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Leader Live
3 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Ryan and Rob pay tribute to Wrexham icon Joey Jones
The former full-back, who made over 370 league appearances for The Dragons across three spells at the club, passed away on Tuesday (June 22) following illness. He helped The Reds get to the quarter finals of the FA Cup in 1974 before joining Liverpool a year later - bought by legendary manager Bob Paisley for £110,000. He played 100 times in a trophy-laden three years at Liverpool - winning two European Cups, a UEFA Cup and a league title. MORE LIKE THIS: Jones returned to Wrexham for two further spells between 1978-1982, and 1987-1992. Wrexham AFC said it was "devastated" by the news, and plans to build a statue of him at STōK Racecourse. The club's co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac also paid tribute to him today. Ryan said: "I'm really glad I got to spend time with you. "Thanks for the stories. Condolences to his family, friends and Mickey. "Rest up, Joey. Big second half coming up." Rob added: "Not everyday you get to meet a legend. "We'll never forget you Joey. "Rest earned it."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Jones was a fierce competitor and loveable character'
Legendary former Wales, Liverpool and Wrexham defender Joey Jones, who has died at the age of 70, was a fierce competitor and loveable character, a humble hero to fans of every team he represented. A European Cup and league title winner with Liverpool in 1977, Jones spent most of his career with Wrexham and also played for Chelsea and Huddersfield Town. He made 72 appearances for Wales and, at the time of his retirement from international football in 1986, was his country's most capped player. After retiring from playing Jones coached and managed Wrexham, where he first played as a professional. Jones' lean frame and pipe-cleaner legs made him an unlikely hard man, but his uncompromising, tough-tackling style made him a scourge of attackers. His trademark clenched-fist salute also made him a firm favourite with supporters wherever he played. Brought up in Llandudno, Jones joined Wrexham in 1971 at the same time as another youngster from the north Wales coast who would become a great friend, Mickey Thomas. Ex-Wales and Liverpool defender Jones dies aged 70 Jones' first spell at Wrexham saw the club flourish under John Neal and claim many notable FA Cup wins. His performances persuaded Liverpool manager Bob Paisley to sign the boyhood Reds fan for £110,000 in July 1975. Liverpool supporters memorably unfurled a banner before the 1977 European Cup final against Borussia Monchengladbach, their team having already beaten Saint Etienne and FC Zurich. It read: "Joey Ate The Frogs Legs, Made The Swiss Roll, Now He's Munching Gladbach." Jones told BBC Wales in 2014: "It was made by a couple of fans who I really respected and I think as much of that banner as I do of the medal. "To make a banner about myself, when there were such great players in Liverpool football club, made me feel 10ft tall." Chelsea fans speak fondly of his efforts to keep the club from falling into the old Third Division during the1982-83 season and helping them win the Second Division a year later. He had been signed by his former Wrexham boss Neal and was reunited with old Robins team-mate Eddie Niedzwiecki as well as his old friend Thomas. Liverpool supporters ranked him in the top 100 players to play at Anfield and he was voted player of the year by Huddersfield fans in 1986. And the feeling was mutual. "I happen to believe, quite honestly, that the supporters are the most important people at any club," Jones said. "Without them, there is no game and no job." His 100 games for the great Liverpool team of the late 1970s and 91 appearances for a struggling and then resurgent Chelsea pale alongside his commitment to Wrexham. Having first played for the north Wales club in 1971, Jones finally retired in 1992 having made 376 league appearances in three spells. Afterwards he served as a first team, reserve and youth coach, and filled in as caretaker manager following the departure of Brian Flynn in 2001. Despite having heart surgery in 2002, Jones made a full recovery and continued in a full-time role working with the club's youth teams until he stepped down in 2017. For Wales, for whom he made his debut against Austria in 1975, he was in teams that narrowly missed out on qualification for the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World Cups. His international career spanned the changeover from the teams of John Toshack and Terry Yorath to the one of Ian Rush, Mark Hughes and Neville Southall. The only goal for his country came in an extraordinary 4-4 draw away in Yugoslavia in December 1983 which he later characteristically described as "a magnificent 25-inch drive". Off the field Jones was as funny as he was tough on it. Wales missed out on the 1982 World Cup finals, their hopes were ended with defeat in the Soviet Union and Jones was given the runaround by Oleg Blokhin, the Ballon d'Or winner in 1975. A reporter informed Jones after the game that Blokhin's mother had been a notable champion pentathlete and that his father was a competitive sprinter. Jones was quick in his reply: "Oh yeah? Well my dad's a hospital porter and my mam's a cleaner, what chance did I have of catching him?" A true character of the game, his place in his country's football history is assured - the first Welshman to win a European Cup winner's medal. But his popularity with Wrexham fans - he was voted their all-time cult hero by Football Focus viewers in 2005 - will endure even in the club's 'Hollywood' era.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Jones was a fierce competitor and loveable character'
