*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Ken Jones
Appearances: 50+1 Goals: 18
Date / Year of birth: 9th February 1941
Position: Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 1971/72
Season of last appearance: 1973/74
Also played for: Southend United (92,36), Millwall (192+4,13), Colchester United (80+6,28), Hastings United and Bowers United
Talented Keighley-born player who started his career at Southend as a striker and scored 36 times in 92 first team appearances for them between 1960/61 and 1963/64.
Ken then joined Millwall in September 1964 and played mainly as a centre-back for them. His spell at The Den lasted for over five years and he made almost 200 senior appearances for the Lions before joining Colchester in November 1969.
He usually played as a striker for the Essex club and that was reflected in his goal tally. Ken scored 28 times in 86 first team appearances before he signed for Margate in March 1972.
He made his debut in a 4-0 win over Merthyr at Hartsdown on 4.3.72 and impressed in an attacking midfield role. He went on to make a total of 16 appearances before the end of the 1971/72 season and scored eight goals. The first of them came in a 2-1 win over Dover on 13.3.72, a game in which Ken was "outstanding" according to the local press. Virtually all of Ken's goals came from long range and on 18.3.72 his 30 yard strike in a 2-1 win over Gravesend & Northfleet was described as "a rocket" by the Thanet Times. The report also referred to Ken as "the man with the golden shot". He also scored from 20 yards as Margate beat Chelmsford 4-3 on 31.3.72, fired home from the edge of the penalty area in a 1-1 draw at Wimbledon on 8.4.72 and scored twice from distance in a 4-2 win at Romford on 24.4.72. The second of his goals, cracked home from 25 yards, was described as being "a tremendous lofted thunderbolt" by the Isle of Thanet Gazette. Ken combined his deadly shooting with hard work and what the local press called "genuine craft". The Gazette once described him as "a veritable fireball in midfield" and said that Ken was a "midfield ace" who was "surely one of Les Riggs' best signings."
Ken carried his fine form into the 1972/73 season and during the early months of the campaign he was described by the local press as being a "commanding figure" and "a constant inspiration". He continued scoring memorable goals, firing home a direct free-kick in a 3-3 draw with Gravesend & Northfleet on 21.8.72 and finding the target with both a volley from a narrow angle and a vicious shot in a 2-2 draw at Burton on 25.8.72. Ken also headed the only goal of the game as Margate beat Swansea in the 1st Round of the FA Cup at Hartsdown Park on 18.11.72 and on 9.12.72 he played in a 1-0 win at Walton & Hersham in the 2nd Round.
Ken had scored nine goals in 32 appearances when disaster struck on Boxing Day 1972. He suffered a badly broken leg in a 0-0 draw with Ramsgate at Hartsdown Park and the injury ruled him out for the rest of the season. As a result Ken missed the FA Cup tie with Tottenham in January 1973 and it was the third occasion in his career where he'd missed an important game through injury. Whilst at Colchester he'd missed a famous FA Cup tie against Leeds and also the Watney Cup Final against West Bromwich.
Ken recovered sufficiently to play regularly for the reserves during the early part of the 1973/74 season and on 8.9.73 he played a whole game in goal for them against Whitstable when regular keeper David MacMillan failed to arrive. On 30.10.73 Ken returned to first team duty when he played in a Kent Messenger Trophy tie against Folkestone at Hartsdown Park and gave what the Isle of Thanet Gazette described as "an encouraging display". He then scored a trademark long range goal in a 4-0 win over Chatham in a Kent Senior Cup tie on 8.12.73 but it turned out to be Ken's final appearance for the club. In January 1974 he joined Hastings and Margate manager Les Riggs said "he has given admirable service to Margate...he was really in capital form before having the misfortune to break a leg." Riggs continued "he will be a great asset to Hastings for Ken is an outstanding club man."
He played regularly for Hastings during the remainder of 1973/74 and throughout the 1974/75 season before joining Essex club Bowers United for 1975/76.
In 2003 Ken was running a scaffolding company based in Wickford, Essex.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC | |
|
1971/72 (MFC) |
16 (69) |
0 |
8 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (9TH OF 22) |
1R |
1R |
SF |
2R |
GR |
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KFC | |
|
1972/73 (MFC) |
32 (64) |
0 |
9 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (7TH OF 22) |
3R |
3QR |
1R |
2R |
GR |
| Played and scored
in FA Cup 1st Round (18.11.72 - beat Swansea City 1-0 at home).
Played in FA Cup 2nd Round (09.12.72 - won 1-0 at Walton & Hersham). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
KMT | |
|
1973/74 (MFC) |
2 (65) |
1 |
1 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (17TH OF 22) |
4QR |
2R |
SF |
W |
GR |