Vinnie Jones

Vinnie Jones

Jones at Comic-Con promoting The Midnight Meat Train in July 2007
Personal information
Full name	Vincent Peter Jones
Date of birth	5 January 1965 (1965-01-05) (age 46)
Place of birth	Watford, Hertfordshire, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Playing position	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1984–1986	Wealdstone
1986	Holmsund
1986–1989	Wimbledon	77	(9)
1989–1990	Leeds United	46	(5)
1990–1991	Sheffield United	35	(2)
1991–1992	Chelsea	42	(4)
1992–1998	Wimbledon	177	(14)
1998–1999	Queens Park Rangers	9	(1)
Total		386	(33)
National team
1994–1997	Wales	9	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Vincent Peter "Vinnie" Jones (born 5 January 1965) is a former English footballer-turned-film actor.

Jones represented and captained the Welsh national football team having qualified via a Welsh grandparent. He also previously played for Chelsea and Leeds United. As a member of the "Crazy Gang", Jones won the 1988 FA Cup Final with Wimbledon.

He has capitalised on his tough man image as a footballer and is known as an actor for his aggressive style and intimidating demeanour, often being typecast into roles as coaches, hooligans and violent criminals.

Early life

Jones was born in Watford to Peter Jones (a gamekeeper) and Glenda Harris Jones.^[2]

Club career

Jones started his football career in 1984 at Alliance Premier League side Wealdstone, during which time he combined playing football with being a hod carrier.^[3] He played one season with second-level Swedish club IFK Holmsund in 1986 and helped them win the league.^[4]

In 1986, Jones moved to Wimbledon for £10,000. He was part of the 'Crazy Gang' team that won the 1988 FA Cup Final against Liverpool, arguably the club's greatest achievement. He subsequently played for Leeds United, where he was part of a young side under the management of Howard Wilkinson. During his time there, he won promotion to the old Division one from the second division. After helping them win promotion to the top-flight as Champions of Division Two, Jones proved that he could thrive without the illegal side of his game, and under the stewardship of Wilkinson, he received only three yellow cards in the whole season.

Jones left Leeds after losing his first team place to David Batty and Gary Speed, much to the disappointment of the Leeds fans, in order to seek regular first team football. To this day, he remains a hugely popular figure with the Leeds fans, Vinnie also has a Leeds United badge tattoo on his leg (after having helped them to the 1989/90 second division championship).^[5] Jones also showed his passion for the club when he returned to Leeds for Lucas Radebe's testimonial in 2006.

Jones played for Sheffield United and Chelsea, before moving back to Wimbledon again in 1992 where he played over 250 games, before briefly becoming player/coach of QPR in 1998, scoring on his debut against Huddersfield Town.^[6] Jones was once rumoured to take the vacant managers post at Q.P.R but that failed. he was then rumoured to take over a coaching job and Manchester United.

International career

Jones was so desperate to play international football he looked to distant relations and was photographed wearing an Republic of Ireland jersey before being chosen by Wales. Though Jones is a common surname in Wales, the qualifying relationship was his maternal grandfather, who came from Ruthin, north Wales. He earned nine caps and even captained the side.

Jones's international call-up was however greeted with consternation and even ridicule by Jimmy Greaves, who said, "Well, stone me! We've had cocaine, bribery and Arsenal scoring two goals at home. But just when you thought there were truly no surprises left in football, Vinnie Jones turns out to be an international player!".

Legacy

During his playing days, Jones was renowned for his "hard man" image, an aspect of his play that was frequently the target of criticism. He was sent off 12 times in his career, as well as holding the record for the quickest ever booking in a football match, being booked after just three seconds for a foul on the opposition player Dane Whitehouse in a Premier League tie between Chelsea and Sheffield United in 1992.^[7] In his autobiography, he recalls fondly: "I must have been too high, too wild, too strong or too early, because, after three seconds, I could hardly have been too bloody late!".

In one notorious incident, Jones was photographed grabbing Paul Gascoigne by his testicles in order to faze him.^[8][9][10] In November 1986, in a match between Tottenham and Wimbledon, he was responsible for a dangerous challenge on defender Gary Stevens, an injury that Stevens never fully recovered from and eventually caused him to retire in 1992.^[11]

Controversy

He also was the presenter of the infamous Soccer's Hard Men video released in 1992, which featured archived footage of himself and many other "hard men" of the game, and included advice for budding "hard men". After the release of the video, Jones was fined £20,000, banned for six months, and suspended for three years from The FA for "bringing the game into disrepute." Wimbledon chairman Sam Hammam branded Jones a "mosquito brain". Jones continued to find trouble. After exceeding 40 disciplinary points he was once again summoned to Lancaster Gate, but failed to appear. The FA banned Jones indefinitely. Jones explained that he had "mixed up" the date of the hearing; the FA imposed a four-match ban and told Jones to "grow up"."^[12] Jones commented later: "The FA have given me a pat on the back. I've taken violence off the terracing and onto the pitch."^[13]

Many of Jones' fellow professionals were quick to condemn both the video and Jones himself. One of his most vocal critics was David Ginola, who said, "Jones does not deserve to be considered a footballer. Getting kicked is part of the job in France as well as England, but the real scandal is that someone like Jones gets to be a star, to make videos and become an example for kids."