Legendary former Wales, Liverpool and Wrexham defender Joey Jones, who has died at the age of 70, was a fierce competitor and loveable character, a humble hero to fans of every team he represented.A European Cup and league title winner with Liverpool in 1977, Jones spent most of his career with Wrexham and also played for Chelsea and Huddersfield made 72 appearances for Wales and, at the time of his retirement from international football in 1986, was his country's most capped retiring from playing Jones coached and managed Wrexham, where he first played as a lean frame and pipe-cleaner legs made him an unlikely hard man, but his uncompromising, tough-tackling style made him a scourge of trademark clenched-fist salute also made him a firm favourite with supporters wherever he up in Llandudno, Jones joined Wrexham in 1971 at the same time as another youngster from the north Wales coast who would become a great friend, Mickey Thomas. Jones' first spell at Wrexham saw the club flourish under John Neal and claim many notable FA Cup performances persuaded Liverpool manager Bob Paisley to sign the boyhood Reds fan for £110,000 in July supporters memorably unfurled a banner before the 1977 European Cup final against Borussia Monchengladbach, their team having already beaten Saint Etienne and FC read: "Joey Ate The Frogs Legs, Made The Swiss Roll, Now He's Munching Gladbach."Jones told BBC Wales in 2014: "It was made by a couple of fans who I really respected and I think as much of that banner as I do of the medal."To make a banner about myself, when there were such great players in Liverpool football club, made me feel 10ft tall."Chelsea fans speak fondly of his efforts to keep the club from falling into the old Third Division during the1982-83 season and helping them win the Second Division a year had been signed by his former Wrexham boss Neal and was reunited with old Robins team-mate Eddie Niedzwiecki as well as his old friend Thomas. Liverpool supporters ranked him in the top 100 players to play at Anfield and he was voted player of the year by Huddersfield fans in the feeling was mutual."I happen to believe, quite honestly, that the supporters are the most important people at any club," Jones said."Without them, there is no game and no job."His 100 games for the great Liverpool team of the late 1970s and 91 appearances for a struggling and then resurgent Chelsea pale alongside his commitment to first played for the north Wales club in 1971, Jones finally retired in 1992 having made 376 league appearances in three he served as a first team, reserve and youth coach, and filled in as caretaker manager following the departure of Brian Flynn in having heart surgery in 2002, Jones made a full recovery and continued in a full-time role working with the club's youth teams until he stepped down in 2017. For Wales, for whom he made his debut against Austria in 1975, he was in teams that narrowly missed out on qualification for the 1978, 1982 and 1986 World international career spanned the changeover from the teams of John Toshack and Terry Yorath to the one of Ian Rush, Mark Hughes and Neville only goal for his country came in an extraordinary 4-4 draw away in Yugoslavia in December 1983 which he later characteristically described as "a magnificent 25-inch drive". Off the field Jones was as funny as he was tough on missed out on the 1982 World Cup finals, their hopes were ended with defeat in the Soviet Union and Jones was given the runaround by Oleg Blokhin, the Ballon d'Or winner in 1975.A reporter informed Jones after the game that Blokhin's mother had been a notable champion pentathlete and that his father was a competitive was quick in his reply: "Oh yeah? Well my dad's a hospital porter and my mam's a cleaner, what chance did I have of catching him?"A true character of the game, his place in his country's football history is assured - the first Welshman to win a European Cup winner's his popularity with Wrexham fans - he was voted their all-time cult hero by Football Focus viewers in 2005 - will endure even in the club's 'Hollywood' era.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Liverpool and Wales star Joey Jones dies aged 70
Joey Jones, part of the first Liverpool team to win the European Cup and one of Wales' most capped defenders, has died at the age of 70. The former full-back had three spells at Wrexham and also played for Chelsea and Huddersfield during a lengthy career. Jones only played 100 games for Liverpool during a three-year stay at Anfield but still won four European trophies. A substitute in both legs of the 1976 Uefa Cup final and the 1978 European Cup final, he started the 1977 European Cup final, as Liverpool beat Borussia Monchengladbach, and the first leg of the Super Cup win over Hamburg. In the European Cup final in Rome, Jones was immortalised in a banner that referenced their victories over Saint-Etienne and Zurich in previous rounds and read: Joey Ate The Frogs' Legs, Made The Swiss Roll, Now He's Munching Gladbach'. Jones, who was born in Llandudno, began his career at Wrexham, winning the Welsh Cup with his local club before moving to Liverpool, where he helped Bob Paisley's team lift the league title in 1977. He was sold the following year, rejoining Wrexham as their record signing – a status he held for 44 years. Jones won the Player of the Year award at both Chelsea and Huddersfield before going back to Wrexham. His final appearance for them came almost two decades after his debut and he went on to become a coach and caretaker manager at the Racecourse Ground. Wrexham released a statement paying tribute to him, writing: 'Wrexham AFC are devastated to learn of the passing of Club legend Joey Jones, who sadly died in the early hours of this morning aged 70 after a battle with illness. 'Known as 'Mr. Wrexham', Jones' association with the Club goes back more than 50 years, and the thoughts of all at the Football Club are with his family, friends and former team-mates and colleagues at this sad time. 'A true Club legend, on and off the pitch, with time for everybody he met, Joey will be greatly missed by all who knew him.' Wrexham added that the club would pay tribute to his career by commissionning a statue of Jones outside the new Kop Stand. Jones also won 72 caps for Wales between 1975 and 1986 and was in the team who almost qualified for the 1986 World Cup. Wrexham and Wales great Mickey Thomas described Jones as 'my best mate and soulmate' while former Liverpool striker John Aldridge said he was 'a lovely man and an inspirational full back who gave his heart and soul in a red shirt'.
