Honoring a Legend: 'Welcome to Wrexham' Season Five Celebrates the Life of the Club's Greatest Player, Joey Jones

Welcome to Wrexham is back for its fifth season this week, chronicling the men's first team's inaugural Championship campaign in over four decades and the women's squad's pursuit of a historic Welsh league title.

Longtime viewers will know the show extends well beyond the sport itself. Welcome to Wrexham has achieved remarkable success, earning 10 Emmy Awards and two Critics' Choice Television Awards—not just for the extraordinary sporting journey it documents, but for its heartfelt storytelling and the devoted local community it has introduced to audiences worldwide.

That same depth of storytelling is woven throughout Season Five, spotlighting the people working behind the scenes and the everyday lives unfolding in the club's orbit. The season also honors Joseph "Joey" Patrick Jones, the greatest figure in Wrexham's history, who tragically passed away at 70 years old last year.

Here is everything you need to know about "Mr. Wrexham."

Who Was Joey Jones?

Joey Jones was beloved by supporters at former clubs Liverpool and Chelsea, but the affection for him in Wrexham ran far deeper than that.

That is evident in Season Five, Episode Two of Welcome to Wrexham, simply titled "Joey Jones," which honors the iconic defender who passed away at 70 in July 2025. The episode offers viewers a glimpse of an entire nation grieving, alongside the celebration-of-life ceremony held at the club's Racecourse Ground.

Jones claimed European Cups and First Division titles during his time at Liverpool, and also picked up Player of the Year honors at both Chelsea and Huddersfield Town. For most, however, the proud Welshman is remembered for his three stints at Wrexham, where he also took on numerous roles following his retirement from playing in 1992.

Born and raised in the North Wales coastal town of Llandudno, Jones joined the Red Dragons in 1971 alongside his future best friend and fellow Wrexham icon Mickey Thomas. The young player broke into the starting lineup through sheer work ethic, determination, and ability, while building a reputation as a ferocious defender and hard tackler who opponents feared. Despite that on-field persona, he was a warm, humble individual—beloved in every dressing room for his cheerful personality and sharp sense of humor.

After four seasons at the Racecourse Ground, legendary Liverpool boss Bob Paisley signed the lifelong fan for $148,000—equivalent to roughly $908,000 today when accounting for inflation. He became the first Welshman to lift the European Cup as part of Liverpool's celebrated 1977 side, after fans unveiled an iconic banner before the match that read: "Joey Ate The Frogs Legs, Made The Swiss Roll, Now He's Munching Gladbach."

Jones made exactly 100 appearances for Liverpool before heading back to Wrexham in 1978 for $283,000—approximately $1.4 million in today's terms. That fee stood as the club's record transfer until Ollie Palmer was signed from AFC Wimbledon in January 2022. He featured across all four of Wrexham's seasons in the second tier before rejoining former manager John Neal at Chelsea in 1982 following the Red Dragons' relegation.

He helped Chelsea stave off relegation in his debut season, then contributed to the club's promotion to the English top flight in his second. In his third campaign, he competed in the First Division before spending two further seasons at Huddersfield Town.

Joey Jones Playing Career History

In 1987, Jones returned to Wrexham for a third time. He played a pivotal role as the club reached the Fourth Division playoff final in 1989 and earned a place in the PFA Team of the Season. The North Walian stayed at the club until hanging up his boots in 1992, having accumulated 479 appearances across his three spells. He also represented the Welsh national side on 72 occasions.

Following his playing days, Jones managed the reserve team and even turned out for them on occasion, while also serving as caretaker manager for two matches after Brian Flynn's departure. He held various first-team and youth-team positions for 25 years before officially stepping away from all duties in 2017.

Jones returned to Wrexham as a Youth Team Ambassador in 2021 and remained a familiar face at home fixtures, often accompanied by his closest friend Thomas. The club has already confirmed plans to commission a statue of Jones to be placed in the public plaza outside the new Kop Stand. Last year, a mural depicting his iconic salute was painted on the wall of the famous Turf pub.

He will forever be "Mr. Wrexham."

Welcome to Wrexham Season Five: Release Date

The fifth season of Welcome to Wrexham will debut on May 14, 2026, with two episodes dropping simultaneously. One new episode will then follow each week over the subsequent six weeks.

The FX series is set to conclude on June 25, 2026.