It is not surprising that football was the only sport that mattered at school. Jones was in the year above one Wayne Rooney who will lead the international attack today.

Until, that is, Jones left school at 16, travelled to the Northern Racing College at Doncaster – and sat on horse for the first time in his life.

Seven years later, he is now one of Fflat racing's most accomplished jockeys after landing a hat-trick of big race triumphs this summer for Yorkshire-born trainer William Haggas.

And, furthermore, the young rider's mentor is Haggas's father-in-law Lester Piggott – Flat racing's greatest exponent whose record, and longevity in the saddle, comfortably eclipses the accomplishments of England's footballers.

"I couldn't ask for more," said Jones. "I just want to ride more winners and learn my trade. My dream is to win The Derby, and the results this summer have given me belief.

"But, if you asked me 10 years ago what I'd be doing in 2008, I would have said football. That was the sport for me."

Although Jones occasionally spoke to Rooney at Liverpool's De La Salle School, their paths never crossed on the football pitch.

He was probably fortunate. Even then, the precocious Rooney had the build of a pugnacious bulldog while Jones, to this day, does not touch eight stone on the scales.

"I was just too small for football," says the down-to-earth 23-year-old. "I really wanted to make it, but I couldn't. Growing up, I always used to go to the races at Haydock, Chester, Aintree – places like that.

"It was my dad who encouraged me to go to racing school – I suppose he realised that my size would be an advantage – but I hadn't even sat on a horse in my life when I arrived at Doncaster."

Nine weeks later, Jones had been identified as a 'natural' after being taught the basic art of horsemanship from scratch. His has been a meteoric rise, considering that most jockeys claim that they rode before they learned to walk.

Along with Hayley Turner, the all-conquering female rider, and Northallerton-born jump jockey Phil Kinsella, he is now one of the college's leading luminaries after honing his raw potential as a stable groom with Henry Candy before teaming up with Messrs Haggas and Piggott.

Runner-up to Middleham-based Greg Fairley in last year's title race for apprentices, Jones, with 54 winners to date this season, is on course to eclipse last year's total of 65 triumphs.

His rate of progress is even more impressive considering that he has now lost his 'claim', meaning he has to race on the same terms as the likes of Frankie Dettori, Ryan Moore and Jamie Spencer, Flat racing's current luminaries.

But, while every winner counts, Jones is clearly proud of the triumphs in major races that saw him singled out for praise.

The first came with a bold front-running performance aboard Jargelle to win the £140,000 Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury.

He had judged the pace to perfection and kept his head down with a left-hand drive to win in a photo-finish.

"It's great for Liam who has worked really hard. He deserves more opportunities," remarked a beaming Haggas in the winner's enclosure.

They did not have to wait long for another notable triumph – this time aboard Triple Aspect in the Group Three Prix D'Arenberg at Chantilly, France.

And last month ice-cool Jones steered Stewards' Cup runner-up King's Apostle to victory in the Group Two John Guest Diadem Stakes at Ascot, holding off Dettori's mount Diabolical in the closing stages.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, the unassuming Jones has not modelled his riding style on any particular rider.

With quiet determination, he believes that he will be better served if he tries to develop a style of racing that best suits his slender frame.

And, as he pointed out, why should he do otherwise when he can count upon the wisdom of Haggas, the Derby-winning trainer now based at Newmarket and whose wife Maureen is the daughter of Lester Piggott?

"I can't say how fortunate I am," said Jones with unfailing politeness and gratitude for those who have given him a 'leg up' in the sport.

"Northern Racing College set me on my way, and now the summer I've had – two Group winners and one of the biggest sprints of the year.

"Mr Piggott gives me tips; just little pointers on tactics, balance in the saddle, what ground to go on. I'll sometimes watch a video of my races with him.

"How can you not learn from him? Lester Piggott. Everyone knows him in the whole world."

To prove the point, Jones reminds me that he was not even born when Piggott won the last of his nine Derbies on Teenoso in 1983. "All my football friends; they still knew who he was."

Jones still retains his love affair with football.

He's still a passionate follower of Everton – the club he supported as a boy and with whom Rooney learned his trade before joining Manchester United. But his priorities have slightly changed. When asked whether he would prefer Everton to win the Premier League, or to ride the winner of The Derby, there was no hesitation with his answer.

"The Derby," he said. "Every time. It's my life. It's my goal. In another life, I would be running out at Wembley today. Not any more."