DIC JONES (1933-2010): TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND

ONE of Rhyl FC's and North Wales' finest ever football managers sadly passed away this week at the age of 77.
Dic Jones (pictured right alongside former Rhyl chairman Herbie Weston and ex-captain John Evans) was best known for his achievements as boss of Rhyl in the early 1970s, leading them to the Cheshire League championship in 1971/72 and the Welsh Amateur Cup in the same season.
He was also in charge during the Lilywhites' famous 1970/71 FA Cup run when the Belle Vue heroes beat Hartlepool United 1-0 in the first round and then at the next stage knocked out Barnsley 2-0 in a second replay at Old Trafford, following 0-0 and 1-1 draws.
Rhyl FC managing director Dave Milner said: "Dic managed the team with great distinction in the early seventies and was a much loved and popular figure throughout his time at Belle Vue.
"Under his leadership the Lilywhites won the Cheshire League championship and achieved national coverage when beating Barnsley at Old Trafford. Our deepest sympathies go out to Dic's family."
Current Rhyl secretary Kevin Davies fondly remembers Dic being in his element during the club's headline-making FA Cup run.
"He was a great publicist, ahead of his time in many ways," said Kevin, who recalled a particularly memorable anecdote before the second replay against Barnsley.
"It was tradition to have dinner before a match at the Grange Hotel and I remember Dic telling the press that if a player got chicken he would be playing and if he got steak he wouldn't. The Daily Mirror made a big thing of it and it got the club great publicity.
"Dic was always very enthusiastic with a knowledge of local football second to none. He signed a lot of local players, but also had an ability to attract quality players from outside, such as when he managed to get Percy Allen from Watford relatively cheap.
"One particular master stroke was when one season he signed a player called Freddie Stewart, who had won the Cheshire League with Altrincham, with six or seven games to go.
"Rhyl were going through a bit of a bad patch and the fans were wondering what he was doing, but Stewart, who was a tenacious midfielder, really helped steady the ship."
Paying tribute on the website www.lilywhites.co.uk fans' forum, Rhyl FC historian Gareth Hughes wrote: "I had the pleasure of interviewing Dic as part of my research for the club's history and he was a real gent.
"I remember him saying the first thing he did when joining Rhyl as manager was ditch the old gold and return to an all-white strip."
Dic later took over at Northern Premier League Bangor City following the departure of Alex Smith in February 1974 and stayed in charge for just over a year when he stepped down.
Llanrwst lad Dic was also a highly accomplished wing-half in his playing career, firstly making an impact at Holyhead Town in the mid-1950s where he was a member of the side which won the 1955/56 North Wales Coast Challenge Cup, thrashing Caernarfon Town 6-1 in the final at Farrar Road.
After earlier stints at Charlton and West Bromwich Albion, in 1956 he was snapped up by Football League Division Four club Crewe Alexandra where he stayed for six seasons and made 80 first team appearances until a knee injury halted his career.
He was involved in the famous 1959/60 FA Cup fourth round ties against the mighty Tottenham where the Railwaymen held Spurs 2-2 at Gresty Road, but lost the replay 13-2.
Freddie Pye took him to Stalybridge, he then joined Rhyl as a player and made five appearances in the 1962/3 season before leaving for Oswestry Town as player-manager.
Dic later rejoined Rhyl as coach to Billy Russell in August 1969, and took over the managerial reigns at the end of January 1970.
As well as managing Rhyl and Bangor City, Dic was also in charge of the North Wales Coast FA side on three occasions.
Dic spent his retirement years living in Rhyl and news of his passing has left many football followers across North Wales in mourning.
Rhyl players will wear black armbands in honour of a great player and manager for Saturday's Welsh Premier League match at Porthmadog and a minute's silence will be requested before the game.
* Many thanks to Gareth Davies, Gareth Hughes, Kevin Davies and Dave Milner for their assistance in compiling this tribute.
* In the headline to this tribute, I have stated Dic's year of birth was 1933, given I was told he was 77 at the time he passed away. If this year is incorrect please let me know. Thank you.