WREXHAM and Liverpool footballing legend Joey Jones his paid tribute to a much-loved former team-mate.

In a moving tribute to Anfield icon Tommy Smith who died last week, Joey Jones has described how the midfielder went from being his schoolboy hero to a team-mate he proudly conquered Europe with.

Tommy Smith, who had Alzheimer's Disease, died age 74 on April 12.

Joey said: “As a schoolboy in Llandudno, Tommy Smith was my hero, I worshipped him and then to go on and play with him for the great side was amazing. Not many can have done that.

“Tommy Smith was not only a good footballer he was a great man too. He was a firece tackler but he could play a bit too.” he said.

"I wanted to play like Tommy Smith but was more like to Tommy Cooper", smiled Joey.

Joey joined Liverpool from Wrexham in 1975 and went on to play more than 100 games for the Reds. Many of them were alongside Tommy Smith.

He added: “I was probably the youngest player in the Liverpool side at the time and Tommy looked after me.

"There was no grey area with him everything was black or white. There were some big names in the dressing room but only one Tommy Smith”.

Joey said he will never forget the game in Rome in 1977 when Smith rushed in to smash a superb header to put Liverpool 2-1 in front in the European Cup final against Germany’s Borussia Monchengladbach. Liverpool went on to lift the trophy 3-1 and Joey became the first Welshman to win a Euro final winners medal.

“What a goal of Tommy’s that was, and what a night it was” said Joey.

Sadly Joey said he had not seen Tommy for sometime as the Liverpool 'ironman' had been in ill health for some time before he died.

“I will always remember Tommy Smith as a great footballer and a nice man and of course, a true legend of Liverpool FC and loved by the club’s fans” said Joey.