RIP MIck Jones

[SwalePie]

Sad news today from Neil Warnock's Twitter...

https://twitter.com/warnockofficial/status/1556985265847246853

"Sad to report my old assistant manager Mick Jones passed away this morning. We had some unbelievable times. Mick was the sensible one. I’ll miss him loads. Boy did we have some laughs. RIP"

[SwalePie]

For our younger fans...

"He was previously Neil Warnock's assistant manager at Leeds United in the 2012/13 season. It was at Peterborough that Jones initially met Neil Warnock and he would go on to assist at Notts County from 1989 to 1993, Huddersfield Town from 1993 to 1995, before joining Plymouth Argyle in 1995, once again as Warnock's assistant and later with Sheffield United.

Jones began his coaching career Canadian outfit Ottawa Tigers, before he returned to England in 1976 to fill the manager's role at Kettering Town, initially as player-manager.

He enjoyed a successful spell with Kettering which saw them in the FA Trophy final in 1979 and after losing the final to Stafford Rangers. Later Jones entered league management at Mansfield Town. After two seasons with the club he joined Bradford City to assist his former team mate Roy McFarland.

The pair also had a spell at Derby followed before Jones had two years in charge of Halifax Town. Peterborough then appointed Jones, initially as Noel Cantwell's assistant, before he took over as manager in 1988.

After Plymouth, Jones managed the Brunei national team and performed an amazing feat in getting the tiny Borneo province to their first ever Malaysia Cup final in 1999, beating Sarawak by two goals to one to collect the trophy.

Jones remained with Brunei until 2002 and returned to England for spells as assistant manager at Nuneaton Borough, and he would also go on to manage Telford United.
In 2005, Jones resumed his partnership with Warnock at Sheffield United. The pair enjoyed success as the Blades were promoted to the Premier League at the end of Jones' first season. Jones also assisted in guiding the club to FA Cup and League Cup Semi-Finals.

With The Eagles, Palace finished 5th and 15th in the Championship, before the pair left Selhurst Park to join QPR during the 2009/10 campaign.

In the first full season at Loftus Road, Jones was with Warnock led QPR back to the Barclays Premier League after a 15 year absence by winning the npower Championship.

QPR's spell outside the top flight during that period had included administration, a spell in League One, several owners and numerous managers, but they topped the table since November of the 2010/11 season.

QPR were 20th in the Championship in March 2010 and Warnock & Jones transformed the team to promotion in 13 months. They remained with the club until January 2012."

https://leaguemanagers.com/managers/mick-jones/

[upthemaggies]

I think Jones is the first one we've lost from that Wembley play off wins era, on the football side.

RIP

[SwalePie]

Now on the club OS... (I didn't even realise he was instrumental in bringing Callum McGregor and Jack Grealish to Notts)

"We are deeply saddened to report the passing of our former player and assistant manager, Mick Jones.

Mick enjoyed a variety of successes at Meadow Lane, perhaps most notably as assistant to Neil Warnock during our incredible rise to the First Division in the early 90s.

His contributions as a player should not be disregarded, however, as he played 37 games in our 1970-71 Division Four-winning season before being involved in another promotion campaign two years later.

Our all-time leading goalscorer, Les Bradd, has fond memories of playing with Mick.

“When he joined us from Derby, Jimmy Sirrel used him as our midfield ball-winner,” recalled Les.

“He was instrumental in breaking up opposition attacks and was under instruction to pass the ball on to our playmaker, Don Masson.

“Mick was integral in our success in the early seventies – he fought tooth and nail for every ball and was a must in our team.
“We loved him as a team-mate and he was brilliant off the pitch, too. He was a wonderful part of that group.”

Les was delighted to be reunited with Mick when he returned to Meadow Lane as assistant manager to Chris Kiwomya in 2013.

“In his time working with Neil at Leeds United he’d been keeping tabs on two players – Jack Grealish and Callum MacGregor,” said Les.
“After coming back to Notts he kept in touch with both players’ agents and managed to bring them to Meadow Lane on loan. What a success they proved to be!

“He certainly had an eye for a player.”

After moving on to Peterborough before sampling life as a player-coach in Canada with Ottawa Tigers, Mick returned to England to take up the position of player-manager at Kettering Town before going on to hold coaching and management positions at Mansfield Town, Bradford City, Derby County and Halifax Town.

He then took the reins at Peterborough, where he first met Neil, and later became his assistant at Notts, Huddersfield Town and Plymouth Argyle, who he managed for a short time following Warnock’s departure.

Mick’s next move was an unconventional one as he became manager of Brunei’s national team, who he did brilliantly to help win the Malaysia Cup in 1999.

After spells as assistant at Nuneaton Borough and Telford United following his return to England, Jones reunited with Warnock at Sheffield United before working with him at Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers and Leeds United.

When announcing the news on his Twitter account, Neil said: "We had some unbelievable times. Mick was the sensible one. I’ll miss him loads. Boy did we have some laughs. RIP."

Neil will be at Meadow Lane as our special hospitality guest for the visit of Chesterfield on Saturday 20 August, when a minute’s applause will be held in tribute to Mick.

Our thoughts are with Mick’s loved ones at this very sad time."

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2022/august/mick-jones-passing-090822/

[upthemaggies]

.

[upthemaggies]

His Magpie Circle interview less than a year ago, November 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQutef9AjAM

[Frigiliana Pie 1]

Sad news. As a player, he was a defensive midfield ball winner, who enabled Don Masson to get on with the skilful stuff.

Just the sort of player we need now.

[ncfcog]

Sad loss. Some great memories. Thoughts go out to his family.

[crazyfists]

RIP Mick, remember him well from the Warnock era. Best wishes to his family.

[Elite_Pie]

Sad news. As a player, he was a defensive midfield ball winner, who enabled Don Masson to get on with the skilful stuff.

That sums it up well. His pre-match tactical briefing would have been a simple one - win the ball and give it to Masson! Mick Jones did exactly that, and played a key role in a great side.