Joey Jones
JOEY JONES was born Joseph Patrick Jones on March 4, 1955, in Llandudno and carried the modest dreams of a north Wales lad all the way to the pinnacle of European football.
He signed for Wrexham as a teenager in the early 1970s, making his first-team debut at just 17 in a Welsh Cup tie against Chester City that ended in defeat.
But setbacks mattered little to Joey – by 1974, he had become indispensable, helping his boyhood club reach the FA Cup quarter‑finals for the first time in their history. In 1975, he lifted the Welsh Cup after a win over Cardiff City, cementing his rise as a Wrexham legend-in-the-making.
A £110,000 bid from Liverpool in summer 1975 – and delivered to him on a fishing trip off the north Wales coast – was the stuff of dreams. Joey later joked he “nearly fell in the water” when told. He signed and soon ingrained himself into the Liverpool heartbeat, the Liverbird tattoo on his arm (later removed for medical reasons) a testament to the deep connection.
The 1976-77 season became historical, as he played 59 games, helped secure the First Division title (albeit one league match short of qualification for a medal) and, most memorably, became the first Welshman ever to lift the European Cup – after a remarkable 3–1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach in Rome. The iconic banner unfurled by the Kop – “Joey ate the frogs legs, made the Swiss roll, now he’s munching Gladbach” – remains deeply emblematic of the man who played like a fan given a chance to live his dream.
For Wales, Joey was a stalwart from 1975 to 1986, earning 72 caps – a record that stood for years. In June 1977, only days after European glory, he helped inspire Wales to a 1–0 win over England at Wembley – an electric day for the country.
His international career saw him play under managers Mike Smith and Mike England, as Wales came agonisingly close to qualifying for major tournaments. Jones was part of the side that reached the quarter-finals of the 1976 European Championship, when the competition was still played on a smaller scale, and he was an ever-present in the memorable 1982 World Cup qualifying campaign that ended with a narrow and controversial elimination against Scotland.
His dedication to Wales was absolute; he often returned from demanding club schedules to represent his country, sometimes playing through injuries, and his leadership in the back line made him a respected figure among team-mates and fans alike.
After the 1978 season, signals of reduced first-team chances at Liverpool saw Joey return to Wrexham – for a second spell that carried far more than just the club’s colours. Returning for around £210,000, he brought European experiences and fierce leadership back to the Racecourse Ground. In this era, Wrexham reached new heights, winning promotion to the Second Division in 1977-78 – the highest league level they had ever reached – and enjoying memorable European nights in the Cup Winners’ Cup.
They battled giants like Anderlecht, narrowly tying on aggregate but ultimately being eliminated, and took on Porto and Roma in later campaigns. Joey’s presence galvanized Wrexham on the pitch and off, his leadership setting the tone for the club’s growing ambitions.
In 1982, Jones joined Chelsea for £34,000, quickly becoming a terrace favourite at Stamford Bridge. In his first season, he was named Chelsea Player of the Year, and in 1983–84 he played a key role as the club won the Second Division title and returned to the top flight.
After three years in London, he moved to Huddersfield Town in 1985, where he continued to impress, winning the club’s Player of the Year award in 1985-86. In 1987, he made an emotional return to Wrexham for a third and final playing spell, where his experience and leadership were invaluable to a young squad.
In the late 1980s, as team captain, he helped guide Wrexham back into promotion‑push territory and was named in the PFA Team of the Year during their 1988-89 campaign – even leading them to the play-off final against Leyton Orient. Amid all this, his career totals at Wrexham were remarkable: 479 competitive first-team appearances and 22 goals across all his spells, a towering legacy for any fan to cherish. He remained with the club until his retirement from playing in 1992, ending his career with over 700 senior appearances in club football.
Off the field, Joey’s presence was as vital as on it. After his playing days, he devoted himself to nurturing Wrexham’s youth, becoming a coach, reserve-team shaper, and, briefly, caretaker manager in 2001. Even in later years, he returned as youth-team ambassador – his love for the club never waning.
Joey Jones passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 70, sending shockwaves through the footballing world and Liverpool, Wrexham and Wales supporters in particular. Tributes poured in: Mickey Thomas, the ever-loyal team-mate, called him “my best friend and soul mate.” John Aldridge described him as “a lovely man and an inspirational full-back who gave his heart and soul in a red shirt”. Liverpool praised his unwavering commitment and the affection of the fans, while Wrexham announced plans to immortalize him in bronze – a fitting tribute to a man who embodied everything loyal and fearless about the club.
Joey Jones: Club Career Highlights
- Wrexham AFC (three spells: 1973–75, 1978–82, 1987–92): Began his career at his boyhood club, winning the Welsh Cup in 1975 and helping them reach the FA Cup quarter-finals in 1974. After retiring, he nurtured talent at Wrexham as a youth coach and later served as youth team ambassador from 2021.
- Liverpool FC (1975–78): Signed by Bob Paisley in 1975, he made exactly 100 appearances, scoring three goals. He memorably became the first Welshman to win the European Cup, doing so in 1977 and again in 1978. Other honours included the English First Division title (1976–77) and the UEFA Cup (1975–76).
- Chelsea FC (1982–85): Signed for £34,000, he quickly became a fan favourite, earning Chelsea Player of the Year (1982–83), and helped the club win promotion as Second Division champions (1983–84).
- Huddersfield Town (1985–87): Named Player of the Year (1985–86) during his two seasons at the club.
International Career
- Represented Wales from 1975 to 1986: 72 caps, one goal. At the time of his passing, he was joint-15th on Wales’s all-time caps list alongside Mark Hughes.