British Wheelchair Basketball is saddened to hear the news of the passing of former Owls and BWB Member Malcolm Jones.
Malcolm joined Oldham Owls, as the club was known then, in the early nineties and was the team manager and a committee member for many years. His background was in the running game and his love of basketball and particularly the wheelchair game always shone through resulting in him accompanying Coach John Stainton to the Atlanta Paralympic Games in 1996 as GB Team Manager, where the men’s team won the silver medal.
Alongside his involvement in the elite side of the sport, Malcolm dedicated his time to the development of juniors in the North West region, attending the Junior Regional Championships as Team Manager for five years in the early 2000s.
Malcolm, also known by those in the wheelchair basketball community as “Jonesy”, was not blessed with good health in his later years but he continued to support the Owls and often watched the club’s home matches.
The club was fortunate to have benefitted from Malcolm’s support for so many years. A popular member of the wider wheelchair basketball community, particularly in Europe when on Owls EuroCup adventures, Malcolm always engaged with players, officials and supporters alike. He will be sadly missed.
The thoughts of everyone at British Wheelchair Basketball are with Malcolm’s family and friends at this incredibly sad time.
Tribute by Dan Johnson, The Owls Head Coach and BWB Board Member