Vale – Allan Jones (AJ)

It is with great sadness that we advise our Briars Hockey members of the passing of our friend, and hockey legend AJ (Allan Jones).

AJ was introduced to Briars through junior hockey with his 2 children Meegan and David. AJ was fundamental in supporting our Junior teams on and off the field including initiating the weekly junior BBQ which raised significant funds for our juniors.

Once the original Cintra was established as a venue AJ became almost a permanent fixture. Spending countless hours running and maintaining the field, setting up our canteen facilities and then working in the canteen throughout the week.

Cintra could not have survived those early years without AJ’s enormous and outstanding dedication as a volunteer. AJ knew how to fix almost everything. If there was ever an issue or you couldn’t find something you knew AJ would know what to do; and if he somehow didn’t, he and his good mates and other Briars legends Walter Zol & David Ratcliffe would figure it out.

Cintra became AJ’s second home. We loved AJ and AJ loved Cintra/Briars.

In recent times AJ had battled his lung cancer without ever losing his witty humour and still jumping in just a few months ago to fix the hooter on the scoreboard. AJ was a dedicated supporter of his daughter Meegan who played in the Women’s 3rdGrade team this year. He was either cheering her on or pushing his beautiful grandson Archie around the field in his stroller.

On Wednesday we lost a Briars Hockey legend. He will be greatly missed.
Men’s 5th & 6th grades will be wearing black arm bands in their Grand Final matches and there will be a minute silence before each game as a mark of respect.

Funeral Information:

AJ’s funeral will be help on Sunday 15thSeptember 12:00pm at East Chapel, Rookwood Cemetery. Reception to follow at Cintra Hockey Complex. In lieu of floral tributes AJ’s family have requested donations to kidney cancer. Envelopes will be available at the chapel and the reception.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Merci, Meegan, David and little AJ (Archie Jones).

Briars Executive Committee.