Bolton-born musician and long-standing fan admits pride at featuring in last weekend's charity fixture
A lifelong fan of Wanderers, McFly frontman Danny Jones just could not contain his excitement at getting to represent his childhood club in last weekend’s Legends Match.
Born and bred in Bolton, the 30-year-old has previously shown off his footballing ability in numerous charity football games over the years with him also set to feature in next month’s Soccer Aid match at Old Trafford.
Last Saturday however allowed the former Thornleigh High School student the opportunity to pull on a shirt for his beloved Bolton – something which Jones himself has been keen to do since he first started watching the Whites in the 1990s.
“Meeting all the old players that I’ve grown up watching like David Lee and Dean Holdsworth from back in the day, being able to go out there and put a Wanderers badge on my chest, it was a bit of a dream come true.
“I was so giddy ahead of the match – a bit like a kid in a sweet shop! I was actually a bit freaked out ahead of the game though because being a Bolton fan and watching them all of my life, I just couldn’t believe that I was literally sat down with them all having breakfast!
“I am literally the biggest try-hard footballer ever in all honesty,” he admitted. “I’ve even got Bolton training gear with my initials on it which I take on tour with me and I walked into the dressing room for the game with my own washbag under my arm!”
Jones’ links to Bolton Wanderers run even deeper meanwhile, with his parents dedicating his middle name to a certain former Bolton winger who figured in the game itself.
“My middle name is even something of a homage to David Lee – I’m Daniel Alan David Jones! I even got to tell him and he was super cool about it,” he laughed. “He’s even given me his phone number and said that I can come and train up at Lostock anytime which is wicked.”
He added: “I was asking him for some tips as well which was a bit surreal! It was just such a great day though.
“I had a really good chat with Zach Clough too and in hindsight, it’s just mad – you see the spectrum right from David Lee up to the present day in Zach and it’s just amazing to be around it and a part of it. I loved every minute of it.”