Irish Daily Mirror
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Liverpool, Manchester United Premier facts; Champions League betting stats
Manchester United's reign as the club with the most English top-flight league titles ended last weekend when Liverpool beat Spurs 5-1 at Anfield. It had been a lengthy run all the same, United had won their 20th title as far back as the 2010-11 season. From herein though, the Champions League will take centre stage, the first legs taking place this week as Arsenal host Paris Saint-Germain on the Tuesday before Inter travel to Barcelona for Wednesday's other semi-final. We, along with Opta stats, will firstly take a look at some of the key stats in the ongoing Liverpool-Manchester United rivalry before throwing the net over the CL last four. How well do you know your elite football? Liverpool won their first English top-flight title in 1900-01, and had two to their name before United won their first in 1907-08 and led by three after their fifth title in 1946-47. But the pendulum was turning as Arsenal started to prosper and after United's success in 1966-67, the pair were tied at seven apiece... Before the Merseyside club took over again and under Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish, the Reds won 11 unanswered titles between 1972 and 1990. Alex Ferguson's United hit back emphatically once the Premier League arrived, winning 13 titles between 1992 and 2013 during a drought for their rivals that saw the Red Devils go 20-18 ahead of them. Liverpool have come back to the table in recent years though, winning the 2019-20 title to get within one, before Sunday's success brought them level at 20 apiece. Both clubs are still well clear of anyone else; Arsenal are third on 13 titles, Manchester City behind them on 10. No other team has reached double figures. However the manager's tale is slightly different. Alex Ferguson holds the record here having won 13 Premiership (est 1992/93) titles. Pep Guardiola has won six, Arsene Wenger three and Jose Mourinho three. The numbers for the combined Premiership and old First Division might shock although Alex Ferguson still top with 13. He is followed by Aston Villa's George Ramsey who along with Bob Paisley and Pep Guardiola has won six. Sunderland/Liverpool's Tom Watson and Manchester United's Matt Busby have won five. Meanwhile Arsenal, PSG, Barcelona and Inter Milan comprise the last four standing in the Champions League make it through to the final in Munich and with, specifically, Arsenal and PSG looking to lose the tag of being in the European Cup/Champions League the most times without ever winning it. Barça haven't lost any of their six home matches in the Champions League this season (W5 D1), scoring 21 goals in the process. That's a lot of goals, only in 1999-2000 have they ever found the net more often at home in a single European Cup/Champions League campaign (29). The Blaugrana will be without injured top scorer and Poland superstar Robert Lewandowski, who has scored 40 goals in 48 games this season, including 11 in the Champions League. Inter Milan have only been trailing for one percent of their game-time in the Champions League this season, the lowest of any team in the competition. Arsenal are next with six percent. Strangely, Simone Inzaghi's side have only been behind against German teams, conceding a 90th-minute goal versus Bayer Leverkusen in a 1-0 loss in the league phase and trailing for just six minutes in the second leg of their quarter-final victory over Bayern Munich. The Nerazzurri have also been beaten in their last three games in all competitions, losing to rivals AC Milan in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia and falling three points behind Napoli in the race for the Scudetto after back-to-back Serie A losses to Bologna and Roma. Also, Inter lost three games in a row without scoring, a first time since February in a run that lasted five games at that time. Arsenal are favourites with the Opta supercomputer to win it all (31.3%) and go into their semi-final with PSG unbeaten in their last eight games in the Champions League (W7 D1). This is their second-longest run without defeat within a single edition, following a 12-game streak in 2005-06 (W8 D4), when they achieved their only appearance in the final (finishing as runners-up to Barcelona). At the same time, Arsenal have won seven of their last 15 games in all competitions (D6 L2), and Mikel Arteta's side have drawn each of their last two home matches (vs Brentford, Crystal Palace), throwing away a lead in both games. Paris Saint-Germain have won 11 of their last 15 (D1 L3) with the last of those defeats coming last weekend when they lost 3-1 to Nice in Paris. They had been unbeaten at home to that point. Given they had drawn 1-1 the previous Tuesday at Nantes, beat Le Harve 2-1 in Paris two weekends back and lost 3-2 to Aston Villa before that again, the French side have only one win in their last four games. Luis Enrique's side have one of the form players in the world in Ousmane Dembélé, who has been directly involved in 10 goals in the Champions League this season (seven goals, three assists) He could equal the record for most goal involvements by a PSG player in a single edition, currently held by Kylian Mbappé (11 in 2020-21 – eight goals, three assists). Moreover PSG have lost five of their last six away matches against English teams in the Champions League (W1), losing against four different opponents in this run (Manchester City x2, Arsenal, Newcastle, and Aston Villa. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
