounds. Later that year, Jones was homesick and moved back to England, later having a brief spell with Northern Premier League side Chorley where he played in the last four games of the season for ''The Magpies''.

Leigh RMI

After Chorley were relegated at the end of the 1998–99 season, Jones signed for fellow Northern Premier League side Leigh RMI in August 1999. This came after he impressed RMI manager Steve Waywell in the final home game of the previous season against Chorley. He had a successful first season with ''The Railwaymen'', scoring 18 goals in 40 games that helped RMI gain promotion to the Football Conference. Jones attracted interest from several clubs during the summer, but he ultimately signed a new four-year deal at Leigh, stating he was happier than he had been at any time in his playing career and his heart was with Leigh.

On 19 August 2000, Jones started in Leigh's first game in the Conference, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 defeat by fellow newly promoted side Dagenham & Redbridge. He won a penalty after clumsy challenge from Ashley Vickers, which led to Tony Black scoring RMI's goal. He played in the 3–0 FA Cup first round defeat by Millwall at The Den on 19 November. On 3 March 2001, Jones scored the first hat-trick of his career in the 6–2 league win against Nuneaton Borough. He finished the season with 21 goals in all competitions, these went a long way to firing RMI to a fifth-place finish in the Conference, the club's highest ever league finish. At the Conference Annual General Meeting on 2 June, Jones was named in the Football Conference Team of the Year, as voted for by the league's managers.

Jones attracted interest from a number of clubs in the close season, Morecambe being the first to make a bid for the Northern Irishman in late May. ''The Shrimps'' had bids of £30,000 and £45,000 rejected by RMI. Tranmere Rovers were the next club to take an interest in Jones and manager Dave Watson took him on trial at the beginning of July. However, it was Crewe Alexandra who won the race for Jones' signature after manager Dario Gradi persuaded him to sign on 3 July. He signed for Crewe on a three-year contract in a deal worth £75,000 to Leigh, and £75,000 more to come after 60 appearances.

Crewe Alexandra

Jones made his debut for Crewe in the league game against Manchester City on 25 August 2001. He replaced Rodney Jack in the 82nd minute of the 5–2 defeat at Maine Road. On 27 October, he made his first start for the club in the 1–0 defeat by Sheffield United at Brammall Lane. Despite being a regular goalscorer in the reserves, Jones found first-team opportunities scarce in his first season at Crewe, so it was decided he would join Third Division side Rochdale on a month's loan in February 2002. He returned from his loan in April and featured in two of Crewe's remaining games in the First Division, coming on as a substitute in the away defeats to Gillingham and Wimbledon.

Rochdale (loan)

Jones made his debut for Rochdale on 5 February 2002, playing the full 90 minutes in the 5–4 win against York City at Spotland Stadium. He scored his first goal for ''The Dale'' on 23 February, scoring the opening goal in the 2–1 defeat at Scunthorpe United. On 7 March, Rochdale manager John Hollins confirmed that Jones would stay at the club for at least another month, but the deal would involve a 24-hour recall option for Crewe. He made his final appearance for the club on 26 March in the 3–1 defeat by Plymouth Argyle, he came off the bench in 75th minute replacing Kevin Townson.

Following Crewe's relegation to the Second Division, Jones started to feature in the first-team more prominently at the start of the 2002–03 season. He made his first appearance of the season on 13 August, replacing Dave Brammer in the 60th minute of the 3–0 defeat by Notts County at Gresty Road. Jones scored his first goals for Crewe in the league match against Queens Park Rangers, he netted both goals in the 2–0 win on 5 October. He followed that up by scoring the third goal in the 4–1 win at Stockport County a week later. He scored a brace against Colchester United in January 2003 and another against Northampton Town in February, these went towards the 11 goals in all competitions he scored that helped ''The Railwaymen'' to a second-place finish in the Second Division, gaining them promotion back to the First Division.

Prior to the 2003–04 season, Jones signed a new three-year contract with the club that would take him through to the end of the 2005–06 season. He started in Crewe's first game back in the First Division on 9 August, playing the full 90 minutes in the 3–1 defeat against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park. Three days later, he scored his first goal of the season in the 2–0 League Cup first round win against Wrexham. A brace against West Ham United on 17 March 2004 took Jones' tally for the season to 16, this coupled with the 20 goals scored by strike partner Dean Ashton helped Crewe to an 18th-place finish in the league. His efforts throughout the season earned him the ''Supporters Player of the Year'' award.

Jones scored on his first start of the 2004–05 season on 24 August, scoring two first half goals in the 4–1 League Cup first round win against Blackpool. Four days later, he helped Crewe to their first league win of the season, scoring two goals in the 4–2 win against Derby County at Pride Park. On 26 October, he started against Manchester United in the League Cup third round, playing 68 minutes of the 3–0 defeat at Gretsy Road. On 8 May 2005, Jones scored the winning goal in the 2–1 league win against Coventry City, the goal gave ''The Alex'' their first win in 19 games and saved the club from relegation on the final day of the season.

At the beginning of the 2005–06 season, Jones indicated to Crewe manager Dario Gradi that he wanted to leave at the end of the season when his contract expired. In October, Preston North End manager Billy Davies declared his interest in bringing Jones to Deepdale, however Crewe were not interested in the player part-exchange offer that was being tabled. Queens Park Rangers took an interest in signing Jones in January 2006, however they were unable to meet the club's valuation of £300,000 for him. Despite the uncertainty about his future, Jones was still a regular in the team throughout the season and managed to score 5 goals overall, including a goal in his final appearance against Millwall on 30 April. Crewe were relegated at the end of the season, and despite a very good contract being offered, Jones confirmed his decision to leave. He wanted to stay in the Championship and thought he could make more money elsewhere. Overall Jones made 173 appearances for Crewe and scored 45 goals.

