Bryn Jones
Posted on: Wed 17 Nov 2004
Brynmor Jones was born on Valentine's Day, 1912, in the mining village of Penyard, near Merthyr Tydfil. Twenty six years later he was to become the costliest footballer in the British Isles. His early soccer days began when he played for his school, Queen's Road in Merthyr. On leaving he took virtually the only option open to him for work, which was to go down the local pit. He played for Merthyr Amateurs and Plymouth United in the local South Wales District League and he had an unsuccessful trial with Southend United before joining Glenavon of the Irish League. In August, 1933, he returned to Wales to play for Aberaman and three months later he joined Wolves for a fee of £1,500.
Bryn's debut for the club came within days when he was included in the team to face Everton at Goodison Park. He didn't score although Wolves came home with a 2-1 victory under their belts. Bryn was dropped for the next game but returned the following Saturday and scored his first goal for the club in a 3-1 defeat at Derby.
He didn't miss another match that season and he scored ten goals in his twenty-seven appearances. Wolves finished the term in a disappointing 15th position. The following season saw him play in all but nine games and although he only scored seven goals, he endeared himself to the Wolves faithful with his excellent ball control and unselfish play which led to him creating many more goals than he actually scored himself.
For the team it was to prove another fruitless year as they finished in the lower reaches of the table once more. But Bryn's obvious skills were recognised and he was chosen to play for Wales against Northern Ireland, the first of his 17th international caps. On the domestic front there wasn't to be much improvement for Wolves in the l935/36 season as they again finished in 15th position and crashed out of the cup in a third round replay at Leeds.
Bryn missed just two games that year and he scored nine goals including a hat-trick at Molineux against Preston shortly before the season's end. He played for Wales three more times being capped against Northern Ireland again, Scotland and England. The England v Wales game took place at Molineux and he scored one of the goals in the shock 2-1 defeat of the English.
The goals of Tom Galley, Gordon Clayton and Bryn Jones helped Wolves achieve respectability in 1936/37, when the club finished in fifth place in the league and reached the quarter-finals of the cup, only going out after two replays with Sunderland. Bryn scored 14 goals in his 33 appearances and he got three more caps against England, Ireland and Scotland.
He was to play against the same three countries the following season which was to be his last and most successful at Molineux. Wolves finished as runners-up in the league and in fact would have taken the Championship had they not lost their last match at Sunderland. Bryn missed just half a dozen games and he scored a further 17 goals for Wanderers.
There was an outcry from the fans when, in August 1938, he was transferred to Arsenal for the then record fee of £14,000. Such was the popularity of the little Welshman, for he stood only five and a half feet tall, that there was a demonstration when he left. He continued to win caps with the Gunners and stayed at Highbury until 1949 when he was appointed player-coach of Norwich City.
After two seasons he was advised by his doctor to quit the game because of a chest condition. He took over a newsagent-tobacconist shop close to Highbury in September, 1951, and there he stayed until his death, at the age of 73, in 1985.
WOLVES PLAYING CAREER 1933-1938
League Appearances 163 52
FA Cup Appearances 14 Goals 5
TOTAL APPEARANCES 177 GOALS 57
Bryn's debut for the club came within days when he was included in the team to face Everton at Goodison Park. He didn't score although Wolves came home with a 2-1 victory under their belts. Bryn was dropped for the next game but returned the following Saturday and scored his first goal for the club in a 3-1 defeat at Derby.
He didn't miss another match that season and he scored ten goals in his twenty-seven appearances. Wolves finished the term in a disappointing 15th position. The following season saw him play in all but nine games and although he only scored seven goals, he endeared himself to the Wolves faithful with his excellent ball control and unselfish play which led to him creating many more goals than he actually scored himself.
For the team it was to prove another fruitless year as they finished in the lower reaches of the table once more. But Bryn's obvious skills were recognised and he was chosen to play for Wales against Northern Ireland, the first of his 17th international caps. On the domestic front there wasn't to be much improvement for Wolves in the l935/36 season as they again finished in 15th position and crashed out of the cup in a third round replay at Leeds.
Bryn missed just two games that year and he scored nine goals including a hat-trick at Molineux against Preston shortly before the season's end. He played for Wales three more times being capped against Northern Ireland again, Scotland and England. The England v Wales game took place at Molineux and he scored one of the goals in the shock 2-1 defeat of the English.
The goals of Tom Galley, Gordon Clayton and Bryn Jones helped Wolves achieve respectability in 1936/37, when the club finished in fifth place in the league and reached the quarter-finals of the cup, only going out after two replays with Sunderland. Bryn scored 14 goals in his 33 appearances and he got three more caps against England, Ireland and Scotland.
He was to play against the same three countries the following season which was to be his last and most successful at Molineux. Wolves finished as runners-up in the league and in fact would have taken the Championship had they not lost their last match at Sunderland. Bryn missed just half a dozen games and he scored a further 17 goals for Wanderers.
There was an outcry from the fans when, in August 1938, he was transferred to Arsenal for the then record fee of £14,000. Such was the popularity of the little Welshman, for he stood only five and a half feet tall, that there was a demonstration when he left. He continued to win caps with the Gunners and stayed at Highbury until 1949 when he was appointed player-coach of Norwich City.
After two seasons he was advised by his doctor to quit the game because of a chest condition. He took over a newsagent-tobacconist shop close to Highbury in September, 1951, and there he stayed until his death, at the age of 73, in 1985.
WOLVES PLAYING CAREER 1933-1938
League Appearances 163 52
FA Cup Appearances 14 Goals 5
TOTAL APPEARANCES 177 GOALS 57
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