JOEY JONES is a true Wrexham legend and will forever retain a prominent part in the club's history. His affinity with the club began when he left school in 1971 to become one of manager John Neal's crop of promising youngsters.
He progressed quickly, and was called up for his first team debut at the age of 17 in a local 'derby' against Chester in a Welsh Cup tie, which Wrexham lost 1-0.
Shrugging off that disappointment Joey went on to make his Football League debut in the next match, a 1-1 draw at Rotherham.
He immediately established himself in the first team at right-back, going on to become a member of the Wrexham team that reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup for the first time in the club's history during the 1973/74 season, beating Second Division sides, Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough, and First Division Southampton before going out to Burnley.
Joey won his first domestic honour in 1975 when Wrexham beat Cardiff City in the Welsh Cup Final, but before he could make his debut in European Football, was sold to Liverpool, the club that he supported as a boy, for £110,000.
After winning two League Championships and the European Cup in his time on Merseyside, he returned to Wrexham for a fee of £210,000, a fee which still stands as a club record. Spells at Chelsea and Huddersfield followed, picking up another League Championship on the way, before rejoining Wrexham for a third spell in August 1987.
In December 1989 he was appointed player/coach to the new manager Brian Flynn, before announcing his retirement form first team football in March 1992.
Joey is, and always will be, remembered for his 100% effort given on the football field, and of course for his famous clenched fist salute.
He progressed quickly, and was called up for his first team debut at the age of 17 in a local 'derby' against Chester in a Welsh Cup tie, which Wrexham lost 1-0.
Shrugging off that disappointment Joey went on to make his Football League debut in the next match, a 1-1 draw at Rotherham.
He immediately established himself in the first team at right-back, going on to become a member of the Wrexham team that reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup for the first time in the club's history during the 1973/74 season, beating Second Division sides, Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough, and First Division Southampton before going out to Burnley.
Joey won his first domestic honour in 1975 when Wrexham beat Cardiff City in the Welsh Cup Final, but before he could make his debut in European Football, was sold to Liverpool, the club that he supported as a boy, for £110,000.
After winning two League Championships and the European Cup in his time on Merseyside, he returned to Wrexham for a fee of £210,000, a fee which still stands as a club record. Spells at Chelsea and Huddersfield followed, picking up another League Championship on the way, before rejoining Wrexham for a third spell in August 1987.
In December 1989 he was appointed player/coach to the new manager Brian Flynn, before announcing his retirement form first team football in March 1992.
Joey is, and always will be, remembered for his 100% effort given on the football field, and of course for his famous clenched fist salute.
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου