Dan Jones

Daniel John Jones (born 14 December 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Port Vale.

His preferred position is at centre-back, though he can play at left-back, and he is also a skilled throw-in taker.

Dan Jones was born on 14 December 1994 in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

He spent four years in the academy at Sunderland, before he started his career in Hartlepool United's youth system and established himself in the youth team in the 2012–13 season.

Jones started his career in Hartlepool United's youth system, signing his first professional contract in 2013.

He was offered his first professional contract in April 2013.

Jones's progress was hampered after a knee injury in October 2013 which saw him ruled out for two months with a meniscus tear.

He made his first-team debut at Hartlepool's Victoria Park on 25 March 2014, coming on as a 65th-minute substitute in a 4–2 defeat to Mansfield Town.

He signed a new contract of undisclosed length with Hartlepool two months later.

Having failed to play again under Colin Cooper's stewardship, Jones came into first-team contention during Sam Collins's caretaker spell.

On 7 October 2014, he made his first start in a 2–1 home defeat to Sheffield United in the Football League Trophy.

He was initially dropped to the bench by new permanent manager Paul Murray, who lasted six weeks in the role, before Jones established himself in defence following the appointment of Ronnie Moore in December.

He went on to start 23 League Two games primarily as a left-sided centre-half in the 2014–15 campaign, helping United to avoid relegation out of the Football League, and signed another new contract of undisclosed length in the summer.

He made 12 appearances in the 2015–16 season.

Having been released by the club in 2016, Jones signed for League Two club Grimsby Town, with loan spells at Gateshead and AFC Fylde during the 2016–17 season.

On 10 May 2016, Jones was released by Hartlepool; manager Craig Hignett said that "It might be the best thing that’s happened to him because Dan has got everything, but, for one reason or another, it hasn’t really clicked for him".

Jones signed a one-year contract with newly-promoted League Two club Grimsby Town on 24 June 2016.

According to the Grimsby Telegraph, manager Paul Hurst saw him as "one for the future upon his arrival at Blundell Park".

He joined National League club Gateshead on a one-month loan on 7 October 2016.

Jones featured in three league games at the Gateshead International Stadium, but "Tynesiders" boss Neil Aspin said that "if Grimsby decide to loan him out again then he will be somebody we consider".

However, Bignot was sacked three weeks later and, having made five appearances for Grimsby in the 2016–17 season, Jones was released by new manager Russell Slade in May 2017.

He joined Barrow in 2017 and was a first-team regular for two seasons, winning two caps for the England C team, before he joined Salford City on a two-year contract in June 2019.

Jones instead joined National League North leaders AFC Fylde on a one-month loan, starting on 10 February 2017.

Dave Challinor, manager of the "Coasters", tried to extend the loan to keep Jones at Mill Farm, but his request was denied by Grimsby.

Upon returning to Grimsby, new manager Marcus Bignot said that "Dan is back with us now and is going to be important for us moving forward".

On 22 June 2017, Jones signed a one-year contract, with the option of another year, at National League club Barrow.

Speaking six days later, manager Paul Cox said that he had missed out on a number of other targets and that the transfer market was “the hardest in a number of years”.

Jones scored his first career goal on his Barrow debut in a 2–1 defeat away to Dagenham & Redbridge on 5 August.

It proved to be a difficult campaign however, with Cox leaving the club in August, and his replacement – Micky Moore – was sacked after three months despite being publicly backed in the media by Jones.

Jones missed a month of action with a knee injury, but the North-West Evening Mail reported that he had impressed new manager Adrian Pennock with his work rate on the sidelines.

He ended the 2017–18 season with three goals in 35 appearances as the Barrow finished one points above the relegation zone.

The following season Jones was named in the National League Team of the Year for the 2018–19 season despite Barrow finishing in tenth-place.

He spent the second half of the 2019–20 season on loan at former club Barrow, which would end in them winning promotion as champions of the National League.

On 5 June 2019, Jones joined newly promoted League Two club Salford City on a two-year contract.

However, he struggled to break into Graham Alexander's first-team plans, with Ibou Touray preferred at left-back, and was limited to three league games.

He was loaned to Harrogate Town the following season and played in the 2020 FA Trophy final victory over Concord Rangers.

He joined Port Vale after being released from Salford at the end of the 2020–21 season.

On 10 February 2020, he rejoined Barrow on loan until the end of the 2019–20 season.

Barrow manager Ian Evatt stated that Jones would provide fresh competition for a team aiming to win the league and that he would provide cover for the centre-back position with Josh Granite out injured.

He was limited to four appearances during his second spell at Holker Street however, as due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England the season was curtailed on 16 March, and Barrow were promoted as league winners on a points-per-game basis.