Burnley

Burnley announced on 3 May 2006 that Jones would join the club on a Bosman signing, with the move being completed on 1 July. He signed a three-year deal with the Championship side. Jones made a scoring start to his Burnley career, netting both goals in the 2–0 win against Queens Park Rangers on the opening day of the season. On 23 September, he opened the scoring in the 3–2 defeat against Southampton at Turf Moor. After a goal drought of over 6 months, he scored in the 4–0 win against Plymouth Argyle on 3 April 2007, and he followed that up with a goal in the 2–0 win against Cardiff City six days later. Jones scored 5 goals in 43 appearances in the 2006–07 season, helping Burnley to a 15th-place finish in the Championship.

Jones' first start of the 2007–08 season was in the League Cup first round game against Grimbsy Town at Blundell Park, he played the full 120 minutes as the game finished 1–1 and Burnley won 4–2 on penalties. On 15 September, he scored his first goal of the season in the 2–2 league draw against Blackpool. After Owen Coyle replaced Steve Cotterill as Burnley manager in November, Jones was used mainly as a substitute, making his solitary league start of the season in the 1–0 win against Plymouth Argyle on 12 January 2008. The following week in the 2–1 win at Coventry City, Jones suffered a medial knee ligament tear that would keep him out of action for six weeks, scuppering a pending loan move to former club Crewe Alexandra. The appearance against Coventry turned out to be his last for ''The Clarets''. On 27 March, it was announced that Jones would join League One side Crewe on loan until the end of the season.

Crewe Alexandra (loan)

Jones made his re-debut for Crewe on 29 March 2008, playing 85 minutes in the 2–1 defeat by Luton Town at Kenilworth Road. Over the next month, he made two substitute appearances against Cheltenham Town and AFC Bournemouth respectively, before he signed off his second spell at ''The Railwaymen'' with a goal in the 4–1 defeat by Oldham Athletic on 3 May.

Despite featuring in pre-season, Jones had become surplus to requirements going into the last year of his contract at Burnley. Having not featured in the first-team at all during the opening weeks of the 2008–09 season, he joined Huddersfield Town on an initial one-month loan deal starting on 17 October. He returned to Turf Moor on 26 November and joined Bradford City on loan the next day, the initial deal running until 3 January 2009 then being extended by an extra month, and finally being extended until the end of the season by ''The Bantams''. On 1 June, Jones was released by Burnley alongside Gábor Király and Alan Mahon.

Huddersfield Town (loan)

Jones made his debut for League One side Huddersfield on 18 October 2008, playing the full 90 minutes in the 1–1 draw against Bristol Rovers at the Galpharm Stadium. He followed this up by playing the full 90 minutes in the 5–3 defeat at Hartlepool United three days later, and after two subsequent substitute appearances against Yeovil Town and former club Crewe Alexandra, he returned to Burnley on 26 November.

Bradford City (loan)

Jones made his debut for Bradford in the FA Cup second round tie against Leyton Orient on 29 November 2008, he played the full 90 minutes in the 2–1 defeat at Valley Parade He made his league debut a week later in the 1–1 draw against Dagenham & Redbridge. He scored his first goal for the club on 31 January 2009, netting the second goal in the 2–0 win over Grimsby Town. Two weeks later, he scored the only goal as ''The Bantams'' beat Wycombe Wanderers 1–0, keeping the club's promotion hopes alive. On 25 April, Jones made his final appearance for the club, scoring the third goal in the 3–0 win over Rotherham United. Overall, he made 27 appearances for Bradford and scored 3 goals.

Walsall

Jones signed for Walsall on 10 July 2009, penning a two-year deal with the League One club. He made his debut on 8 August in the 1–0 league win against Brighton & Hove Albion, he started the game before being substituted in the 65th minute for Richard Taundry. A week later on his home debut, he scored his first goal for the club in the 2–2 draw with Southend United when he headed in a Darryl Westlake free-kick to open the scoring in the 11th minute. On 17 October, Jones scored a brace against Exeter City, bagging two first half goals in the 3–0 win at the Bescot Stadium. He scored the opening goal in the 1–1 draw against Swindon Town on 17 April 2010, this took his tally to 10 goals for the season that ultimately helped ''The Saddlers'' to a 10th place league finish.

On 7 August, Jones started the opening league game of the 2010–11 season, playing the full 90 minutes in the 2–1 defeat against Milton Keynes Dons. Two weeks later in a match against Plymouth Argyle, Jones suffered an ankle injury that would keep him out for 7 weeks. He made his return in the 1–1 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge on 16 October, replacing Julian Gray in the 69th minute at Victoria Road. Despite regaining his fitness, Jones struggled to regain his place in the first team and he was allowed to join Scottish Premier League side Motherwell on loan until the end of the season in January 2011. On 11 May, Walsall announced on their website that Jones would not be offered a new contract at the club.

Motherwell (loan)

Jones linked up with Stuart McCall again at Motherwell, ''The Steelmen'' manager was in charge at Bradford City during Jones' loan-spell at Valley Parade. He made his debut in the 2–0 league win over Hibernian on 22 January, he started the game and played 63 minutes before being replaced by Jonathan Page. On 30 January, he came off the bench in the 2–1 League Cup semi-final defeat against Rangers at Hampden Park. Jones scored his first goal for the club on 5 February, netting the opening goal in the 2–0 Scottish Cup