Fitzhugh Fella Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 Ken Jones ex-Saints full-back from the 60s has died over Xmas. Here is what I was planning to publish about him next year but on a personal note I would like to add a nicer man you could not wish to meet. So helpful towards us historians too - always ready for a chat or to lend a photo. My sympathies to his wife and family. Ken Jones was widely regarded as the best full-back playing in Division 4 when Ted Bates decided he wanted his services to bolster Southampton’s ambitions to finally gain promotion to the top-flight. His first contract was interesting because he was not only offered £27 a week but also a pound for every 1000 above 20,000 in attendance at home games. A tidy and unflappable defender, he initially jousted with Stuart Williams for the right to wear the nos 2 shirt and then Tommy Hare, but all three lost out when Ted returned to the market in March 1966 to bring in David Webb and with the crew-cutted Londoner now ensconced at right-back, the team reached Division 1 by remaining unbeaten in their last 12 matches. The next season the versatile Ken made 19 League appearances all but one of them at left-back and played his part in the consolidation process as the club strived to hold onto their newly found position among the country’s elite. His best season was 1968-69 when he alternated between both back positions at the expense of Joe Kirkup or Denis Hollywood as Saints qualified for Europe but by the following year Bob McCarthy and Tony Byrne had joined the full-back selection fray and Ken fell further behind in the pecking order. He joined Cardiff then being managed by Jimmy Scoular his old Bradford PA manager but injuries preceded a retirement to a job in Southampton Docks, a resting place for quite a few other Saints players of the era. He settled in Chandlers Ford but was not lost to the sporting pages of the Southern Daily Echo as he forged quite a name for himself as an accomplished snooker player/ coach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nutwood2 Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 Yes. Remember Ken well. Good, solid full back. R.I.P. Ken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trumush Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 Thanks for letting us know Duncan. Watched him play for the Saints then got to know him when he worked in the Docks. Thoroughly nice man and a mean snooker player. Very sad news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintalan Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 RIP Ken Just missed him as my first match in my current spell was Southampton 1–1 Leicester City 24 January 1970 mainly Kirkup & Hollywood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give it to Ron Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 Really sad news, when I was a lad he used to come up to Shirley Warren Club with Tony Byrne who was dating a girl called Sandra there. I had broken my arm playing footie and they both happily signed my cast and were great blokes. RIP Ken a good full back and a gentleman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenridge Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 I played snooker with Ken, on and off for many years as an opponent in the social leagues and got to know him well. A lovely guy and very competitive. A real shame to hear of his passing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottery st mary Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 RIP Mr Jones......One of the best . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Garrett Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 I worked on the same shift as Ken at the docks. All I'll say is he was a better footballer than a crane driver! Very sad news, he was a decent bloke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunrise Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 Nice bloke, a regular down a club I go to, he will be missed for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horton Heath Saint Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 Such a shock. Saw him play many a time in the 60's. Saw lot's of him on the snooker circuit, he coached lot's of youngsters at Chandlers Ford Club, he also played for Conservatives, now Churchills in Eastleigh and won many tournaments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 Ken Jones...I actually measured him for a suit ....in my first job! Nice fella' R.I.P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyinthesky Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 Ken Jones...I actually measured him for a suit ....in my first job! Nice fella' R.I.P. Ken was a brilliant bloke Typical Yorkshire. Very dry sense of humour. Decent player too although injury haunted him for most of his playing career. Big mates with Dennis Hollywood although they often vied for the same full back shirt. Part of the team in the mid/late 60's that really knew how to enjoy life off the pitch outside the glare of today's tabloids. Remember going on a football tour with Ken and co to Germany where we were invited to a Trotting Race. Ken told us to back the favourite in all of the 10 races. 'Can't lose', but of course we did!! As has been said in earlier posts, Ken was a very competent snooker player and coached a lot of youngsters. Much better at potting balls than manouvering containers into ships hatches!! Ken struggled a bit with his health in recent times but seemed to have overcome the issues before this sad news. Much sympathy to his wife Jean, son (big Saints fan) and daughter. A real loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dronskisaint Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 My sympathy to his family..a regular in my younger days and part of an amazing period to be a Saints fan. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkie Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 Sympathies to all the family - my sister (now deceased) used to work at Barclays Bank and had regular encounters with Mr Jones - strange really as she became a Mrs .Jones! Crew cutted Londer Dave Webb - blimey he used to frighten me as a young lad! Hard as nails - but I reckon Docker "Walker" would have had him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waggy Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 Cheers Duncan, I was only eight y.o. when Ken joined Saints but he was an integral part of the team that I grew up with. RIP Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Garrett Posted 28 December, 2012 Share Posted 28 December, 2012 Great story about Ken in Mick Channon's autobiography. He beat Brian O'Neill in a drinking competition, and Terry Paine was laughing because Brian had seemingly p*ssed himself. He was less than happy when it was pointed out to him that Brian was wearing his trousers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted 29 December, 2012 Share Posted 29 December, 2012 RIP Ken, really nice bloke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicestersaint Posted 29 December, 2012 Share Posted 29 December, 2012 RIP Ken Jones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toomer Posted 29 December, 2012 Share Posted 29 December, 2012 Ken was a real gent had the pleasure of playing snooker with him at the Shirley Snooker Hall back in the 70s, RIP Ken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts