Grief for Vinnie as wife Tanya loses cancer fight
TRIBUTES poured in yesterday for former footballer and actor Vinnie Jones’s wife Tanya, who has died of skin cancer.
Tanya, 53, passed away at the couple’s home in Los Angeles on Saturday with her husband of 25 years by her bedside.
Sporting figures and celebrities sent messages of condolence to Jones, 54, after the sad news broke.
March Of The Day host Gary Lineker tweeted: “How terribly sad. Condolences to Vinnie and family.”
Former boxer Frank Bruno added: “I’m very saddened to hear the news of Vinnie Jones’s wife Tanya passing away. My thoughts are with Vinnie and his family at this difficult time.”
Good Morning Britain’s Piers Morgan described her as “a delightful woman, and a truly courageous fighter”. He added: “My deepest condolences to Vinnie and all the family. RIP Tanya.”
Wimbledon, with whom Jones won the FA Cup in 1988, paid tribute on their official Twitter account, writing: “Everyone at Wimbledon wishes to extend their deepest sympathies to our former player, Vinnie Jones, following the tragic death of his wife, Tanya.”
Leeds United and Chelsea – two of the midfielder’s former clubs – also paid their respects.
A statement from Jones’s management confirmed the sad news: “At 8.46am local time in Los Angeles on Saturday July 6, Vinnie Jones’ wife, Tanya Jones, passed away after a long illness.
“Tanya passed peacefully at the Jones family home surrounded by Vinnie, their daughter and other family members.
“Vinnie and the family ask for privacy while they go through an understandable period of mourning during this devastating time.”
Suffered
The couple, from Watford, first met when Jones was 12.
They dated each other as teenagers and reconnected when Jones signed for Chelsea in 1991. They married three years later.
They have two children from previous partners.
The couple renewed their vows in style in Las Vegas in 2007 – with Jones wearing the same purple suit he had worn for their original nuptials
In 2013 it was revealed they were both being treated for skin cancer.
Tanya had suffered for several years, whereas Jones discovered that he had cancer after a malignant melanoma below his eye was found.
Tanya leaves a daughter, Kaley, 32, by her first husband, footballer Steve Terry.
Tanya underwent an emergency heart transplant at the age of 21 following the birth of her daughter and is also reported to have suffered from cervical cancer.
After Jones retired from football, he turned to acting and made his film debut in 1998 in Guy Ritchie’s crime comedy Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels.
He also starred in 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand and fantasy TV series Galavant.
GMB’s Susanna Reid tweeted: “So, so sorry Vinnie... my heart goes out to you and your family.”