How many professional football/soccer players do you know….that have gone on to become very successful movie stars?
Not a lot, I presume. Well, to be honest, I’m equally not sure as to why that is the case.
But I do know a lot of basketballers, boxers and other sport men who have actually managed to become successful at acting.
However, one particular former football player stands out for me and he is no other person than actor and former footballer, Vinnie Jones.
Born as Vincent Peter Jones, 54 years ago, Vinnie Jones was a professional football player who played as a midfielder for several clubs in England for more than a decade.
His football career began back in 1984 with Wealdstone at the age of 19 years. But he went on to represent some of the top clubs in England including Wimbledon, Sheffield United and Chelsea.
He spent much of his playing career with Wimbledon; having played for the club over 2 spells, between 1986 – 1989 and 1992 – 1998 respectively.
As a midfield staunch man, he racked up 254 appearances for the Wimbledon side and scored 23 goals in his time with the team.
In 1988, he also won the FA Cup title with Wimbledon. Vinnie Jones played for Wales at international level; due to his link to the country via his maternal side.
Vinnie was quite known for his aggressiveness as a midfielder, for which he became known as a “Hard Man” on the field of play.
Despite his famed aggressiveness, Vinnie Jones earned himself just 12 red cards during his playing career.
I don’t know if it is just me, but for someone who was termed as a ‘hard man’ and an aggressive player on the field of play, I actually felt he would have earned more cards.
Well, that’s me just wondering aloud.
One particular record of his that surprised me though, due to his aggressiveness was the record of him being the player with the fastest booking ever – after just three seconds on the pitch.
He achieved this negative record in 1992 during the FA Cup fixture involving Chelsea and Sheffield United.
During his career he was involved in several controversies and was, at certain points, banned by the English FA for bringing the game into disrepute.
One notable incident was that of him playing for Wimbledon at the time, and grabbing the testicles of Newcastle’s midfielder and one of England’s most talented player, Paul Gascoigne, during a game……(Lolz…..Oh Dear!)
At the end of the 90’s he dabbled into acting; as his football career began to gradually wind down.
And suffice it to say that he developed the image of a “badass” in his movies.
His aggressive persona on the pitch, enabled him thrive in the movie world by acting as a gangster, ruffian and brutal miscreant.
He made his acting debut in the British movie “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”, which was a comedy-thriller and he played the role of man called ‘Big Chris’.
His performance in the film earned him a lot of accolades and awards and ultimately transformed Vinnie into a movie star of great skills and talent.
As his acting fame and movie career grew, he featured in several film and television roles; gradually increasing his pedigree as a top acting talent.
I particularly remember some of his movies which I really enjoyed such as “Snatch”, “X-Men: The Last Stand”, “She’s the Man”, “Absolution”, “The Big Bounce” and many others.
He has also featured notably ever since his breakout movie role, in television series such as “Arrow”, “Galavant”, “Deception” and several others.
As of today, besides doing his acting, which he has since developed a panache for, the good old Vinnie Jones currently presides over non-league club, Soham Town Rangers, as Club President.
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