Meet the Player: Nathan Jones (Coedpoeth United)

Please tell us which clubs you have played for

I’ve only played for a handful such as Chirk AAA, Brymbo and a brief spell at Saltney, but Coedpoeth will always be home for me.

What is your first significant football memory?

I’m not sure if it was under-13 or under-14 (Mark Hughes club chairman will tell you) but I would have to say scoring the winning goal in the semi-finals of the NEWFA Cup against Bala Town. Will never forget that feeling and reaching the final made it even better.

How do you feel Coedpoeth United are performing so far this season?

I think we’re performing well. Had a slow start in the league but starting to perform now, had some really good cup runs which has set us up for the remainder of the season, but we are just taking each game as it comes and not getting ahead of ourselves.

Name the best side you have faced so far in the league and also the cups

We haven’t played everybody in the league, but so far…. Hawarden for me. We had a 10-goal game, 3-3 at HT and came out 6-4 winners and it was a good game for the people on the sidelines. As for the cup, Gresford would be the stand-out one, but for similar standard and level then Nantlle Vale, a good well-organised team.

What honours have you won in the game?

There’s no winners’ medals for me to be honest, I’ve played in 5 cup finals and never been on the winning side and that’s including youth football but hopefully that will change.

Best game ever played in?

Round one of the JD Welsh Cup last season, David vs Goliath they called it. We hosted Ruthin Town of the Cymru Alliance and there was a huge crowd at The Big Park, probably the biggest crowd I’ve played in-front of in Coedpoeth.

We went 1-0 down early and at the time you think “oh God, the floodgates are going to open and this is going to be a cricket score” but we settled down, started to play our game and matched them all over the park and began to get on top then bang! – we got the equaliser which we deserved, we went in HT level and we were well up for it, the crowd were behind us.

Out we came for the second half knowing full well we could win this game. 20 minutes in, we took the lead! Once we scored we started to sit back a bit and invited pressure but we were dealing with everything they threw at us before in the 90th minute they got the equaliser and that knocked the stuffing out of us.

We switched off for that one second and they capitalised on it, but then came the heartbreak. Deep into injury time they grabbed the winner which knocked us out and took away what probably would have been the shock of the competition.

Although we lost the game we matched a well-established Cymru Alliance team for 90 minutes with pure willingness and that desire to fight for each other, so that for me will always be the best game I’ve ever played in.

Best team-mate played alongside?

Tough one this as I could name a few, but Dave Griff.

Hardest opponent faced?

Couldn’t tell you be honest

Favourite away ground and why?

Llay Welfare. Played some good games there and probably scored at that ground more than any other in my career

What would you like to achieve in the game before you retire?

Just to win as much as possible with my boyhood club.

Best country visited?

America (Las Vegas)

Do you follow a particular football team as a fan – Premier League or otherwise? If so, which?

Yes I follow Man Utd

If you could bring any old TV programme back, what would it be?

Only Fools & Horses

Have any members of your family achieved anything notable in sport?

My dad was meant to have a trial for Sheffield United but was homesick so never went.

Who’s the funniest character in the dressing room at Coedpoeth?

Well there’s a few characters in and around the dressing room so couldn’t say one

Do you have any superstitions?

None

Tell us something about yourself that we might not know

Outside of football I work as a roofer

What was the best and worst Christmas present you received?

Best one was buying my first home with my fiancée. Worst? don’t think I had one.

Who is your favourite all-time boxer and why?

Mike Tyson. Could watch him all day, his fights, documentary or anything about him, He was one powerful man

Hopes for 2020?

To have a successful season with Coedpoeth and with getting married in August, hopefully that goes perfectly.