IT is with great sadness that we learnt of the passing away of Haydn Jones, a former right-back for Wrexham in the mid-1960s. He had overcome prostate cancer before being diagnosed with motor neurone disease and passed away last Tuesday (31 August) at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.
Haydn had played centre forward for the same school team as Wyn Davies - Sir Huw Owen Secondary Modern School - in his hometown of Caernarvon.
It was whilst there that he also turned out for the Menai Bridge Tigers junior side, earning selection for - and captaining - the Caernarvonshire Schoolboys team and being chosen to play for Wales Boys' Clubs against England at Bath.
It was also at around this time that Haydn won a North Wales Youth Cup Winners' medal with Menai Bridge Tigers, when they beat Wrexham in the 1961 final
On leaving school in July 1962, he commenced work at a local brickworks as a fitter's mate, whilst also signing amateur forms for Caernarvon Town.
By this time, he had already had a trial with Arsenal, but he got homesick after three days, and former Scottish international Ian Ure gave him the train fare to go home.
He then had a three-month trial with Watford, but was released and joined his hometown team.
Almost immediately he was recommended to Wrexham by the then Caernarvon manager, Billy Russell. Haydn was invited to join the club's groundstaff and the following season he was selected to play for the Welsh Youth team.
He was injured in only the third minute of the match against Scotland, which forced him to miss the rest of the season after a cartilage operation.
Once recovered, Haydn was signed on professional terms by Wrexham, in June 1964. However, he had to wait until March 1965 before he made his Football League debut, at right-back in a 2-0 home win over York City.
He kept his place in the side for the following five League games, as well as the Welsh Cup final against Cardiff City, which Wrexham eventually lost after three matches.
The start of the 1965/66 season saw Haydn add a further seven matches to his tally. He followed these with an appearance as a substitute, replacing Sammy McMillan, in a 2-2 draw against Southport, in which he scored his only goal for Wrexham, a rasping 30-yard drive.
It was a personal highlight in a disastrous season, as Wrexham ended up 92nd in The Football League and Haydn was one of a number released that summer.
He joined Cheshire County League side Rhyl, before going onto have considerable success in North Wales coast football with Portmadoc, Bethesda Athletic, Pwllheli & District and Caernarvon Town, where he was appointed player/manager in March 1975.
He later returned to play for Pwllheli, visiting the Racecourse with them in November 1980 for a Welsh Cup match, which they lost 6-0.
Haydn won every honour possible in North Wales football, as well as representing the North Wales Coast FA against the Scottish Junior League on six occasions. He was employed in the construction trade throughout, until illness struck him down.
Everyone at Wrexham FC would like to pass on their condolences to Haydn's family and friends at this very sad time.
