Vinnie Jones. One of football's most notorious hardmen, who never shied away from a battle on or off the pitch. Plying his trade for Chelsea, Wimbledon and Leeds United among other English clubs, the Welsh midfielder left everything on the field and was never intimidated.
A member of the famous 'Crazy Gang' at Wimbledon, Jones went to war on the pitch, leading by example with his thunderous tackling and passionate approach. No player in the modern game displays the level of emotion the retired midfielder brought to the beautiful game.
It's rather surprising that anything notable in Jones' career could leave a lasting impression on the now 60-year-old actor. Such was his way of brushing controversial moments and heated encounters off with ease; it appeared nothing could shake him.
Vinnie Jones Remembers the 'Buzz' He Felt at Anfield
VinnieJones
Speaking about Liverpool's title aspirations in February 2019 under Jurgen Klopp, Jones made clear the importance of the home crowd on any top team hoping to lift silverware. Thinking back to his own playing career, he told talkSPORT (per Liverpool Echo):
"If you are going to win the league, you have to make your home ground the fortress and teams have got to be terrified to come and play at your place. Manchester City have got that and Manchester United always had it. When I played our team liked playing at Highbury."
Expanding on the impact Anfield specifically can have on a visiting player, the ex-Wales international recalled his first appearance in front of the famous Kop. The midfielder-turned-actor continued:
"I can remember my first ever game at Liverpool when I was screaming at one of the boys and he was only eight yards away and he couldn’t hear me.
"We were defending a corner in front of the Kop and when you play in front of the Kop you know it. It’s like a train rushing through the net at you. It’s just so loud. The buzz is so fantastic."
The sheer noise of the crowd inside the now 61,000-seater Merseyside venue was enough to leave a lasting impression on Jones. His analogy of 'a train running through the net at you' perfectly sums up the feeling that has caused the biggest and best superstars in football history to shrink under the Anfield lights.
Vinnie Jones on Wrecking Famous 'This is Anfield' Sign
This is Anfield
While he may have been left in awe at the incredible noise created by fans inside one of the most famous stadiums in football history, Jones did show one moment of disrespect that had everyone associated with Liverpool going 'mental'.
Legendary manager Bill Shankly installed the historic 'This is Anfield' sign inside the tunnel to remind the home players just who they are representing. However, Jones took it upon himself to decorate the sign with his own message on a visit with Wimbledon. Speaking on the Football, Music and Me podcast (per Daily Star), he claimed:
"We used to have the big white tape that was used to put on our ankles, and I got a big reel of it and un-taped it and got a sharpie and put 'bothered'? and as we walked out and it said, This is Anfield, I just want bang and smashed it right across it.
"They went absolute, with that and our music, and as you walked out you looked up as it said, This is Anfield, ‘bothered?’ right across like something from the Sex Pistols. They went mental.
"They wouldn’t let us in the players' lounge after; they banned us, they had all marshals straight in the dressing room and straight to the coach. But it was all part of our confidence, you see, it was all psychology."