Joey Jones: Former Wales Defender Passes Away Aged 70
Joey Jones, the former Wales international and celebrated left-back, has died at the age of 70.
The Llandudno-born footballer was a familiar name across British football, earning 72 caps for Wales and making significant impacts at clubs such as Liverpool, Wrexham, Chelsea, and Huddersfield Town.
Jones is best remembered for his time at Liverpool during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
His three-year spell at Anfield was marked by remarkable success, including winning the First Division title, two European Cups, a UEFA Cup, and a European Super Cup. His achievements cemented his status as one of the game’s greats.
Before and after his Liverpool career, Jones had several stints with Wrexham. His first spell saw him lift the Welsh Cup, and he later became the club’s record signing in 1978, a record that stood until 2022 when Ollie Palmer broke it.
Jones also contributed to Chelsea’s triumph in the Second Division during the 1983-84 season.
Ranked joint-15th on the list of most capped Welsh male players alongside Mark Hughes, Jones’s influence on Welsh football remains undisputed. He retired from professional football in 1992 at 37.
The football community has expressed its sadness at the news. Mickey Thomas, a close friend and former teammate at Wales, Wrexham, and Chelsea, shared a heartfelt message on X: “This morning I lost my best friend and soulmate, Sir Joey, our memories will never fade. Today my heart is broken. Love you Sir Joey RIP. My condolences are with Janice and all the family.”
Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge also paid tribute:
“More sad news folks Joey Jones passed away last night. What a lovely man and an inspirational full back who gave his heart and soul in a red shirt and for all the clubs he played for! Our thoughts are with Joey’s family! I’m a lucky man to have met him many times. YNWA RIP top man.”
This news is a poignant loss for Welsh football and the wider UK football community. Joey Jones will be remembered not only for his skill on the pitch but for his character off it.
