Last player to score for Barnsley against Man Utd now works in a quarry
Scott Jones enjoyed an unforgettable night in February 1998 when he scored twice for Barnsley against Manchester United, a far cry from his current job at a quarry in Buxton.
The two teams meet on Tuesday night in the Carabao Cup, with Barnsley hoping to replicate the heroics they performed 26 years ago.
The South Yorkshire side stunned the Red Devils by picking up a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup fifth round at Old Trafford, memorably earned thanks to a Peter Schmeichel howler allowing John Hendrie to score.
Barnsley took Manchester United back to Oakwell as a result and a crazy game ensued which the Tykes won 3-2.
Hendrie opened the scoring but it was the unlikely figure of Jones who became the hero as he scored twice, the first two goals of his career.
The versatile defender was not a regular in the first team and actually spent the start of Barnsley’s only Premier League season on loan at Mansfield Town, so the starring role against the Red Devils came out of the blue.
‘It is certainly my career highlight other than getting promoted,’ Jones told the Barnsley Chronicle. ‘I get asked on a weekly basis about the Man U game. I sometimes point out that I did play a few other games. But I don’t take it for granted and I don’t get bored talking about it.
‘Growing up I didn’t think I would become a footballer so to score twice in a game like that was a dream scenario.
‘A lot of people have long careers but don’t have a night like that.’
Now 49 years old, Jones is long since retired from football after spells at Bristol Rovers and York and has a very different career after hanging up his boots.
He works as a supervisor at a quarry in Buxton, while he turns his hand to cricket for the Penistone 2nd XI when he is able to.
‘I play for the 2nd XI when I can. The club is having a decent season,’ he said.
‘You’ve got to do something. It gets me out the house and gets the blood running. I tried playing over-45 football but I got injured too much.’