Kent Chief Executive Jamie Clifford has praised wicketkeeper Geraint Jones for being an ideal role model for youngsters at the club.

Jones has spent the last eleven seasons on the staff with Kent, earning the 36 year old a Benefit in 2012 for his sterling sevice to the club.

In that time, Jones has risen from being second choice to Paul Nixon to being an automatic selection, whilst playing in 100 consecutive County Championship games.

On the field Jones has shown himself to be one of the best keepers in the land, earning him 34 Test caps with England, whilst contributing significantly with the bat, but it is off the field that he does just as much work.

Largely going un-noticed by large sections of supporters, Jones has proven to be one of the most invaluable members of Kent’s playing staff, helping out where he can both in the nets and at club functions.

It’s that desire to do his best for his county that has earnt Jones a new two year deal at the St Lawrence Ground and Chief Executive Jamie Clifford told KSN how youngsters at Kent wouldn’t go far wrong looking at Jones as a role model:

“There are some players that are better than others within the dressing room at adding value around the club, not only what they do on the field, but committing to helping make the club a better one and Geraint is way up there in the list of people who go over and above what they do on the pitch.”

“He also does a lot of coaching in the winter on Kent’s young cricketers programmes and he’s a valuable part of our set up beyond what people see him do on the cricket field.”

“Those are the types of cricketer and role model you want within the squad.”

The past ten months have seen Jones busy playing, whilst juggling various functions and events for his Benefit Year away from cricket with Clifford hoping the keeper will be at the club for many more years to come:

“Everyone going into his Benefit Year will have wished him well and I hope he’s had a great year. I know when he has had an event you get a great sense of feeling from everybody there that he’s a man whose loyalty should be repaid.”

“I hope he had had a good Benefit, but similarly, I hope he has a good next few years with us as well on the field and see where it takes him.”

“I know he’s been talking about playing into his forties and let’s hope that’s the case.”

There’s still time to be involved in one of Geraint’s Benefit events with a trip to the races, a Christmas meal and a golfing trip to Portugal all planned.

To find out more, visit www.geraintjonesbenefit2012.co.uk

Main picture supplied by Sarah Ansell. To see more of Sarah’s pictures visit www.sarahcanterbury.com