Number 19 Rob Jones

Rob Jones Factfile
Position - Defender
DOB - 5/11/1971
Place of Birth - Wrexham, Wales
International Caps - 8 (England)
Debut - Manchester United (6 October 1991)
Games for Liverpool - 243 (185 League Games)
Goals - 0
Achievements - FA Cup, League Cup

Next on the list of top Premier League players to wear the red of Liverpool Fc is Rob Jones. Jones signed for Merseyside club from Crewe Alexandra in 1991 after impressing the then Liverpool manager Graeme Souness. Jones made his debut only 48 hours after he signed for liverpool against the clubs biggest rivals Manchester United. It was a debut to remember for Rob Jones as the he lined up agaisnt a promising young winger by the name of Ryan Giggs. Jones marked him out the game that finished 0-0.
Jones was a red since childhood as his grandfather, Bill Jones played 277 games from 1946-1954 for Liverpool.
By the end of his first season Rob Jones had his first international cap for England and an FA Cup winners medal. He looked set to be the number one choice for England at left back in the 1992 Euro's however the first of many injuries that riddled Bob Jones's career hit him and forced him to miss the competition.
Jones underwent surgery on the shin splints and missed the first 6 weeks of the following season. When he was fit again he recaptured his starting place in no time. He continued to blossom at Anfield and was a part of the side that triumphed in the League Cup in 1995 when Liverpool beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1. He continued to be switched from either wing back position by manager Roy Evans as a young Jason McAteer was making his presence felt in the team.
Jones played at Wembley in 1996 and wore one of the famous cream and red suits that Liverpool players adopted before the game. Unfortunately a late goal from Eric Cantona cost Liverpool cup. The game finished 1-0 to Man United. During this period of the 90's Jones established himself as one of the best full-backs in the country, alongside Man United's Gary Neville with whom he was in direct competition with for the full-back position with at international level for England.
Recently after the 1996 FA Cup final things took a turn for the worse for Jones. Doctors advised him to take a break from the game for at least 6 months or a back injury could force him to live the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Jones returned at the end of the 1996-97 season and was in and out of the squad in 1997/98 campaign until February when he finally seemed to have recaptured his place. However this was only short lived. A knee injury ment Jones went under the knife three times as doctors tried to fix the problem, but it was too late. Liverpool where going in a new direction. The club had new manager Gerard Houllier at the helm and a new decade on the horizon. Jones's Liverpool career was over. He joined West Ham United in 1999 but it was clear the former Liverpool and England international was coming to the end of his footballing career. Ultimately Jones's knee ended his career. It caused him more problems and he was forced to retire at 27 years old.

Why i put Rob Jones in
The first season i remember and still think of quite fondly was the 1995-1996 season. The year we beat Newcastle 4-3 and lost the FA Cup final to Man Utd. I always remember Jones and what he did that year. As i mentioned before i played everywhere you can on a football pitch. I started in goal then moved to right back. It was at this time I fell in love with Rob Jones. Most of the kids in school adored Robbie Fowler and Ste McManaman but not me i loved seeing Jones busting his gut to get down the wing and play a neat one - two with another player. He did the simple things well and that puts you in good stead to be a footballer. Most people loved seeing flowing attacking attractive football and don't get me wrong i love all those things too but i also love seeing a full back make a crunching tackle then burst down the wing laying the ball off to the 'flare' type players. Jones did this all day long. I remember being devastated when he was injured. Thinking the side wouldn't function as well. If Jones was fit Liverpool would of won the league. Many think the art of tackling has been lost. Well it wasn't lost in Rob Jones he was awesome at tackling and getting forward. The only thing he lacked was goals. He never scored. It was quite amusing at times. He was always in good positions to score but it was like the football gods had cursed him with bad knees and an inability to put the ball in the net.
Rob Jones makes it into the list of top 20 Premier League players because when he was fully fit he could do everything a fan or manager wanted. He had a great engine, a solid tackle, the ability to play on either flank and the knowledge to keep the best wingers of his generation quite. Jones was a part of that Liverpool side that had some memorable moments in the 90's despite never winning the league.



This clip shows Rob Jones and Liverpool at there best in the 90's.