Post by harrybuckle on Nov 19, 2020 21:14:28 GMT
Gwynfor "Gwyn" Jones (20 March 1935 – 13 November 2020) was a Welsh former footballer, who played in the Football League for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bristol Rovers.
GWYNFOR ROBERT JONES
Born 20.3.1935 Llandwrog, Gwynedd Died 13.11.2020 Caernarfon
5’ 10”; 11 st 12 lbs FB
Début: 19.8.62 v Hull City
Career: 1954 Caernarfon Town; September 1955 Wolverhampton Wanderers [21,0]; 27.7.62 Bristol Rovers (£5,000) [153,0]; 1966 Portmadoc.
Quiet and unassuming full-back Gwyn Jones gave sterling service to Rovers in the years following relegation back to Division Three in the spring of 1962. A gentle man, who had captained his school side at rugby, cricket and football, he also captained the Wales Youth XI in four matches before, spotted by Wolves whilst on National Service, he made his First Division début against West Brom over Christmas 1955. Jones was a reliable and strong defensively-minded full-back, calm and reliable on and off the field. Rovers were rocked in the spring of 1963 by a bribery scandal which made national headlines and, although Esmond Million had tried to involve and implicate him, Jones rose above this, refused to participate and continued to play well for Rovers. He played against Manchester United in the FA Cup clash of January 1964 at Old Trafford and he was a member of the side which recorded a 7-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town two months later. An excellent pianist, he gained Advanced Honours from the Royal College of Music before working for 22 years in the clerical department of an aluminium smelting company, from which he retired at the age of fifty-seven. A fully qualified Football Association coach, having attended the same course as Bill McGarry, Jones lives on Anglesey, whilst his son Nathan played Downs League football with Longshore.
Tributes have flooded in for ex-football pro Gwyn Jones who, in the 1950s, was part of most successful Wolverhampton Wanderers squad in the club’s history.
Gwyn, who had originally dreamt of becoming a teacher, would later expose a betting scandal that rocked English football in the early 1960s, speaking out after he declined a bung to help throw a game.
Ten professional players would go on to be jailed for match fixing offences.
He passed away aged 85 at Pendine Park’s Bryn Seiont Newydd care home in Caernarfon where he had lived since February this year after being diagnosed with dementia.
Having begun his playing career with Caernarfon Town, Gwyn was spotted by Wolves and spent seven seasons with the Molineux side before going on to captain Bristol Rovers.
After leaving football behind, he spent 22 years in the clerical department of Anglesey Aluminium, near Holyhead, before taking early retirement at the age of 57.
Among those paying tribute to Gwyn was Richard Green, a member of the Wolves Former Players Association.
He said: “Gwyn was one of our earliest members and a much-loved part of the most successful Wolves squad in history, winning two league titles, a Charity Shield and FA Cup.
“His contributions, on and off the pitch at Wolves, will never be forgotten. He will be greatly missed.”
GWYNFOR ROBERT JONES
Born 20.3.1935 Llandwrog, Gwynedd Died 13.11.2020 Caernarfon
5’ 10”; 11 st 12 lbs FB
Début: 19.8.62 v Hull City
Career: 1954 Caernarfon Town; September 1955 Wolverhampton Wanderers [21,0]; 27.7.62 Bristol Rovers (£5,000) [153,0]; 1966 Portmadoc.
Quiet and unassuming full-back Gwyn Jones gave sterling service to Rovers in the years following relegation back to Division Three in the spring of 1962. A gentle man, who had captained his school side at rugby, cricket and football, he also captained the Wales Youth XI in four matches before, spotted by Wolves whilst on National Service, he made his First Division début against West Brom over Christmas 1955. Jones was a reliable and strong defensively-minded full-back, calm and reliable on and off the field. Rovers were rocked in the spring of 1963 by a bribery scandal which made national headlines and, although Esmond Million had tried to involve and implicate him, Jones rose above this, refused to participate and continued to play well for Rovers. He played against Manchester United in the FA Cup clash of January 1964 at Old Trafford and he was a member of the side which recorded a 7-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town two months later. An excellent pianist, he gained Advanced Honours from the Royal College of Music before working for 22 years in the clerical department of an aluminium smelting company, from which he retired at the age of fifty-seven. A fully qualified Football Association coach, having attended the same course as Bill McGarry, Jones lives on Anglesey, whilst his son Nathan played Downs League football with Longshore.
Tributes have flooded in for ex-football pro Gwyn Jones who, in the 1950s, was part of most successful Wolverhampton Wanderers squad in the club’s history.
Gwyn, who had originally dreamt of becoming a teacher, would later expose a betting scandal that rocked English football in the early 1960s, speaking out after he declined a bung to help throw a game.
Ten professional players would go on to be jailed for match fixing offences.
He passed away aged 85 at Pendine Park’s Bryn Seiont Newydd care home in Caernarfon where he had lived since February this year after being diagnosed with dementia.
Having begun his playing career with Caernarfon Town, Gwyn was spotted by Wolves and spent seven seasons with the Molineux side before going on to captain Bristol Rovers.
After leaving football behind, he spent 22 years in the clerical department of Anglesey Aluminium, near Holyhead, before taking early retirement at the age of 57.
Among those paying tribute to Gwyn was Richard Green, a member of the Wolves Former Players Association.
He said: “Gwyn was one of our earliest members and a much-loved part of the most successful Wolves squad in history, winning two league titles, a Charity Shield and FA Cup.
“His contributions, on and off the pitch at Wolves, will never be forgotten. He will be greatly missed.”
