Charlie Jones

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For other persons named Charles Jones, see Charles Jones (disambiguation).

Charles "Charlie" Jones (December 12, 1899 – April 1966) was a Welsh international footballer.

Born in Troedyrhiw, Merthyr Tydfil, Jones started his career at Cardiff City, but was released in the summer of 1921. He joined Stockport County, and in his first season at the club (1921-22) won a Third Division North medal and promotion to the Second Division. He moved in March 1923 to First Division Oldham Athletic, but the club were relegated to the Second Division soon after he joined; Jones spent another two seasons with the Latics in the second flight, and then joined fellow Second Division side Nottingham Forest in the summer of 1925.

Jones steadily made a name for himself as a talented left winger with Forest, making over 100 appearances for them in three years. It was also while there that he picked up the first of his eight caps for Wales, excelling in a 3-1 victory over England at Selhurst Park on March 1, 1926. In addition, he went on to captain his country several times.

Jones returned to the top flight when he was signed by Herbert Chapman for Arsenal in the summer of 1928, and he immediately became a regular, making his debut on the opening day of the season, against Sheffield Wednesday on August 25, 1928. He was a near ever-present for his first two seasons at the club, but the arrival of Alex James and Cliff Bastin in 1929 meant that Jones was squeezed out of the Arsenal attacking lineup, and as a result he missed out on being in the Gunners' 1930 FA Cup-winning side.

However, Jones proved his versatility by moving to right half, and became known as a tenacious ballwinner and committed tackler in the Arsenal midfield. With Arsenal he won three First Division winners' medals (in 1930-31, 1932-33 and 1933-34), and played in the 1931-32 FA Cup final (which Arsenal lost controversially to Newcastle United). Towards the end of his career his age was starting to catch up with him, and competition for midfield places was fierce; with players such as Bob John, Frank Hill and Jack Crayston in the Arsenal squad, Jones only played 16 matches in 1932-33. However his knowledge of the game and tactical sense were still appreciated by Arsenal managers Herbert Chapman and Joe Shaw; this meant he was a regular in the 1933-34 season, at the end of which he retired from the game, at the age of 34. In all he played 195 games for Arsenal, scoring 8 goals.

After retiring from playing, Jones was briefly manager of Notts County, from May 1934 to December 1935. However, he achieved little and after leaving the job decided to leave football entirely, and became a successful businessman. He died in 1966 at the age of 66.