Matthew Jones feature - by Chris Carra

1. 36 Llanelli Star, Wednesday, December 5, 2012 www.thisissouthwales.co.uk www.thisissouthwales.co.uk Llanelli Star, Wednesday, December 5, 2012 37LSA-E01-S2 LSA-E01-S2
MATTHEW’S YEAR IN NUMBERS
133
480
Miles Matthew cycled over 24 hours in his
bike challenge
78
Laps of the Severn Valley Race Track
13,000
Number of feet Matthew fell on his skydive
4
It took Matthew just under four hours to
complete the London Marathon
Approximate number of miles he ran during
marathons and half marathons
3,560
Feet Matthew ran to reach Snowdon’s summit
55
Miles per week Matthew trained from
November 2011 to May 2012 (before he
relaxed to around 10 miles a week)
I John Hartson and Matthew Jones
cycle to raise money in memory of
Gary Speed. LLCE20121127C-012_C
‘I knew the memory
of Gary would
push me through’
by Chris Carra
‘Gary made me what I am’
I “My Favourite picture. Even in that game I felt so proud to be
playing alongside him.” I In La Manga, Spain, before a training day.
“It’s horrible to think
he has gone but I
know as long as you
hold someone in your
heart they never
leave you.”
Matthew Jones
THE first time I met Gary was
in the changing room corridor
of Elland Road Stadium — I
was 12 years old and was
invited to watch the first team
play vs Man Utd, writes
Matthew Jones.
I had my picture taken with
Gary along with Gary
McAllister, Gordon Strachan,
Mark Hughes and Eric
Cantona.
Even that day, after a brief
meeting, I walked away
thinking how nice Gary was,
although he had only said
“hello, how are you?”
From that day I can
honestly say Gary Speed was
my inspiration.
It wasn’t too long later that I
was back in Leeds again to
sign for them. Gary was there
to welcome me to the club and
from that day our friendship
started.
Gary always put his arm
around me before, during and
after training giving me heaps
of advice and motivation. He
always used to push me on
hard work, dedication and
being hungry for what I
wanted. Away from training
he would always make sure I
had what I needed, whether it
was a lift back to my digs, a
new pair of boots, money,
toiletries or, I remember one
time, a lift to the train station
when I was in a rush to catch
my eight-hour train journey
back to Llanelli.
Simple things, but I used to
appreciate them so much as I
was hundreds of miles away
from my parents and friends,
so to have him there looking
after me was priceless.
more and I could see he
wanted me to be just as much
of a winner as him.
When it came to my injuries
and later having to deal with
retiring from the professional
game Gary was right there for
me — I only had to pick up the
phone and he would answer.
Sometimes that’s all it takes
to be a good friend but he also
had so much good advice to
give and how best to deal with
the situation I was in.
My experiences with this
great guy are just priceless
and, more important,
irreplaceable.
Although I classed Gary as a
true lifelong friend he still
continued to be my
inspiration, hero and role
model as he continued to show
me so much and I could learn
so many things from him.
Even weeks before Gary
died he asked me to come in to
watch the national team train
at Cardiff, which I did, and
also asked me to come and see
him the day after the Norway
game — his last game in
charge.
A simple coffee and the
chance to see Ed and Tommy,
his two boys, who I have
watched grow into perfect
young men.
It’s so horrible to think he
has gone but I know as long as
you hold someone in your
heart they never leave you.
I have sacrificed a year of
my life this past 12 months to
say thank you to an amazing
guy and I still don’t think it’s
enough, but it has helped
grieving.
Now though, I can look back
and think that the pain I have
physically gone through is
temporary, but the pride I now
have in that I have given
something back to him will
last for the rest of my life.
When I hand the cheques
over to Gary’s supported
charities I can actually say
that “this money is on behalf
of Gary” as he has inspired me
to be strong minded, a fighter,
courageous, generous, loving,
forgiving, understanding,
patient and unselfish.
You would never think a
football player or being
involved in football can
construct you as a person and
dictate how you will achieve
in your life but Gary, among a
few others, has really made
me who I am today.
That father figure then
turned into being like a
brother and then the older I
grew he just became a
brilliant mate.
Every big thing that’s
happened in my life Gary was
there. Every big decision,
every bit of success, I have
shared with him. He would
always push me on to do much
IT’S been a long year for
Llanelli’s Matthew Jones.
A gruelling London marathon, a
climb to the top of Snowdon, eight
half-marathons and a skydive, all
topped off with 24 long hours on an
exercise bike . . . it’s enough to make
you break a sweat just reading.
But there is a very good reason
behind his energetic efforts.
With his strenuous 24-hour cycling
feat at Trostre’s Tesco store last week,
Matthew smashed a personal £10,000
yearly fundraising target, all in the
memory of his mentor Gary Speed.
The cash will go towards three
charities — the Sir Bobby Robson
Foundation, the John Hartson
Foundation and the Spinal Injuries
Association — all organisations
supported by the late Wales manager,
who died aged 42 last November.
