Former Middlesbrough Goalkeeper Brad Jones has shared some of his most treasured memories and experiences after he decided to hang up his gloves after enjoying twenty-two years of professional football.
Australian keeper Jones played at Middlesbrough for over a decade, making his debut in the 2003/04 season and was a long term understudy for countryman and Boro legend Mark Schwarzer. Jones made 74 appearances for the club with all but one of his eight seasons with Boro being played in the Premier League.
In a statement on his own Instagram account back in May, Jones said, “The time has come to hang up my gloves and bring to an end this long journey that has taken me all over the world for the last 25yrs doing what I could only dream of as a young boy in Perth. I’ve had the privilege to play alongside some of the best players in the world and work with some fantastic coaches that have helped me along the way.
“To the fans of my former clubs, I thank you for your support. It is amazing to think that I have been a part of some historic moments for some of them. I have to thank my wife Dani, who has had to make many sacrifices, moving wherever my career took us. And also my three children who have now lived in four countries and have always adapted and made the decisions to move so much easier.
“Unfortunately, my time at Perth Glory was disrupted with niggles and what was originally thought to be a fairly small injury has now kept me out for over a year, and ultimately put an end to my playing days. I hope to continue to stay involved in football in some capacity in the future and continue to part of the beautiful game. Thank you, Brad.”
Favourite Memory
Speaking in an interview with Australian football Twitter site, KEEPUP, Jones revealed that his favourite Middlesbrough memory was “Playing in the Europa League Semi-Final against Steaua Bucharest, Massimo Maccarone scored an unbelievable goal to get us to the final.” It will not come as a shock to Boro fans who almost certainly hold that same moment as one of the finest in the club’s recent history.
“Middlesbrough reached the then Uefa Cup Final that year, with Maccarone’s 89th minute heroic diving header the culmination of a monumental fight back from being three-nil down (One-nil after first leg) to win 4-3.
The 6 ft 4 in shot-stopper moved to Liverpool from Middlesbrough as the rule change at the time saw him qualify as a home grown player, and it is there that he says he encountered the best player he has ever played with. “The best player I have played with would have to be Steven Gerrard, he was the ultimate professional. I don’t think I ever saw him have a down day, a bad day. It was just the pinnacle, you know what every player strived to reach every day, was his level.”
Revealing the best player he faced, he named a player who terrorised plenty of Premier League defences and played for a team who scored plenty against Boro over the years. “I would say Thierry Henry, he scored a hat-trick against me.” Admitted Jones.
“He had the ability to just turn it on and off during the game and there’d be moments where you didn’t know he was there and then all of a sudden, he just sprung to life.”
Middlesbrough have had a strong affinity with Australian players over the years. Craig Johnston, Mark Viduka, Mark Schwarzer, Paul Okon, Rhys Williams, Luke Wilkshire, Tony Vidmar, Scott McDonald and Riley McGree have all donned the Red of Middlesbrough. That list has been lengthened by the arrival of two more Aussies this season with former Melbourne City keeper Tom Glover and Central Coast Mariners winger, Sam Silvera joining the Championship side.
In the case of Goalkeeper Glover, a report by Gazette Live explained that a conversation with Brad Jones about the Teesside club played its part in convincing him it was the right move. “Brad Jones was here for many years and obviously the big one was [Mark] Schwarzer. I actually spoke to Brad last week and he was giving me all the places to stay and what to do, so I had a good chat with Brad and he told me all about the club and didn’t have one bad word to say.” said Glover.