Former Wrexham and Wales defender Joey Jones has been immortalised in a mural near the club grounds.
A giant mural, celebrating one of Wrexham football club's greatest players, has been painted on the side of a pub which stands next door to the club grounds.
Joey Jones, who died in July, aged 70, was known as Mr Wrexham having made 370 league appearances for the club over three decades, winning 72 caps for Wales.
Liverpool artist Paul Curtis took four days to recreate a photo of Jones' signature fist-pumping goal celebration.
Football fans from around the world donated over £5000 for the artwork on the side of The Turf hotel which adjoins the Racecourse stadium.
The idea for a lasting tribute to Joey Jones came from a group of Wrexham fans following the star player's death on 22 July.
Wayne Jones, landlord of The Turf hotel, said he wanted fans to enjoy a permanent reminder of the popular player.
"He was a wonderful footballer," he said
"But, more importantly, just a wonderful human being.
"He epitomised what this town is, which is down-to-earth, humble, working-class people.
"He never once wanted the limelight, he never once wanted to be the centre of attention. He wore the badge with pride, and that's all fans ask for."
Liverpool artist Paul Curtis was the man tasked with turning a grainy black-and-white photo into a giant, photorealistic mural that stands two-storey high outside the club grounds.
Mr Curtis has created football-themed street art for clubs including Liverpool, Everton, Tranmere Rovers, Ipswich and Bradford.
Working alone with spray cans, some tins of paint and a hydraulic hoist he spent four days transforming the pub's exterior.
"People always ask me which was the hardest bit - it's actually doing text on pebble dash: it's like painting across a mountain range," he joked.
Paul uses a technique called "the Scribble Method" to ensure his design is of the correct proportions.
He said: "You basically put a few random marks on the wall and then you take a photograph of those marks and then you overlay your design, so when you're up there, you know whereabouts on the wall you are, like where the ear goes, where the nose goes, that kind of thing."
The finished artwork has already attracted lots of attention.
The Turf landlord said it was important to get it right for all the people who donated: "It was crowdfunded by supporters - but not just in Wrexham - all across Wales, America, Canada, Australia, the donations have come in from literally every part of the world.
"So that shows to me how much he was thought of - not just as a footballer but as a human being."
Mr Jones said any money left over will be shared among local grassroots football charities as those organisations were close to Joey Jones' heart.
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Category: General Sports
