Terry Phillips pays tribute to a close friend and loyal, lifelong Bluebirds fan. If you knew Dave Jones, and so many did, spare a thought for him before the Reading match on Sunday.
The other Dave Jones would have loved it. How he would have embraced Cardiff City’s victory at Hull City – and their massive home clash with Reading.
More than 30,000 spectators will be at Cardiff City Stadium for that game – and I, for one will think of Dave before kick-off.
There is no question that Dave – the Cardiff fan and not the club’s former manager – would have been in full fancy dress on the trip to Humberside – and would now be waiting impatiently for that showdown with the Royals.
Cardiff Fan @Alm_Vince from @ccfc_sc feels he will need something extra to calm his nerves ahead of the final day in the @SkyBetChamp for @CardiffCityFC. #CardiffCity #ccfc
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➡️ @EFL highlights from 9pm on @channel5_tv. pic.twitter.com/YwgZFfW6iC— Channel 5 Sport (@Channel5Sport) April 28, 2018
Dave was a true Blue. A Bluebirds through and through. He loved the football club and told anybody who would listen how much.
Sadly, Dave passed away this month and will miss what could be one of the greatest moments in Cardiff City history.
There have been many of those moments over the last 100 years or so, but if manager Neil Warnock succeeds in leading his team to the Premier League it will be as close to a miracle as I have ever witnessed.
Dave was a good friend. A close friend. He pulled me close many years ago now, inviting me to his 70th birthday and we would often meet for a pre-match meal at the Dragon Court Chinese restaurant opposite Cardiff City Stadium.
I visited his home many times when he lived in Dinas Powys and later when he and Julie moved a few miles down the road.
He had a lovely party room in Dinas Powys, just right for a get-together and a couple of beers. I would meet him for an occasional beer in Canton – at the Canton Cross – or in the Penarth area.
The man was full of life, a man of loyalty and passion.
Around 2,500 fans travelled to Hull City where their Bluebirds won 2-0 and they remembered Dave with a fancy dress competition in his honour.
Vince Alm, a leading figure for Cardiff City Supporters Club, also knew Dave well and said: “So sad to hear of the passing of my good friend Dave Jones (the other Dave Jones as he called himself from 2005 to 2012).
“He was a lifelong Bluebirds fan who one of the 2,000 regulars during the late 1980s and through the 1990s when a few brave souls were supporting the club.
“He was great fun, always liked a laugh, was known to most supporters with his hat full of badges and would always give you the time of day. If you bumped into Dave he would lighten up your day with his enthusiasm and genuine delight to see you.
“A big loss, not just to those of us in the supporters club where he was a loyal member year in year out, but every Cardiff City supporter.
“Goodnight Dave, until we meet again. You have been an inspiration to all of us that knew you, brave to the end, still laughing and joking.
“Our thoughts are with your family who are a credit to you in this sad time for Cardiff City FC.
“Hull was one of your favourite trips where you would meet some friends. The supporters club held a fancy dress competition in memory of you.
“Dave Jones Rest in Peace.”
Sean Morrison’s two-goal blast earned Cardiff the victory they needed at Hull and how Dave would have loved being in the away end at the KCOM Stadium.
“The support was first class, probably the best this season,” said Alm. “The non stop singing was loud and full of passion. There was a great mix of old and new songs with every Cardiff fan joining in at some point.
“As a player it must have been fantastic to play with that away support and a privilege. I cannot heap enough praise on the fans. They really were top notch.
“There were some great fancy dress costumes today which Dave Jones would have loved and been a major part of it.”