Ever since college days, "Joey" demonstrated his ball sense. In 'pass out' sessions, which took place during the lunch period and at break intervals, he was known to bat for a week. But it was at football that he gained most recognition. In 1941 he was St. Mary's goalkeeper in the inter-collegiate game, a testing experience for a lad not yet sixteen. The following year Calvin Valentine replaced him but he returned between the uprights in 1943, as captain of the team. He displayed a safe pair of hands during his final season at school and gained selection on the island team which toured Barbados in early 1944, at the time, it was thought, as second string to Randolph Merrit. But he took over after the first colony match and played the final two games, after which his ranking was never in dispute.

Later in 1944 Trinidad was at home to Barbados and British Guiana and the homesters were victorious. Then British Guiana was the host team in 1946, while the following year Jamaica and Trinidad exchanged visits. He was the custodian in all these series as well as the visit to Curacao en route from Jamaica. That was the last time Prior Jones was to play and lead Trinidad at football. For the visit by Haiti in 1948 Joey became captain and led a team, which became known as the "family eleven". The team first played for T.A.F.A. against S.A.F.L. and won handsomely. The line-up was: Gonsalves; Dudley Husbands, Syl Dopson; Julien Boldon, Allan Joseph, Noel Winn; Andy Ganteaume, 'Squeakie' Hinds, Leon Munroe, Rex Burnett and Terry Bates. It was retained for the Red Cross game - North v. South - as well as the three Test matches.

Those who played with "Joey" usually remark that his keen sense of anticipation and his coolness under any situation always impressed them and they would point out that it was seldom necessary for him to dive, hallmark of a keen student of the game. After his retirement from the game at national level he played the stopper role in the recently adopted third back system and gained inter-league selection at that position. He continued to lead Trinidad in all their engagements up to and including the 1953 United Kingdom tour, after which he withdrew from the inter-colonial scene. His club, Shamrock, won the B.D.V. trophy in 1945 and 1948 but he continued connections with his alma mater and was coach when the college visited Jamaica in 1958.

It was cricket that brought him first representative honours. Playing for Invaders in the Pemberton League, a Sunday morning competition, he topped the batting averages in 1943 and gained selection, to tour Tobago with the League team. In 1945 he was invited to the trials to select the team to visit British Guiana and that was his closest to first class appearance in that sport. Twenty years later he was called out of retirement to represent Queen's Park Cricket Club in the club's campaign in the Northern Championship Division of the Cricket Council. He kept wicket for the team which emerged North as well as island wide champions, defeating Southern finalists Forest Reserve.
(T&T Sports Hall of Fame bio)