{{short description|Welsh footballer}} {{Use British English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Lot Jones | image =Lot Jones Footballer.jpg | fullname = William Thomas Jones | birth_date = {{Birth date|1882|6|28|df=y}} (baptism) | birth_place = Chirk, Wales | death_date = {{death date|df=y|1941|7|13}} (aged 59) | death_place = Chirk, Wales | height = | position = Inside forward | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = | years2 = | years3 = 1903–1919 | years4 = | years5 = 1921 | years6 = 1921 | years7 = | years8 = | clubs1 = Chirk | clubs2 = Druids | clubs3 = Manchester City | clubs4 = Southend United | clubs5 = Aberdare Athletic | clubs6 = Wrexham | clubs7 = Oswestry Town | clubs8 = Chirk | caps1 = | caps2 = | caps3 = 281 | caps4 = | caps5 = 18 | caps6 = 7 | caps7 = | caps8 = | goals1 = | goals2 = | goals3 = 69 | goals4 = | goals5 = 0 | goals6 = 2 | goals7 = | goals8 = | nationalyears1 = 1905–1920 | nationalteam1 = Wales | nationalcaps1 = 20 | nationalgoals1 = 6 }}

'''William Thomas Jones''' (baptised 28 June 1882<ref name=bapchirk>Baptism Register, Chirk Parish Church, page 13</ref> – 13 July 1941),<ref name="Penney">{{cite book |last=Penney |first=Ian |title=The Maine Road Encyclopedia |publisher=Mainstream |location=Edinburgh |year=1995 |isbn= 1-85158-710-1|pages=105}}</ref> also known as '''William''' "'''Lot'''" '''Jones''' and '''Billy Lot Jones''', was a Welsh footballer who played as a forward.

Jones was born in Chirk, Denbighshire and was the son of Elizabeth Jones (born 1864)<ref name=baptref>Baptism Register, Trefonen Parish Church, page 18</ref> and grandson of Lot Jones (born 1831), a coal miner<ref>British Census 1881 RG11; Piece: 2661; Folio: 85; Page: 18; GSU roll: 1341639.</ref> and labourer.<ref>British Census 1891 RG12; Piece: 2118; Folio: 176; Page: 27; GSU roll: 6097228.</ref> He was treated as a son of his grandfather, Lot. His biological uncle was the footballer, Di Jones.{{cn|date=July 2023}} As a youth he worked as a pit miner<ref>British Census 1901 Class: RG13; Piece: 2546; Folio: 178; Page: 19.</ref> and was one of several footballers to emerge from the area around the start of the 20th century, along with Billy Meredith and George Wynn. He signed for Manchester City in January 1903 from Rushton Druids,<ref name="Penney"/> but did not establish himself immediately. He made only a single appearance in his first full season, scoring a goal in a 2–1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in April 1904,<ref>{{cite book |last=James |first=Gary |title=Manchester City – The Complete Record |publisher=Breedon |location=Derby |year=2006 |isbn=1-85983-512-0|pages=292}}</ref> and by the time he received his next opportunity he had been at the club for two years. From January 1905 until the end of the 1905–06 season Jones played in around half of his club's matches.

In the 1906 close season a financial scandal engulfed the club, resulting in the suspension of 17 senior players and several club officials, none of whom were permitted to play for the club once their suspensions ended. Jones was not implicated in the scandal, but with few experienced teammates remaining, his team plunged from title contenders to relegation candidates. The first match after the suspensions was particularly eventful. Manchester City fielded five debutants against Woolwich Arsenal, in a match played in stifling heat.<ref>James, ''Manchester City – The Complete Record'', p112</ref> The conditions caused several City men to collapse, and by half time only eight remained. Arsenal eased to a 4–1 win. By the final whistle, Jones was one of only six Manchester City players left.<ref>James, ''Manchester City – The Complete Record'', p113</ref> The following match was a club record 9–1 defeat at Everton, though over the course of the season, enough points were gained to secure First Division survival. By now, Jones was a first team regular. In 1906–07 he scored 11 goals in 27 league matches.<ref>James, ''Manchester City – The Complete Record'', p299</ref> Playing at inside-left, Jones formed a lasting left-sided partnership with Jimmy Conlin, backed up by Jimmy Blair at left-half.<ref name="Ward">{{cite book |last=Ward |first=Andrew |title=The Manchester City Story |publisher=Breedon|location=Derby |year=1984 |isbn=0-907969-05-4|pages=15}}</ref>

During a successful 1907–08 season in which Manchester City equalled their previous best of third in the league, Jones was given a benefit match. Middlesbrough provided the opposition, and Jones received £835 after expenses.<ref name="Ward"/> The following season, Manchester City was relegated to the Second Division, though with Jones as captain they made an immediate return, winning the Second Division championship in 1910. This made Jones the second City captain (after Billy Meredith) to win a trophy.<ref>{{cite news | title=Club Records: Captains | work=Manchester City FC Match programme | date=19 April 2009 }}</ref> He continued to play for Manchester City until competitive football ceased due to the First World War, at which point he volunteered for the 23rd (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, "Sportmen's Battalion"<ref>Ward, Fred W., ''The 23rd (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (First Sportsman's) A Record of its Services in the Great War, 1914-1919''</ref> When League football resumed in 1919, Jones was transferred to Southend United.

In total, he played for Manchester City 301 times, and scored 76 goals between 1903 and 1914. He also won 20 caps and scored six goals for the Wales national football team.

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Lot}} Category:1882 births Category:1941 deaths Category:Military personnel from Wrexham County Borough Category:British Army personnel of World War I Category:Royal Fusiliers soldiers Category:Sportspeople from Chirk Category:Footballers from Wrexham County Borough Category:Welsh men's footballers Category:Wales men's international footballers Category:Manchester City F.C. players Category:Southend United F.C. players Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players Category:Chirk AAA F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Aberdare Athletic F.C. players Category:Oswestry Town F.C. players Category:Druids F.C. players