Family and fans unite to honour rugby league’s Danny Jones

THE WIDOW of Danny Jones received an emotional reception as she took to the field with their five-month-old twins as Keighley fans paid their respects to her late husband.
Danny Jones' widow Lizzie with their two sons Bobby and Phoebe. Photo: Guzelian.Danny Jones' widow Lizzie with their two sons Bobby and Phoebe. Photo: Guzelian.
Danny Jones' widow Lizzie with their two sons Bobby and Phoebe. Photo: Guzelian.

A crowd of 4,066, more than four times last season’s average, turned out for Keighley’s League 1 match against Coventry.

Jones, a Wales international, died after being taken ill during Keighley’s game at London Skolars last Sunday. A post-mortem showed he suffered from undiagnosed hereditary heart disease that resulted in his cardiac arrest.

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Jones, who was 29, leaves a widow, Lizzie, and five-month-old twins. The match went ahead at the request of the Jones family and the kick-off was put back by 15 minutes to allow the hordes of fans into Cougar Park.

Before kick-off on an emotional afternoon, Lizzie walked onto the pitch, cradling her twins Bobby and Phoebe, and fought back the tears as she released balloons in memory of her husband.

A book of condolence was opened and fund-raising by the Rugby Football League’ has so far reached £90,000 of the £100,000 target.

A collection at the match, which Keighley won 52-10, raised a further £10,500.