Other football activities

Jones has stated that he would eventually like to return to football, possibly to Leeds. Jones told Yorkshire Radio "I will come back without a doubt, Leeds fans gave me so much and it's a club very close to my heart."^[14]

Jones made an appearance in Ireland for Carlisle United, coming on as a second-half substitute in 2001 against Shelbourne, teaming up with friend Roddy Collins who was manager at the time.

Despite being considered just a midfield enforcer, he did show a different side to his game. In 1995, he stood in for Wimbledon as an emergency Goalkeeper against Newcastle United, due to Paul Heald being sent off, and other keeper Neil Sullivan was injured with a broken leg. Despite the Dons Losing 6-1, Jones pulled off a string of world class saves, and only conceded 3 goals in 60 minutes, as opposed to Heald's 3 in 30. Pundits joked he would be a good replacement for Neville Southall, should the keeper be unfit for Wales duty.

After participating in a charity football match alongside fellow British Hollywood film actor Jason Statham, Jones was approached by a Los Angeles Galaxy scout and asked whether he would go for a trial at the club. Jones laughed off the offer by saying "You're 15 years too late".^[15]

In June 2010, Jones released a press statement stating that he was donating his 1988 FA Cup winners medal to the fans of AFC Wimbledon, wishing their fans the best for the future. The medal will be displayed in the club's kingsmeadow Stadium.^[16]

Film career

Vinnie Jones
Vinnie Jones, Leslie Bibb, and Bradley Cooper at San Diego Comic-Con International promoting the film The Midnight Meat Train in July 2007
Born	Vincent Peter Jones 5 January 1965 (1965-01-05) (age 46) Watford, Hertfordshire, England, UK
Other names	Vinnie Jones
Occupation	footballer, actor, film producer, composer, singer
Years active	1993–present
Spouse	Tanya Jones (1994-present)
Website
http://www.vinniejones.co.uk/

Jones made his 1998 feature film debut in Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. He later starred in Guy Ritchie's next blockbuster, Snatch as Bullet-Tooth Tony.

Jones became known to American audiences in the 2000 movie remake of Gone in 60 Seconds where he played "the Sphinx." Jones only had 1 line in the movie but was portrayed as a silent tough brawler.

Jones next big piece was in the 2006 movie, X-Men: The Last Stand, as the mutant, Juggernaut. Jones said that he would like to play Juggernaut in a spin-off. His line in the movie, I'm the Juggernaut Bitch!, was based on a pre-existing Internet parody.

Jones is said to have been cast as The Kurgan in the remake of the 1986 cult classic Highlander.

Music

In November 2002, Jones released an album of blues and soul songs on Telstar called Respect in the UK, as his musical debut under the tuition of Phil Edwards.

Vinnie performed a cover version of the song "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" on the popular British television show, TOTP2 in December 2002.

The opening track of Joss Stone 2007 album Introducing Joss Stone features a short speech by Jones.

In May 2002, Jones played a character in the music video for Westlife's single 'Bop Bop Baby'.

Television

Jones also appeared in the US series Chuck - in episode 2 of the third series he plays an arms dealer (the main villain). In 2010 he was added to the cast of the upcoming superhero/crime drama series The Cape, which is scheduled for midseason during the 2010-2011 US TV season on NBC.

Jones narrated the TV series Vinnie Jones’ Toughest Cops. The series commenced airing in 2008 on ITV4 in the UK. Each episode to date has examined the work of a police force in a different country in the world, concentrating on dangerous aspects of the work. The first show concerned police in Colombia.

Jones was the first ever guest host for The Friday Night Project when it first aired on Channel 4 in February 2005. In the same year he also had a minor role in the film She's the Man as coach Dinklage.

Jones appeared on the first episode of the second season of Top Gear in their Star in a Reasonably Priced Car]] segment. He managed to make it around the track in 1 minute 53 seconds.

