Irish League soccer legend Jimmy Jones passes away

The former Belfast Celtic and Glenavon striker, whose post war record of 74 goals in the 56-57 season still stands today, was idolised at his club Glenavon and considered by many one of the sport’s greatest players.

“It is very sad to learn of the passing of Jimmy Jones,” said Glenavon chairman Adrian Teer.

“He was a colossus of a player and we will never see the like of him again. He was a player, a captain and a manager to this club and above all else he had a great personality.

“It is a sad day for his family and a sad day for Glenavon Football Club. It is only a few months ago Jimmy was at Mourneview Park for the naming of the Jimmy Jones Suite in his memory.”

He served Glenavon as a player from 1951 to 1962, was captain on the club tour of the USA in 1960 and manager from 1969-72. He scored 517 goals for the club and was the leading scorer in the league in 10 successive seasons from 1952/53 to 1961/62.

His Glenavon honours of three league titles and three Irish Cups speak for themselves as testimony to the great Glenavon sides of the 1950’s.

He also played 14 games for Portadown and before joining the Lurgan Blues played with Larne and Fulham during the 1950-51 season.