17.05.1930 – 24.10 2021
It is sad to relate the passing of a great servant of our sport with the passing of Trevor Jones at the age of 91. Trevor was a true all-rounder within hockey having played outfield and in goal, becoming an umpire and involving himself in administration throughout. Trevor accomplished these things at all levels, including international.
Trevor’s early life saw him play rugby and football at school as well as during National Service in the RAF. He excelled at football, playing for several well-known Midlands’ clubs, including a trial for Notts County and he was a very useful club cricketer in the Birmingham area. However, it was not until his late 20s when working for Dunlop that he was introduced to hockey. Having been injured playing football but still able to run, Trevor was talked into playing outfield for one of Fort Dunlop Hockey Club’s lower elevens. Several of his work colleagues played hockey and the sports facilities at Fort Dunlop were second to none.
Having played cricket, tennis and golf he had no difficulty in hitting the ball, yet his greatest asset was his speed. He set himself a target of getting into the 1st XI within 12 games which he achieved on the twelfth game. The following season the 1st XI goalkeeper (GK) left for university and owing to his football experience Trevor was asked to play in goal. He prospered in this position and after a couple of seasons played for Warwickshire. At 6’2” he was very imposing as a GK, but county appearances were rare as the first choice Warwickshire keeper played for England and Great Britain.
Playing in goal provides an aware of everything going on before you. Trevor considered that the appointed umpires were of ’mixed ability’ and decided that he could do better than most. He saw umpiring as a different route to represent his country. In 1966 he joined the Birmingham Counties Hockey Umpires Association and in 1974 progressed to his first international appointment, Ireland vs Spain at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
In 1975, having umpired three full international matches, his name was put forward to the International Hockey Federation (FIH). Trevor received appointments for them and for the Hockey Association (HA) until 1980 when, at the age of 50, he had reached the compulsory retirement age. During his career Trevor umpired 20 international matches and many English county and club finals and championship games.
Having gained a lot from the game, Trevor always tried to put something back into hockey. He became Fort Dunlop HC. Honorary Secretary (Hon. Sec.), Warwickshire Hon. Sec., Midlands Hon. Sec., and Hon. Sec. for the Great Britain Hockey Board during which time the men won a bronze medal at the Los Angeles Olympic Games. In addition, whilst working for Swiftplan in Bahrain, Trevor set up an umpires’ association as well as umpiring and coaching new umpires.
Trevor formally retired whilst at the top but continued to umpire at club level for Reading HC for more than twenty years, mainly for the top veterans’ team. The tribute from Reading HC (elsewhere on our website) praises Trevor’s unstinting contribution to hockey club life towards the end of his very full life.
During his long hockey career, Trevor made many longstanding friendships around the world. His understanding wife Janet, to whom he was married for more than fifty years, contributed greatly to this. Having finally hung up his whistle a couple of years ago, Trevor and Janet moved to Shrewsbury to be near family but, much to Trevor’s sorrow, Janet passed away not long afterwards.
A personal note from the The Hockey Museum Curator Mike Smith, a former member of Fort Dunlop HC:
“I was the recipient of Trevor’s encouragement and enthusiasm at the start of my hockey life nearly sixty-five years ago when I was a schoolboy. He handwrote personal notes to me on the weekly Fort Dunlop HC newsletters that went out to members. That I still remember his encouragement a lifetime on shows the enduring effect my old friend had on my hockey journey.”
Mike Smith
