Joseph Patrick Jones (4 March 1955 – 22 July 2025) was a Welsh footballer who played as a full-back.
Jones most notably played for Liverpool, with whom he won two European Cups. He is also known for his long association with Wrexham, playing for the club in three separate stints, and was involved in the coaching set-up on-and-off from the early 1990s, including a brief spell as caretaker manager in 2001. Internationally, he represented Wales on 72 occasions from 1975 to 1986.
Club career
Wrexham
Jones was born in Llandudno on 4 March 1955, and joined Wrexham in 1971. He made his debut at the age of 17 in a Welsh Cup tie against local rivals Chester City; Wrexham lost 1–0. He did, however, win the Welsh Cup with the club in 1975, when they beat Cardiff City in the final. Jones established himself as a right-back and helped Wrexham to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup in 1974, the first time the club had reached that stage. He made his debut on 16 August in a 2–0 league defeat to Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. He missed out on a league championship medal in 1975–76, as he did not play enough matches to qualify.
In 1977, Jones was part of the treble-chasing Liverpool team which won the League championship and European Cup and reached the FA Cup Final.
Chelsea
In 1982, Jones joined Chelsea for £34,000, having been signed by John Neal. Jones was sent off on his debut against Carlisle United at Brunton Park. However, Jones's committed attitude and pre-match fist-clenching ritual eventually made him a cult hero among the fans. He also proved instrumental in Chelsea's successful battle to avoid relegation to the Third Division.
Later career
He joined Huddersfield in the summer of 1985 from Chelsea, and was named Town's player of the year in his first season. After two seasons he left to re-join Wrexham, where he retired at the end of the 1991–92 season.
International career
Joey made his Wales debut in November 1975 against Austria. He went on to win 72 caps, scoring one goal,
Retirement and death
Jones underwent cardiac surgery in 2002 and later scaled down his commitments with Wrexham, where he worked as the Under 18's and Reserve team coach until his retirement in 2017. He returned to the club in the position of youth team ambassador in 2021.
Honours
Wrexham
- Welsh Cup: 1974–75
Liverpool
- Football League First Division: 1975–76, 1976–77
Chelsea
- Football League Second Division: 1983–84
References
External links
- Official Liverpool FC website profile
- Hall of fame at http://world.wrexhamafc.co.uk
- Happy Faces Children's Charity Patron. Archived from the original on 27 May 2009