Famous Players – The 1980’s

Andy Jones

Andy played for Rhyl in the Northern Premier League before being bought by Vale manager John Rudge for £3,000 in May 1985. He quickly became a regular in the squad and was the Vale’s top-scorer in 1985-86 with eighteen goals, his strike partnership with Robbie Earle helping the club win promotion to the third tier.

He enhanced his growing reputation in the 1986-87 season, again as top marksman, with 37 goals (a post-war club record); his 27 league goals making him the most prolific scorer outside of the top flight. Andy scored twelve of his goals from the penalty spot, missing just three in the campaign.

Throughout his career at Vale he scored 20 of his 23 penalties in competitive games – an all-time club record. He also scored a brace eight times, bagged a hat-trick against Fulham at Craven Cottage and hit five past Newport County at Vale Park. His prolific goalscoring exploits made him an obvious winner for the Player of the Season award.

After scoring 6 goals in the first 8 games of the 1987-88 season he was sold to Charlton Athletic for a then club record fee of £350,000.  He went on to play 6 times for Wales scoring 1 goal.