Stories emerge of secret kindness of football legend Joey Jones and how one of his old shirts was taken on a 400-mile round trip to his memorial service last week
Chelsea fan Greig Sarath with his 41 year old Chelsea shirt owned by Joey Jones
Chelsea fan Greig Sarath with his 41 year old Chelsea shirt owned by Joey Jones
An extraordinary story has emerged following the funeral of football legend Joey Jones about his kindness to a Chelsea-supporting schoolboy. Greig Sarath took a 41-year-old shirt which belonged to Jones to the memorial service in Wrexham last week. But the story behind this particular Chelsea shirt is just incredible.
And it illustrates the amazing warmth and love shown by Jones - who died last month aged 70 - to the supporters of the clubs he played for. The shirt was worn on the day Chelsea clinched the old Division Two title at Grimsby back in May 1984.
Greig tells the story of the yellow Chelsea shirt and why he just had to make the 400-mile round trip to Wrexham to pay his respects to the Wales, Wrexham, Chelsea , Liverpool and Huddersfield Town legend.
Greig said: “In October 1982 Chelsea was short of heart, passion and languishing in Division 2. I was a 14-year-old regular visitor to Stamford Bridge along with my father Frank but received merciful stick at school in St Ives, Cambridgeshire from mates who revelled in Chelsea’s woeful plight and all seemed to be Liverpool or Man Utd fans!
“We signed former Liverpool full back Joey Jones - a European Cup Winner coming to Stamford Bridge. As Joey was also a current full Welsh International I decided to write to him at the club to ask which countries he had played against so I could add some of the programmes to my collection.
“Much to my surprise I received a reply from Joey - a letter which I still have. At the first game of the following season I took the letter with me and managed to speak to Joey as he arrived in the car park reminding him of the letter.
“He was pleased to meet me and my father and asked where we came from and how often we came to games. My dad explained we travelled down regularly from Cambridgeshire and got to as many games as we could. Joey asked us if he could assist us with tickets as his complimentary tickets were often not used as his family was in Wales.
“Telephone numbers swapped and a friendship began, we attended all home games that season and many away games and as promised Joey would leave us tickets.
“About half way through the season Joey told me he would let me have one of his No 3 shirts but would probably be the away shirt as he would keep the Home shirt for his own son.
Memorial service programme for Joey Jones
Memorial service programme for Joey Jones
Joey Jones with Tim North
Joey Jones with Tim North
“The last away game was at Grimsby where Chelsea could clinch the second Division Title but Joey was carrying an injury and also starting a suspension. Dale Jasper was picked to play in Joey’s absence and would wear the 3 shirt. Me and my Dad travelled up to Grimsby by train and I feared with Joey not playing I would miss out on a shirt.
“We got to the ground early and waited outside the players entrance for Chelsea and Joey to arrive. On arrival he spotted me and Dad came over ruffled my hair as he always did and said “ Don’t worry I’ve told young Dale whatever happens at the final whistle - there was a pitch invasion - he needs to keep hold of the shirt as I have promised it to you, see me here after”
“A Kerry Dixon goal and 1-0 win assured Chelsea were the Champions and at the final whistle fans streamed onto the pitch, my eyes were fixed on Dale Jasper hoping the shirt stayed on his back as players were mobbed and lifted on shoulders. After all the Chelsea players managed to get off the pitch we headed out of the ground and back round to the players entrance.
“After about 15 minutes Joey put his head round the door, beckoned me over and said 'how good was that ?' after telling him how pleased I was that we were going up as Champions he pulled out a rolled up No 3 shirt from his jacket and said: 'here you go Greig - as promised fresh off young Dale’s back the away shirt I’ve worn most of this season'. I was over the moon."
Joey Jones with Greig Sarath
Joey Jones with Greig Sarath
"I have kept both the shirt and letter, the saddest thing being that Joey and Dale Jasper are both no longer with us.” Another Chelsea supporter who made the 400 mile round trip last week had an even more emotional and poignant story to tell.
Tim North said: “My brother Nick passed away with a massive heart attack aged only 50 in October 2014. My dad had passed several years earlier so just left me and mum - which left the 'burden' on me with the aftermath both emotional and legal stuff.
“Later I attended a Chelsea legends night. Joey Jones was there and I mentioned situation with my brother and upcoming anniversary and how it was weighing heavy. He suggested we went into a corner and we had a 15-20 minute chat about life in general, no football.
“In the past he’d experienced heart problems and had had a near miss and an operation. So I think he related in some way to what I was feeling. So I perked up and humble that one of my Chelsea heroes had shown some genuine interest. Later on, I got tap on shoulder and it was Joey - he told old me he was leaving but if I ever wanted to chat then give him a call and gave me his mobile number.
Chelsea fans Greig Sarath and Kelvin Barker at Joey Jones memorial service
Chelsea fans Greig Sarath and Kelvin Barker at Joey Jones memorial service
“All very nice - but it’s Joey Jones Chelsea legend. I appreciated the gesture but I’m never going to cold call him he was just being polite but it did really go down well with me.
“So that was that as far as I was concerned. What a top bloke for giving me 15 minutes of his valuable time.
“But a few weeks later I got a phone call. 'Hello it’s Joey.' Who? Joey. Think you got wrong number mate. He replied ‘It’s Joey Jones we chatted the other week about your brother, just calling to see how you are?’
“Safe to say I was gobsmacked and it was the first of numerous calls between us over the next few years. And that’s why I attended Joey’s celebration of life. Not because of Joey Jones the Chelsea Legend but for Joey Jones the man.”
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