On 6 December 1998, Jones appeared at the World Wrestling Federation pay-per-view Capital Carnage, where he played up his 'hard man' image, acting as a special guest enforcer for the main event. Before the match he had a (staged) fight with fellow enforcer The Big Bossman and was "red carded" and kicked out. He came back at the end of the show to drink beer with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and referee Earl Hebner. Jones returned to the promotion, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment, on 18 February 2007 at No Way Out, where he claimed he had "kicked Stone Cold's arse" on the set of The Condemned.

Celebrity Big Brother

Jones was a housemate on the reality television show Celebrity Big Brother 2010,^[17] and celebrated his 45th birthday while he participated. He took part in the show to change the public's perception of him as a 'hard man'.^[18] Jones received loud cheers as he entered the house and was the favourite to win going into the house, however he did not maintain popularity with the public, the crowd chanted 'Get Vinnie Out' on the final night and booed him as he left the house after he finished in third place. Speaking of his experience on the show, he said: "It was like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in there - and I was Jack Nicholson."^[19]

During the 29 January 2010 broadcast of Celebrity Big Brother, Vinnie Jones accused Davina McCall of 'walking like a retard', McCall responded by laughing and Jones then mimed what he meant. Despite immediate protests by disability charities, individual disabled people and a Facebook campaign;^[20][21] it was not until 12 February that Channel 4 removed the incident from its on-demand service 4oD and issued an apology, blaming the failure on the 'tiredness' of production staff. Vinnie Jones and Davina McCall issued apologies via their respective publicists at around the same time. The tardiness of the response drew unfavourable comment from disability groups.

Advertisements

As of September 2006, Jones' image and voice are being used in a campaign by UK bookmakers Ladbrokes to promote greyhound racing, a sport Jones has been connected with in the past, as a racing dog owner and an enthusiast. Jones has appeared as himself in an RAC commercial also featuring his wife, Tanya.

In 2000, Jones caused controversy when he appeared in an ad for a drink called "Red Devil". In the ad, Jones is pruning flowers in his garden when he sees a robin crying because its bird feeder is empty. Jones fills the feeder, and places it on the windowsill of his kitchen. Seeing the feeder, the robin flies at it, collides with the kitchen window, and slides down the pane while Jones bursts out laughing. Many parents said the ad (which drew about 390 complaints) was tasteless, and upsetting for children. Later, the ad was shown only after the nine o'clock watershed. The ad was eventually axed.

He also appeared in a series of UK TV advertisements for Bacardi.

Books

In 1998 Jones published his autobiography, Vinnie: The Autobiography,^[22] which was later revised and reprinted a year later to include information on his first film appearance in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

Jones is soon to be the star of a new comic book, Noble, written and drawn by Howard Chaykin.^[23]

Personal life

During his football career Jones resided in Dronfield, near Sheffield. Jones married Tanya Terry in 1994 in Watford. She has a daughter, Kaley Jay Terry (born 1987, Watford), by her first husband, footballer Steve Terry. She had a heart transplant straight after the birth and is a cervical cancer survivor.^[24] Jones has a son, Aaron Elliston Jones (born 1991, Sheffield),^[25] by Mylene Elliston. His son joined the British Army, completing his training in August 2008, and serves in the Blues and Royals.^[26]

Jones, his wife and daughter live in Los Angeles;^[27] they also have a home in Hertfordshire.

Jones is a vocal supporter of the British Conservative Party and has suggested standing as an MP.^[28]

Jones has had several brushes with the law. He was convicted in June 1998 of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage against a neighbour in November 1997.^[29] In December 2003, Jones was convicted of air rage offences committed on a flight the previous May. Following his conviction, Bacardi withdrew the ads in which Jones appeared. In December 2008 he was treated for injuries and arrested after a bar fight at Wiley's Tavern in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The fight is alleged to have been started over Jones attempting to join a game of pool with patrons Juan Barrera and Jesse Bickett. Jones was alleged to have dealt a headbutt to Barrera, while Bickett allegedly struck Jones with a beer glass. Jones was charged with misdemeanour assault which could have landed him in jail for one year if he had been convicted.^[30] Jones was found not guilty after a two-day trial on 15 May 2009.

In April 2010, Jones was reported to be carrying injuries after losing a fight with fellow actor Tamer Hassan.^[31]

Career statistics

^[32]

Filmography

Discography

Albums

• 2002: "Respect"^[33]

Singles

• "Wooly Bully" (1993)^[34]

References

External links

• Vinnie Jones' Official website
• Vinnie Jones at the Internet Movie Database
• Vinnie Jones career stats National Football Teams
• Magazine interview - online version Retransfers
• Vinnie Jones Discogs