Luke Jones

Powerful defender Luke Jones was recruited by Stevenage manager Graham Westley in summer 2013, with the player having been part of the Mansfield Town team that secured the Blue Square Bet Premier title in 2012/3. Despite helping the Stags to regain their Football League status, Jones took the opportunity to leave for pastures new and moved up to League One with the Boro’.

The Darwen-born player had originally started his career with Blackburn Rovers, but was unable to crack the first team code. During his time at Ewood Park, there was a unique opportunity for him to gain experience overseas with a loan spell at Belgium club Cercle Brugge. But in 2006, he was permitted to leave Blackburn and joined Ashton United.

From there, Jones sought to work his way back up the pyramid and was soon snapped up by Shrewsbury Town. A loan spell at Kidderminster Harriers turned into a permanent switch and Aggborough became his home for the next year. In 2009, he moved to Mansfield Town for his first stint with the club – a year at Forest Green Rovers and a return to Kidderminster interspersed his two stays at Field Mill.

After a “highly-impressive season” during 2012/3 at Mansfield Town, Jones declined the chance to stay with the club and moved to Stevenage. With a reputation for an uncompromising approach to defending, it seemed as if Jones would fit the Westley mould perfectly. And in joining Boro’, it gave the player the chance to demonstrate his capabilities at a higher level.