Aaron Jones (footballer, born 1994)

Aaron Jay Jones (born 12 March 1994) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for National League club Aldershot Town. He is also the co-director of Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach.

Aaron Jones
Personal information
Full name Aaron Jay Jones[1]
Date of birth (1994-03-12) 12 March 1994[1]
Place of birth Great Yarmouth, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Aldershot Town
Number 17
Youth career
2002–2012 Ipswich Town
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Georgia State Panthers 36 (3)
2015–2016 Clemson Tigers 39 (4)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014 Carolina Dynamo 12 (2)
2017 Philadelphia Union 0 (0)
2017 → Bethlehem Steel (loan) 32 (2)
2018–2023 King's Lynn Town 167 (5)
2023– Aldershot Town 16 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 08:43, 22 October 2023 (UTC)

Playing career

Youth, college and amateur

Jones spent 10 years with Ipswich Town's development academy before moving to the United States to play college soccer at Georgia State University.[2][3] He made a 36 appearances for the Panthers and tallied three goals and seven assists. On 8 January 2015, it was announced that Jones had decided to transfer to Clemson University.[4] He made 39 appearances during his time with the Tigers and finished with four goals and seven assists.

Jones also played in the Premier Development League for Carolina Dynamo.[5]

Professional

On 13 January 2017, Jones was drafted in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by Philadelphia Union.[6] He signed a professional contract with the club a month later.[7] On 1 April 2017, Jones made his professional debut with USL affiliate club Bethlehem Steel in a 3–2 defeat to Rochester Rhinos.[8]

On 1 November 2017, Philadelphia declined their contract option on Jones.[9]

King's Lynn Town

On 24 August 2018, upon his return from the US, Jones signed a two-year deal with Southern League Premier Central side King's Lynn Town.[10]

Aldershot Town

On 23 June 2023, Jones reunited with former King's Lynn manager Tommy Widdrington at National League club Aldershot Town on a one-year deal.[11]

Business career

Alongside his football career, Jones also serves as co-director of Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, which has been owned by his family for multiple generations.[12]

References
  1. "2014 Men's Soccer Roster". GeorgiaStateSports.com. Georgia State Sports. 7 February 2013.
  2. From Ipswich to Philadelphia: The Aaron Jones Story fivefityone.com
  3. Lieberman, Randy (7 February 2013). "Men's Soccer inks Talented Class on Signing Day". GeorgiaStateSports.com. Georgia State Sports. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  4. "Jones Begins Spring Semester Classes at Clemson". ClemsonTigers.com. Clemson Tigers. 8 January 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  5. "Dynamo Talent Jones Signs with Union". USLPDL.com. Premier Development League. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  6. Bright, Ryan (13 January 2017). "Union trade up in the 2nd round to add Marcus Epps, also add Aaron Jones". CSNPhilly.com. CSN Philly. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  7. "Philadelphia Union Sign SuperDraft Selection Aaron Jones". PhiladelphiaUnion.com. Philadelphia Union Communications. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  8. "Bethlehem Steel FC vs Rochester Rhinos". Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  9. "Philadelphia Union Exercise 2018 Options On 11 Players". philadelphiaunion.com. 1 November 2017. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  10. "Defender happy to pen two-year deal with King's Lynn Town". lynnnews.co.uk. 24 August 2018.
  11. "NEW SIGNING: Aaron Jones". www.theshots.co.uk. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  12. "Mixing Business and Pleasure". Folk Features. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.