The former Leeds United, Leicester
City and Wales footballer’s latest
efforts brought in around £1,500,
which he added to money he had
already raised taking the grand total
to around £10,800.
Talking about his bike marathon,
Matthew, 31, said: “It was amazing. At
the end I was a bag full of emotion.
“My back and my legs were
hurting. My legs were going almost
continuously for 24 hours.
“With an event like this your body
takes a battering.”
Matthew covered around 480 miles
over the day, which is the equivalent
of travelling from Llanelli to
Edinburgh.
Matthew said his final challenge
was very tough, mentally and
physically, but he used the memory of
his mentor to see him through.
“On the bike I was thinking this
pain will end, but I know that the pain
Gary’s family went through will
never end. In the night it was just me
with my head down and my legs
continuously going. But I always
knew the memory of Gary would push
me through.”
The event also saw three big names
in Welsh football come along to show
Matthew their support.
Current Wales manager Chris
Coleman cycled alongside him as he
started out on the challenge, before
Swans defender Ashley Williams
joined him for an hour on Monday
evening.
Chris said: “For Matt to achieve
what he has done this year is a credit
to his friendship with Gary. I only
spent 20 minutes on that bike with
him last Monday and I struggled so I
can’t imagine what pain barrier Matt
had to go through.
“To be there and support Matt on
his personal tribute to our mate was a
pleasure, but it’s nice now that Matt
has done all that he set out to do.”
The following day John Hartson
was present to see Matthew through
to the end.
John said: “Matthew has done so
well for great causes this year, but it’s
nice that he’s actually done it on
behalf of Gaz and helped raise more
awareness particularly for my
foundation.
“I have told him it is about time he
put his feet up now and I’m going to
take him for a well deserved pint.
“I was there for the last hour of his
cycle and I felt helpless seeing him
fighting to the end but I’m so glad I
was there for him.”
And Gary’s mum, Carol Speed,
spoke of her pride at Matthew’s
achievements.
“It is so clear to see how much of an
inspiration Gary was to Matt and I am
so proud by all Matt is doing,” Carol
said. “I was there to see Matt at
Snowdon and I could see the pain he
went through that day.
“For Matt to run up and down it
that day was incredible.”
To wrap the year up in a fitting way,
Matthew has set himself a final
challenge.
“I have decided that I am going to
hand deliver the cheques to each
charity by bicycle to cap it all off,” he
said.
“Every challenge I have done has
been draining but this last one I don’t
see as a challenge — it will be more of
a pleasure.”
Over a week in March, Matthew
will cycle from Llanelli to Swansea to
present a cheque to John Hartson
during the Swansea City vs
Newcastle game.
He will then cycle from Swansea to
the King Power Stadium, Leicester, to
meet the organisers of the Spinal
Injuries Association, before a mighty
cycle from Leicester to Newcastle to
be met by Gary’s parents and Sir
Bobby Robson’s late widow, Lady
Elsie, at St James’ Park to hand over
the final cheque.
I After the 24-hour bike ride.
I Hitting the ground after his charity skydive.
I After completing the London Marathon
(left), (above) at the Liberty Stadium and
(above) hugging Gary Speed’s mum.
AFTER his intense year of strenuous
fundraising, Matthew has thanked the
people of Llanelli for all their support
and generosity.
Matthew said: “It was fitting that I
did my last challenge in my home town.
Everyone was really encouraging and
supportive — I had a wonderful
reaction.
“To the whole of Llanelli, the general
public and the children — you helped
me reach the target.
“Look what the community can do
when we stick together, which I’ve
known all along.
“I was brought up in this town, in a
community as close-knit as Morfa, and
that feeling is spreading throughout
the town. I really appreciate that the
people of the town have been able to
come out and support and I’m sure I'll
support anything else that goes on in
the town.”
Matthew said he was overwhelmed
by the support he received from
schools during his final event — the
24-hour cycle in Tesco, Trostre.
He gave his thanks to all of them,
including Lakefield, Morfa, Swiss
Valley, St Mary’s, St Michael’s and
Coedcae.
He added: “The children were
fantastic — people were already giving
money when the buckets were on the
table, but no more so than when the
children were there shaking those
buckets.
“It also meant a lot to me to see their
smiling faces, and it was nice to give
something back to the children of
Llanelli by helping them meet their
favourite stars.”
Fitting end
to challenge
Events Matthew Jones has
completed this year:
G February 11: Leicester City vs
Cardiff City half marathon
G February 29: Wales vs Costa
Rica (Gary Speed’s memorial
game), marathon
G March 4: Llanelli half marathon
G March 18: Leeds United vs West
Ham, half marathon
G April 7: Swansea City vs
Newcastle United, half marathon
G April 22: Virgin London Marathon
G May 15: Snowdon Mountain Run
(reach the summit and back)
G June 22: Severn Valley Race
Track, half marathon
G June 30: Swansea Airport
skydive (13,000ft)
G October 14: Cardiff half
marathon
G November 26/27: Tesco 24-hour
static bike cycle
In addition to these fundraisers,
Matthew also completed several
training events including half
marathon tests in January and
September.