Paul Jones is the guest of honour when Dale play Stockport County tomorrow as he played for both Club in his illustrate career, which saw him pass over 600 appearances, both here in England and abroad.
Asked where his priorities will be tomorrow, he stated that he will be very impartial!!!!!!
DOB: 13th May 1953
Dale debut: 11th March 1989 – Tranmere Rovers 3-1
Last game: 13th May 1989 – Wrexham 1-2
Also played for: Bolton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town, Oldham Athletic, Blackpool, Rochdale, Stockport County and Cape Town Spurs
Time at Dale: Joined Dale after some time out of football on leaving Huddersfield Town, where he had partnered Dave Sutton in central defence, he was recruited after an injury to Sutton ruled him out and helped to arrest an alarming slide down the league.
It certainly worked as his first three matches were all victorious, he even scored twice in a home game against Scarborough and celebrated his 600th appearance against Wrexham on the last day of the 1988/9 season.
He then followed the recently departed Danny Bergara to Stockport County, where he became player/coach at the start of a lengthy career coaching, managing, scouting for teams at various levels including an unusual job in Hunang Province (China)
His memories include playing with fabulous colleagues including Malcolm Brown, David Frain, Chris Beaumont, Dave Sutton, Neil Edmonds, Steve Taylor not forgetting Danny Bergara, whom he describes as “different but quality when he took me to Stockport County”
Paul only played 14 times at Dale, scoring two goals but really enjoyed his short time at Spotland.
What are you doing since leaving Dale?: As mentioned above, Paul moved on to Stockport County then Hunang Province, where they reached the play offs before a stint in television in China plus work in Turkey and Vietnam.
These days he involved at Stockport with the Players Association plus plays walking football, which seems to be an ideal way to keep in football.
