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Vinnie Jones

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Vincent Peter Jones (born Watford, England on January 5, 1965) is a British football player turned actor.

Contents

Football career

Jones started his football career at non-league Wealdstone F.C., before moving to Wimbledon F.C. in 1986. He was part of the 'crazy gang' team that won the FA Cup in 1988, arguably the club's greatest achievement. He subsequently played for Leeds United F.C., Sheffield United F.C. and Chelsea F.C., before moving back to Wimbledon in 1992. He played over 250 games for the Dons, before briefly becoming player/coach of Queens Park Rangers F.C. in 1998.

While a footballer, he was famous for his "hard man" image. He was sent off 12 times in his career, and once was booked after only 3 seconds of play. In one notorious incident he distracted Paul Gascoigne by grabbing his testicles (see [link]). During another match, he ended the career of Tottenham defender Gary Stevens with a vicious tackle. However during his season at Leeds United he proved that he could prosper and play well without the illegal side of his game and under the stewardship of Howard Wilkinson only received 3 yellow cards in the whole season.

He also was the presenter of the infamous Soccer's Hard Men video released in 1992, which featured archived footage of himself and many other "hard men" of the game, and included advice for budding "hard men". After the release of the video, Jones received a £20,000 fine from The FA for "bringing the game into disrepute." Despite this, the player gradually got accepted into a league of his own for being notorious and controversial, dominating the "crazy gang" atmosphere that he had allegedly sparked within his club side during its FA Premiership years.

A high point in his football career was when he was chosen to play international football for Wales, after the discovery that his ancestry qualified him; he earned eight caps and even captained the side. Jones, despite his Welsh name, was born in Watford. At the time of his appointment it was considered ironic that someone so blatantly English could be selected for another country; his reputation alone would have made him an unlikely choice for the England side. He had spent some time beforehand looking, unsuccessfully, for proof of Irish ancestory so as to allow him to play for the Republic of Ireland

Acting career

Jones retired from football in 1999, and despite a lack of formal training in acting has since found success as an actor. He has particularly profited from both his 'hard man' image (appearing in crime and action films) and his football experience. He has appeared in films such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Mean Machine, Swordfish, Eurotrip, A Night at the Golden Eagle, She's The Man and the Japanese movie SURVIVE STYLE 5＋.

In Mean Machine, Jones played a famous footballer. He also had a part in episode 2, season 1 of the BBC show, Extras.

In 2006, Jones plays Juggernaut in X-Men 3. In an interview since filming wrapped he has stated that he is signed for more movies: "I've signed for X-Men 3, 4 and 5...that's my contract...yes." There is also a possibility that he may revive his Juggernaut role in the X-Men spin-off film Wolverine [link].

Vinnie Jones has also been announced to be working with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin in the new WWE Films production The Condemned.

Other works

On December 6, 1998 Jones appeared at the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) pay-per-view, where he played up his 'hard man' image, acting as a special guest enforcer for the main event. Before the match he had a (staged) fight with fellow enforcer The Big Bossman and was "red carded" and kicked out. He came back at the end of the show to drink beer with "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and referee Earl Hebner.

In November 2002 Jones released an album of blues and soul songs called Respect in the UK, as his musical debut under the tuition of Phil Edwards.

He also appeared in a series of UK TV advertisements for Bacardi.

In 2000, Jones caused controversy when he appeared in an advert for a drink called "Red Devil". In the ad, Jones is pruning flowers in his garden when he sees a robin crying because its bird feeder is empty. Vinnie fills the feeder, and places it on the windowsill of his kitchen. Seeing the feeder, the robin flies at it, colides with the kitchen window, and slides down the pane while Vinnie bursts out laughing. Many parents said the ad (which drew about 390 complaints) was tasteless, and upsetting for children. The ad was eventually axed.

Personal life

In December 2003 Jones was convicted of air rage offences committed on a flight the previous May. Following his conviction Bacardi withdrew the ads in which Jones appeared.

Filmography

External links

 

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