Birthday boy Vinnie Jones has been discussing his fondest memories from his time at Leeds United, including how his move to join Howard Wilkinson's Elland Road revolution came about.
Welsh midfielder Jones, who spent the 1989-90 promotion season with the Whites, has enjoyed a successful career off the pitch since hanging up his boots in 1999, turning to acting and featuring in the X-Men and Madagascar film franchises as well as appearing in the reality television show Celebrity Big Brother.
But he is still perhaps most fondly remembered in West Yorkshire for the Second Division title-winning campaign he helped steer Wilkinson’s side to promotion to the top flight.
Talking to the Leeds United Supporters’ Trust newsletter, the 54-year-old spoke on a variety of topics, revealing that arguably his happiest memory was signing for the Whites.
“The biggest ones that stand out really was going up on the train [to sign],” Jones said, who arrived at Elland Road from Wimbledon.
“I was going to meet Leeds and I was going to stop off at Aston Villa on the way back, but I’d already made my mind up and someone got wind of it.
“I was walking to the station and it was already on one of the billboards: ‘Vinnie signs for Leeds’ and that’s when the lid was off.
“I was supposed to go talk to Aston Villa but I decided not to bother and I’d shook [Bill] Fotherby’s hand, a gentleman’s agreement.
"That was how it was done on to start with.”
Jones highlights the final day of the season, where a Lee Chapman goal in a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth at Dean Court ensured a return to the top-flight and the Second Division crown.
“I think the other good memory was when we came back from Bournemouth,” he added.
“I had a BMW with a sun roof and there was myself, [David] Batty and Speedy [Gary Speed] hanging out of the top of it and the windows, driving round and round Leeds City Square with all the supporters going mental.”
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