Mourning a star

29 August 2007

By Ben Kosky

RAY Jones would have gone on to become a full England international, according to the coaching staff who nurtured him at QPR.

Jones, who died in a car accident in east London in the early hours of last Saturday, had already represented his country at under-19 level and had been tipped to win further international honours.

Joe Gallen, who managed Rangers' Centre of Excellence until the end of last season, has no doubt that the young striker was destined to reach the top level.

Spotted playing for Sunday League side Redwood FC by QPR's youth development officer John O'Brien, the 15-year-old Jones was offered an apprenticeship almost immediately.

Gallen recalled: "As soon as we'd seen him play, we offered him a two-year deal straight away. I was sure then that Ray was going to become not only a QPR player, but a top-class Premiership player as well.

"I also thought he had the potential to be a full international player, in time. He was often compared to Peter Crouch and I remember ringing Ray after watching a World Cup game last summer."

"I told him 'When Crouch came back to QPR, he was 19 and people said he was a bit gangly and lethargic. But once he got into his 20s and got a bit more strength, look at what he's done.

'You're only 17 - think what you can do'. Between Ray Jones and Dean Parrett, we had on our hands two of the outstanding young players in the country.

"Everyone at the club knew Ray's potential. He was the best prospect we'd had at this club since Nigel Quashie and I can't believe he is no longer with us."

Gallen's sentiments were echoed by former QPR boss Gary Waddock, who managed Jones at every level up to the first team and handed the striker his senior debut at the end of the 2005-06 season.

Waddock, now the manager of Aldershot Town, told the Times: "I put him on in the last game of the season, at Reading and the lads went to clap the fans at the end of the game.

"As they were walking off the pitch, Ray thanked me for giving him the opportunity. I told him 'you deserve it' and it was typical of him - he was such a nice, nice lad, genuine and honest.

"He was very down to earth and happy. Everybody liked him - he always wanted to listen and learn, he took everything in his stride and he had the world at his feet.

"Ray was a very talented player and he could have gone on right to the top. He'd already made a name for himself and people were aware of his ability.

"I was absolutely shattered when I heard the news on Saturday. It's such a tragedy and I keep thinking about the lad and his family."

Jones went on to make his first start against Southend at the beginning of last season and netted his maiden goal to win a Carling Cup tie against Northampton, almost exactly a year ago.

He also gained his first international call-up, making his England under-19 debut as a substitute against Holland at Walsall's Bescot Stadium in front of his mother, Lorraine.

Gallen added: "I can't say enough good things about Ray and his family. I took his mum and sister up to see Ray make his England debut and they were so proud of him.

"He adored his mum and she adored him back - I had to literally force him to move into digs nearer the training ground because she wanted him at home in East Ham.

"Ray got on with everybody at the club as well - he loved coming in to training and, in those first two years, we spent hours together out on the training ground.

"He was everyone's mate, really. We had such a strong group, people like Pat Kanyuka, Jake Cole, Shabazz Baidoo, Stefan Bailey, Kieron St Aimie and Andrew Howell, and those boys will be devastated."

Jones added five more goals to his QPR tally after John Gregory replaced Waddock, but his final appearance came in Rangers' pre-season game at Wycombe last month.

A foot injury had kept him out of action since then and was the reason for his absence from the Rs squad that travelled to Burnley last weekend.

The Football League agreed to postpone the match out of respect for the striker, whose death came just three days before he was due to celebrate his 19th birthday.

In tribute to Jones, Rangers will wear his name on the backs of their shirts in Saturday's game at home to Southampton.

The club have also decided to retire the number 31 shirt worn by Jones last season as a mark of respect.