Man Marking - Episode 35 - Rhodri Jones

Episode 35

Being awoken from your childhood dreams; by the realities of adulthood.

At 14 years of age, Rhodri Jones signed schoolboy forms with his boyhood club, Manchester United. For most teenage boys, this would be a time of unbridled joy and excitement. But for Rhodri, a thoughtful and sensitive young man, his anxieties about what would be the biggest change to his life so far, were making him question what had always been his dream. 

By the time he was 16, Rhodri had moved to Manchester and was playing as full time footballer at Manchester United. He was living in digs and working his way towards the United first team. 

By age 20, Alex Ferguson, the man who had stood over his shoulder as he signed for United, told Rhodri he was being let go. Rhodri had suffered a number of serious knee injuries, and he had found himself now looking for a new club, and a new home.

Rhodri ended up at Rotherham, under the tutelage of Ronnie Moore. Despite getting himself to full fitness, his knee, and more increasingly his mental health wasn't right. Rhodri would spend less than a year at Millmoor before moving back home, eventually retiring at the age of 24. 

We talk to Rhodri about his time at United, his move to Rotherham, and the final few difficult years of his football career. 

You can find us on Twitter @marking_man and don't forget to use the hashtag #WheresTheTalkingLads 

If you have been affected by any of the themes discussed in today's episode, we have listed some organisations below who are there if you need to talk:

Samaritans 
Call 116 132 for free

https://www.samaritans.org/

Papyrus UK
Call 0800 068 41 41

Papyrus Website

CALM ZONE
0800 58 58 58

https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/helpline/