Sunday, 8 September 2013

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ROB JONES

The Rovers' defence is contains that of one key player.Known for his height and headers,he scored some superb goals last season.

But as well as the captain of a football club,he has worked as a teacher,youth coach and caretaker manager-is there anything Rob Jones just doesn't do?

RISE OF ROB

Rob never started off as a brilliant professional footballer.He started as a PE teacher whilst playing part-time for Whitby and then Spennymoor United.A series of excellent performances attracted the attention of Conference North club Gateshead.

Despite still being a part-timer,he went from earning £50 a week to £300 a week at Gateshead.He spent two years as a player for The Heed.

And then,in 2003,the dream became a reality for 23-year-old Rob.He became a professional footballer for Stockport County.

"It was a great day for me to finally achieve that",Rob explains,"A lot of hard work in my career saw me join one of the biggest clubs in the old Division 3.They had good attendances and an experienced chairman who was the key to my move to Stockport."

FROM GRIMSBY TO EUROPE
Rob then signed for one of the Football League's longest serving clubs in the country-Grimsby Town.The name isn't one that would necessarily excite a player greatly but Rob was vice-captain at Blundell Park,a position he relished.

Two years at Grimsby were all it took for him to move up to one of the highest levels in football.And in 2006,the 6'7" talismanic defender joined European contenders Hibernian.

"The time in Edinburgh was a new experience for me.I was sometimes made captain when the current one was injured and that earned me more respect as a player.I also gained some important skills in leadership which I have picked up and used today."

"The best memories of Hibernian were scoring a late equaliser against Hearts in the Edinburgh derby.It was a well-executed goal.I ran into the box and dived with a header on the 89th minute.The second was playing in Europe."

SUCCESS CONTINUES FOR ROB
Rob signed for Championship newboys Scunthorpe United in the summer of 2009.He was injured often and could only manage 55 appearances for Nigel Adkins' side.However,Iron supporters will undoubtedly remember him for his height rather than absences.

Two years later in 2011,Rob didn't have his contract renewed by new boss Alan  Knill.As a result,he left the club on a free.

The next stop in his footballing journey was to a club he finally got to shine fully at-big dogs Sheffield Wednesday.He was immediately made captain due to his clear demonstration of leadership skills.It was at Hillsborough he became better known.

"I will always be close to Wednesday.They are a club I love,and it was a bigger honour to get them promoted as captain.The fact I earned a promotion with them just is the cherry on the cake,"he told BBC journalists.

Doncaster was the next club he signed for.It was the best club he has been at yet if he does say so himself.It was a footballer's dream-he was fans favourite,a key player under two managers and even won the League One title with Donny.But the highlight was being a player-youth coach.

That gave him a different mindset.

THE FUTURE

Rob is now 33.He hasn't really got long to go until he hangs up his boots,so what will 'Jonesy' do when that day comes?

"I want to be a manager.Originally I wanted to be a youth coach or a reserve team manager when I quit playing but the experience of captaincy and coach a club has changed that.I want to be a manager and nothing lower."

Who knows?In five years time,Rob may swap the armband for the touchline.

No comments:

Post a Comment