Football idol Joey Jones has launched a search for an unsung young hero or heroine.
Joey has joined forces with The Leader newspaper and Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre in Wrexham to honour a local youngster aged under 18.
The aim is identify and pay tribute to Wrexham’s Young Legend who deserves credit for what they have already achieved in life.
It may be that they have shown great courage in overcoming illness or it could recognise their dedication in caring for a disabled or sick parent. Equally, it could be because of their success in sport.
The winner will receive a £200 voucher for a spending spree at Eagles Meadow, as well as family tickets to the Odeon cinema and Tenpin at the shopping centre.
According to Joey, 62, he’s delighted be involved because young people often gained a “bad press” which they didn’t deserve.
Joey had a long and distinguished career with Wrexham, Liverpool and Huddersfield.
He became the first Welshman to win a European Cup Final winner’s medal when in 1976 the Liverpool side in which he played right back beat German champions Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 in Rome.
As well as bagging a second European Cup winners’ medal with Liverpool, he played 72 times for Wales.
On a visit to Eagles Meadow, Joey said: “Young people do a lot of good that so often goes unrecognised. I’m more than happy to give my support to Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre by backing this competition which has some amazing prizes.
“I have worked with a lot of youngsters at Wrexham Football Club over the years and I’d like to see them all recognised to be honest. They all worked incredibly hard and still do.
“People are very quick to slate young people without ever looking at the good things so many of them do.”
Joey, who played for Wrexham more than 370 times scoring 19 goals, was born in Llandudno and arrived in the town, via Bangor, when he was 15, says he is settled in the area and would never leave.
He said: “People ask me about Liverpool Football Club and of course I still love the club. But I don’t go to games very often. In fact if I was offered tickets for a Liverpool or Wrexham game I’d chose Wrexham every time.
“Wrexham people are the salt of the earth as far as I’m concerned. I’m looking forward to hearing the stories of those young people that are nominated for this amazing competition.
“I’m sure the judges will have a hard time choosing a winner and he or she will be fully deserving of the amazing prizes on offer. The competition is an amazing idea and I really support it. I hope people get nominating those deserving young people.”
Eagles Meadow operations manager Stuart said: “We decided it was time someone showcased the good work being done by so many young people.
“We have come up with a wonderful array of top prizes with the winner getting a £200 voucher that can be spent at Eagles Meadow.
“It might be the winner wants a new wardrobe of designer clothes or wants to use the voucher to buy jewellery, fragrance or toiletries, or maybe just go for a meal with friends or family at one of the Eagles Meadow restaurants, it will be entirely up to them.”
“It’s fantastic the competition has the backing of a local legend such as Joey Jones. Joey is such a humble man and has earned the respect he gets and deserves from Wrexham people.
“I’m sure we are going to receive some amazing nominations for what is a fantastic competition. The judges are going to have a very hard time and face a difficult challenge. I know there are some amazing stories that deserve to be told.”
Eagles Meadow manager Kevin Critchley added: “I’m looking forward to hearing the stories of those that are nominated. And it doesn’t matter why they are nominated. It may be it’s because of their sporting success and dedication or for having overcome personal adversity or issues in the lives.
“I’m sure we are going to have some wonderful nominations and hear some amazing stories. This is a competition designed to reward an unsung young person that deserves recognition for what they have achieved.
“Contrary to what some might think, there are some really wonderful, special young people out there. Our Wrexham Young Legend will in that sense be the first among equals.”
To nominate a young person under 18 who lives in Wrexham please explain in 100 words or less why he or she should be crowned Wrexham’s Young Legend, with full name, contact details including daytime telephone number. The nomination should be sent/emailed to Kathy Woodfine-Jones, Young Legend, The Leader, Mold Business Park, Wrexham Road, Mold, Flintshire CH7 1XY, [email protected] by noon on Wednesday, August 30 at the latest.
