Steve Jones (footballer, born 1976)

For the former West Ham and Charlton player. see Steve Jones (English footballer).

Steve Jones

Personal information
Full name	Stephen Graham Jones
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Attacking Midfielder/Striker
Team information
Current team	Burnley
Number	14
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12/9/2007

Steve Graham Jones (born October 25, 1976 in Derry, Ulster) is a Northern Irish professional football player, currently with Burnley.

History

Crewe

Steve Jones, An Everton fan, was working at Plumb centre in Oldham when he played for Chadderton FC. He was spotted in a tournament by a well connected ex-footballer who passed his feelings over to Blackpool FC via the scouting network. Jones had been a very promising footballer but at 16 he was still growing and is one of a number of players overlooked at that time by Bury FC. Jones was signed from Nationwide Conference club Leigh RMI for £75,000 in 2001, having previously been on the books of Blackpool and Football League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers. At Leigh, Jones scored 43 goals in just over 100 games. Having been watched several times by Crewe assistant manager Neil Baker, Jones was finally persuaded to sign for Crewe in time for the 2001/02 campaign.

However, although Jones made his debut in August 2001 against Manchester City, he only made six appearances in his first season at Crewe. He spent the latter part of the year on loan with Rochdale gaining more first team experience.

Following Crewe's relegation to the Second Division though, Jones' career sprang into life. He scored his first two goals for the club against QPR in October 2002. He went on to finish with 11 goals that season as Crewe won promotion. The following season in the First Division, he scored 16 goals and won the Crewe supporters' 'Player of the Year' award. In the 2004-05 season he scored 13 goals.

A pacy forward, Jones can also play on either wing and his versatility was a useful asset to manager Dario Gradi's squad. He has won a number of Northern Ireland caps, having scored his first goal against St. Kitts and Nevis in 2004.

At the end of the 2005-06 season, Steve Jones confirmed he would be leaving Crewe once his contract had expired in July 2006. He told the club's official website: "I've had five great years here and I cannot thank the club, the fans and the staff for all they have done for me. Crewe will always hold a special place in my heart because they gave me a chance to play in the Football League again and go on to play for Northern Ireland."

He finished the season with having the most assists in the team, with twelve in total, and four goals, which he admitted to be a disappointing record by his own standards.

Burnley

On 3 May, 2006, he joined Burnley on a free transfer, agreeing a three-year deal at Turf Moor due to expire at the end of the 2008/09 season.

Jones scored twice in the first game of the 2006/07 season on his competitive debut for Burnley and immediately became a first-team regular, albeit playing in a slightly unfamiliar position on the left side of attack. He became less assured of a starting place as the season progressed and he began the 2007-08 season as a substitute or squad player.

International goals

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	2004-06-02	Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis	Saint Kitts and Nevis	2-0	2-0	Friendly game

External links

• Steve Jones at Soccerbase
• Profile at Northern Ireland F.A. website