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Bill Jones - Liverpool and England footballer and winner of a Military Medal in World War Two - he was born in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire

WILLIAM 'BILL' HENRY JONES was one of the select group of men born in Derbyshire who played football for England. He won his two full caps at centre-half in 1950 and ended on the winning side on both occasions. As well as being a well-known professional footballer in the 1940s and 1950s he won a Military Medal during the Allies crossing of the Rhine in World War Two.

Bill Jones was born on 13 May 1921 in the Derbyshire town of Whaley Bridge, in the High Peak, not far from Buxton. His football prowess emerged in his teens with the Derbyshire amateur side Hayfield St. Matthew's. The youngster was spotted by a Liverpool scout and signed for the Anfield club in September 1938 when he was only 17.

The timing proved unfortunate, since before he was able to make his debut the outbreak of war curtailed League Football for the duration. He did, however, make a number of wartime guest appearances for York City, Leeds United and Reading.

Jones was 24 when League football resumed again in 1946-47, but picked up his career and went straight into the side for his first team debut. He became a regular, and Liverpool won the 1946-47 League Championship. He remained at the club until 1953-54 and left with an overall record of 277 appearances and 17 goals.

After leaving Anfield he became player-manager at Ellesmere Port Town, but returned to Liverpool as a scout and in the 1960s and 1970s discovered a number of the key players who were to make Liverpoool one of the great clubs of that era.

His grandson Rob Jones continued the family tradition when he also played for Liverpool and England.

Unless someone is able to make a 'counter-posting', Bill Jones takes his position on the You and Yesterday website as the most famous personality to emerge from Whaley Bridge!

• Three Lions On Their Shirt - England Footballers Born In Derbyshire

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County:  Derbyshire

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