Jones started his footballing career at
non-League clubs
Basildon United and then
Billericay Town. He had been working at a local soap factory and earning £250 per week before moving to West Ham who increased his wages to £400 per week. He moved to
West Ham United in November 1992 for £22,500 rising to £45,000 based on appearances, and made his first senior appearance for the East London club in a reserve fixture against
Southampton on 17 November 1992. He made his first-team debut away to
Cosenza Calcio 1914 in the
Anglo-Italian Cup on 8 December 1992, and set up the only goal of the game for
Clive Allen. His first goal for the club came against
Barnsley in a 1–1 home draw on 6 February 1993, ten minutes into his full
Football League First Division debut. Jones also scored against Peterborough three days later in a 2–1 home win for the Hammers. Jones made just three Premier League starts and five appearances as a substitute during the 1993–94 campaign. In October 1994 he joined
AFC Bournemouth. In January 1996, after a successful spell at the south coast club, West Ham manager
Harry Redknapp again brought the player back to Upton Park for a fee of £200,000, with
Mark Watson moving to Dean Court. He played in their dramatic win over Sunderland in the 1998 play-off final, winning 7–6 on penalties after a 4–4 draw. He had been nominated as the eighth penalty taker, if required. After another short spell at Bournemouth, Jones moved to
Bristol City for fee of £425,000 and then had loan spells at
Brentford,
Southend United and
Wycombe Wanderers. He became player-coach for Isthmian League team
Hornchurch in June 2002. Jones was forced to retire from professional football due to injury. ==Personal life==