The Big Interview: James Morris, Jenny Cantwell, Gareth Venn, Dean Domerecki, Paul Lindsay and Peter Davies meet the Unofficial Lord Mayor of Wrexham
Background: Joey Jones. What can you say?
Setting: We’re in the Plas Coch pub. Joey’s wearing a fleece and drinking coke. We’re sat round a big table in the corner of the pub. A bloke with a horrible black eye comes up to Joey and asks him for his autograph. Joey obliges - of course. Joey asks the bloke how he got his black eye. The bloke says he was in a bit of trouble and he got hit. Joey tries to sympathise. As the bloke turns to go, he asks Joey whether the people he’s with are footballers - would-be Wrexham signings. Joey says: “No!” The people he’s with are all Red Passion people. And they’re in the pub to ask the most popular Wrexham player of all-time (arguably) a lot of searching questions. So, Joey…
* * * * *
Tell us about your childhood…
“I grew up on a council estate in Llandudno. There were a lot of lads on the
estate, a lot of Liverpudlians and a lot of Irish. It was a great place to be brought up
but there were one or two gangs and a lot of trouble.”
Were you involved in any trouble?
“Yes. I’m not proud of it, but I’ve got to be honest. I was in a
gang and I just got caught up in a bit of trouble between gangs. It happens sometimes when
you’re young. You get roped in and before you know it you’re in trouble. A mate
of mine got nine months. I got locked up a few times - I spent a few weekends in the local
cells. I’m not proud of it at all. I’m mentioning this because people who know
me know that my childhood wasn’t whiter than white. I also believe that everyone can
make something of themselves, even if they do get into a bit of trouble when they’re
young.”
Did you always dream of being a footballer?
“Yeah, it’s all I ever wanted to do. I played for Llandudno Swifts - it
was about the time I first met Neville Southall and Eddie Niedzwiecki. I was really
dedicated. I always went to training and I really wanted to make a name for myself. My
mates weren’t really into football - they just weren’t interested. My mum was
from Liverpool and I quickly became a Liverpool fan. I went to Anfield a lot - on the
train. My cousins were from Liverpool and there were a lot of Scousers on my estate in
Llandudno. There were also a lot of Celtic supporters.”
What about Wrexham?
“There was quite a lot of interest in Wrexham. Gareth Davies, who I played
with in the ‘70s, came from the same estate as I did. All the lads on the estate used
to meet up at night; I used to knock around with Gareth’s brother. When Gareth was
young he played for a Welsh XI against a Manchester United XI. Gareth brought his Welsh
kit back for everyone to look at. I was 14 at the time and it was a really big thing to
see a Welsh shirt.”
What about Mickey Thomas?
“He lived five miles away. I got to know him when he was about 15 - I think
we played in the same trial matches together. The thing was though that I was from
Llandudno and Mickey was from Colwyn Bay. The towns were big rivals - they just
didn’t mix. Each town had their gangs of lads and there was often a bit of trouble.
It was pathetic really - the gangs stood up for their own town. All the time though my
role-model was Gareth Davies. And in the end I followed his example by playing for
Wrexham, just like him.”
What about school?
“I really didn’t care at all about it. To amend the old
cliché…they really weren’t the best days of my life. I went to a Catholic
primary school - I was taught by a group of nuns. They came into the school every other
day - and they were really good to me. I was only taught by one teacher who wasn’t a
nun - a bloke by the name of Mr Jones. I think I got the cane once and, to be honest, I
really believe in the cane. It really frightens you.”
What were your favourite subjects?
“Football and home time. I was quite good at Welsh though and I still
remember a bit of it now. When I’m in the dugout I use a lot of Welsh swear words! My
mum and dad never spoke Welsh, but I can still have a bit of a conversation with Wayne
Phillips in Welsh.”
What about your early football career?
“I was captain of the school team and I remember we got to the area cup
final. We had a lovely kit - maroon and white rugby shirts! I still remember playing on
Llandudno’s ground - it felt massive! Mickey, Eddie Niedzwiecki and myself were all
spotted at around this time. It was always my dream to make a career out of
football.”
And then Wrexham came in?
“John Neal was the manager and he invited us to play in some trial matches -
and he obviously saw enough in us to want to take us on. I still remember the day we
joined - I remember meeting people like Bob Scott, Billy Ashcroft, Dave Smallman and
Graham Whittle.”
Can you remember the first time you met Mickey?
“Yeah, we got picked to play in the same area side. I remember meeting him
on a bus. I think we were supposed to be in school uniform, but I think we were in Docs
and jeans instead! There were a few lads on this particular bus - but Mickey stood out! He
was wearing a grey and red school tie with the word ‘EVERTON’ scrawled all over
it. I remember thinking to myself: he’s a lad I can knock around with - he’ll do
for me. Even though I was a Liverpool fan we became inseparable. We got picked to play for
North Wales together and we had a real laugh together. We actually played South Wales in a
trial game. And guess who was their captain? Brian Flynn! He was the best player on the
park.”
When did you leave school?
“When I was 15. I had no qualifications. I thought I’d just find a job
in a factory or on a building site - my dad was working at the local Hotpoint factory at
the time and my mum was a cleaner. So, when Wrexham took me and Mickey on it was
brilliant. We got up to all kinds of things when we travelled to Wrexham together on the
train! We shared digs together in Borras Park. I didn’t really like Wrexham then. It
was a hard life for us. We earned £8 a week but we had to fork out £5 for digs and had
only £3 left for bus fares, dinners and trips home. It was impossible. They were great
days but they weren’t easy at all. I served a three-year apprenticeship. I remember
one game around that time when me and Mickey were linesmen. Can you imagine that?!”
Cheers Joey - much appreciated! RP