Stephen Jones

August Award

The next winner this month of the @fjonesinitiaitive 2023/24 Wrexham Recognition Awards is Stephen Jones.

Stephen was nominated by his son Harry for the following reasons.

‘Though I may seem biassed as he is my father, but I truly believe Stephen is deserving of your award.

Stephen is the Chairman of Wales’s largest Disability Rugby League charity, North Wales Crusaders Wheelchair Rugby League and Disability Sports Association, though he is disabled, Stephen does not let his disability define who he is. Stephen has assisted countless people across not just North Wales but Wales and even across the world get access to disability funding, training and has assisted in providing people with new avenues into sport when these people thought their life within sport was over.

As chairman of the Crusaders Wheelchair, Stephen has helped the club grow from a dwindling club, into a nationally dominating side whilst also creating a fun safe space in which people with ALN and Mental Health needs can come and talk to a person in confidence.

 On top of his direct work with the club, Stephen has become one of Wrexham’s leading first aid instructors, passing nearly 300 people in the past year. Stephen very recently put his experience as a first aider to the test when he pulled over on the bypass to assist an individual who was unresponsive on the side of the road following a RTC, assisting in getting this person into a safe position and applying valued emergency first aid whilst waiting for the first responders.

Stephen has recently retired as the longest serving coach of the Wales Wheelchair Rugby League international team of all time, having held the position since 2016 and guiding the team to the semi-finals in last year’s World Cup live on the BBC.

Though he hates getting recognised for his achievements and hard work as he doesn’t do it for himself, he does it to improve the lives of all those around him. I truly believe that these reasons and more are why Stephen deserves this award.’

Well done, Stephen, a very worthy winner and well done to Harry for nominating his dad!