After failing to make an impact at Wrexham, Jones found massive success in Welsh football with Rhyl.
Jones played youth football in Wales for Ysgol Y, Berwyn, Bala Town and Wrexham, before joining Rhyl in 1981.
[4] He was bought by manager John Rudge at English Fourth Division side Port Vale for a £3,000 fee in May 1985.
[4] He quickly became a regular in the squad and was the Vale's top-scorer in 1985–86 with 18 goals, his strike partnership with Robbie Earle helping the club win promotion to the Third Division.
He scored a brace in eight games, bagged a hat-trick against Fulham at Craven Cottage, and hit five past Newport County at Vale Park.
[7] He also twice played in goal after Mark Grew and Jim Arnold picked up injuries at home to Rotherham United and away at Brentford respectively.
In September 1987, First Division Charlton Athletic broke Vale's transfer record when manager Lennie Lawrence paid £350,000 for Jones's services after Alex Ferguson had unsuccessfully tried to sign him for Manchester United.
He moved on to league rivals Leyton Orient in 1991–92, as Peter Eustace's side posted a tenth-place finish.
He scored thirteen goals in 59 league games for Orient before retiring from full-time football following an operation on his cartilage.
[4] He made his senior debut as Ian Rush's strike partner on 1 April 1987 against Finland at the Racecourse Ground in his home town of Wrexham.
Wales drew 1–1 with Czechoslovakia at Wrexham and beat Denmark at Cardiff City's Ninian Park, but were defeated at Copenhagen and Prague.