Sad news has reached Club Historian Ron Parrott this week of the passing away of a former player whom many supporters will remember well, namely Garry Jones who played up front for one season in 1980/81.
Ron commented “I remember Garry well, he was a fit lad, tall and slim, with an unforgettable shock of blonde hair. My favourite memory of him was in the David v Goliath FA Cup 1st round tie at Southend United, the Shrimpers were top of the 4th Division table and boasted the only 100% home record in the whole Football League, whilst United languished in bottom place, without an away win all season. Garry started the move that led to the only goal of the game when he gathered the ball on the left and arrowed a great ball to the opposite flank where Winston White raced past his marker and crossed low and hard to the far post where Garry Jones, had continued his run to slot the ball home from four yards for a most unexpected winner”
Garry’s full pen-pic is as follows:-
Born Wythenshawe, Manchester 11th December 1950, died Bramhall, Cheshire 6th April 2016
Garry had attracted the attention of both Manchester City & United’s scouts as he made a name for himself with Manchester Schoolboys. However, Bolton Wanderers stepped in to poach him as a raw 15-year-old. Garry went on to make 203 league appearances for Wanderers, scoring 41 goals. He had a spell on loan to Sheffield United before joining Blackpool in November 1978, where he made a further 27 league appearances and notching five more goals.
Garry joined Hereford in August 1980 and stayed for just the one season making 30 first-team appearances and scoring six more goals. His scoring record was deemed to be below par and he was released at the end of the season to join Northwich Victoria, before moving on to Runcorn and Chorley and Los Angeles Aztecs then finally ending his career in the Irish League with Derry City.