'Joey Jones was a lovely man who gave his heart and soul in a red shirt'

Jones has sadly passed away at the age of 70.

He played 100 games for the Reds and won a league title, two European Cups, the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

A character who earned great affection from Liverpool supporters, he was known for his trademark fist-bumps whenever he sprinted out onto the pitch.

Jones also represented Wrexham across three different spells during his career and was capped 72 times by his country.

Among the respects being paid, Aldridge, chair of Forever Reds, the club's official former players association, said: "What a lovely man and an inspirational full-back, who gave his heart and soul in a red shirt and for all the clubs he played for.

"Joey is probably the first animated Liverpool player who was a Liverpool fan.

"I remember when I used to go to Anfield as a fan and I used to take a walk around the ground before going into the Kop.

"Joey had just joined Liverpool and nobody really knew him. Me and my mate did and we saw him outside the reception. Now, me and my mate were quite cocky, so we went up to him and said, 'Alright Joey!'

"He talked to us for a little bit and he asked us where we were going and we told him we always go on the Kop. He said, 'Hold on' and he went inside and brought two tickets out for us. So, that was my first meeting with Joey.

"I remember playing against him for Newport County against Wrexham in the quarter-finals of the Welsh Cup. He tried to kick me a few times and we were sharing a joke. We got to know each other really well over the years.

"Joey was just a great fella. Everybody has got only a good word to say about him, he was a gentleman. He was a brilliant player and he gave his all every time he stepped out onto the field.

"He was a huge Liverpool supporter and also Wrexham was really close to his heart as well, and Wales."

Jones is synonymous with a famous, 24-foot fan banner created on the way to Liverpool lifting the European Cup for the first time in 1977, in Rome.

Created by Phil Downey and his late best friend, Jimmy Cummings, the iconic tribute read 'Joey ate the frogs legs, made the Swiss roll, now he's munching Gladbach' in reference to the teams the Reds defeated.

"It's the most iconic Liverpool FC banner," said Aldridge.

"To win the European Cup with that banner is very special, and it's something that knits Joey and the Liverpool humour together, and I know how proud he was of that banner.

"We will all miss him greatly. Everyone talks very fondly of Joey, he was just a great fella, we are all sad and our thoughts are with Joey's family and his friends."