Joey Jones obituary: Wales and Liverpool defender

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.