Legendary footballer

by Anton McCabe

(a slightly different version was published in the Irish Times of March 8th 2014)

Jimmy Jones – born 25^th July 1928, died 13^th February 2014

Jimmy Jones, who has died after a long illness, was a legendary Northern footballer, and at the centre of one of Irish soccer’s most infamous incidents. Belfast Celtic withdrew from the Irish League after Linfield fans attacked him following a match on Boxing Day 1948.

That infamous 1948 match was played at Linfield’s ground, Windsor Park in Belfast. Linfield was perceived as a Protestant team, Belfast Celtic being perceived as Catholic – despite Jones being Church of Ireland. During the first half, a Linfield player suffered a broken leg when tackling Jones. At half time, a Linfield official announced the injury. When the game ended, Linfield supporters invaded the pitch. Jones was kicked unconscious, then a Linfield fan jumped off a wall onto his leg, breaking it in five places. A friend saved Jones’ life by lying on top of him. Afterwards, surgeons considered amputating the leg.

Jones recovered, to become the Irish League’s top scorer ever, hitting 646 goals in a career that continued at Glenavon, Larne and Newry Town. He was capped three times for Northern Ireland. He was a strong centre-forward with legs like tree-trunks, who defined his function simply: “I am there to score goals.” An opponent broke his jaw in one match: he was back playing in a fortnight.

As well as being a footballer, Jones was a motorcycle racer. He won the Skerries 100, among other races.

Jones was born in July 1928 in his maternal grandparents’ house in Keady, Co Armagh, only child to Thomas Jones, a police sergeant, and his wife Ellen (née Wilson). When Jones was days old, his mother returned to Lurgan. He spent the rest of his life in or near that town.

After education at Carrick Primary School and Lurgan Technical College, he served his apprenticeship as a mechanic – while making an impact as a footballer. While playing football, he became a salesman for dairy products, briefly ran a pub - and married Cecily, a nurse from Co Kilkenny.

At the time of his death, he was President of the Belfast Celtic Society. When his death was announced at a Glasgow Celtic home game, the crowd applauded him. They knew who he was, though most were not born when his career ended.

Jones is survived by his wife Cecily, children Jennifer and Trevor, and grandchildren.