ALAN McLoughlin’s former teammate Tom Jones says his friend was one of the best guys he has ever met in football.

The Swindon Town legend lost his battle with cancer earlier this week, and Jones was one of many that offered to share happy memories or tales of what McLoughlin was like to those who were lucky enough to meet him.

Speaking on the Swindon Town Official Supporters Club’s Monday Night Panel on Tuesday, Jones said McLoughlin was the first person he met at the County Ground and their friendship grew after former boss, Lou Macari had the pair undertake running drills together.

Jones said: “We got on like a house on fire, Alan and I.

“Alan was one of the top, top players, and not just a top player, but one of the best guys in football that I’ve ever met.

“He wasn’t just a tremendous footballer, but as a person he was very humble too.

“I spent time with him three years ago when we were doing our UEFA A license renewal at Celtic Manor.

“We reminisced to the time we were playing together, and Alan was in charge of the academy at Swindon at that time.

“We were talking about how things have changed over the time, training methods, and how the lads don’t do any cleaning anymore.

“It’s something I think the old school would like to see come back because it instils standards and discipline, but Alan says it will never happen.”

Those of a Town persuasion will always remember McLoughlin as being the man who scored the only goal of the game as Swindon beat Sunderland 1-0 at Wembley Stadium in 1990.

Jones described his friend and teammate as a complete player who was always capable of scoring and assisting whenever his team needed him.

Jones said: “Alan had this great talent where he would pick up the ball from deep, he could get it in little pockets, and he was one of the ones who could actually run with it. He could dribble and go past people.

“If you have a look at the amount of goals he scored where he’d beat people and then slot it into the corner.

“He wasn’t just a goal-maker, he was a goal-scorer too. Throughout his career, he scored a few famous goals – the one for the Republic of Ireland stands out.”