GREG Stones is looking forward to a perfect match while realising how lucky he is.

The 28-year-old hopes to be celebrating title success with Chester FC come May. Later the same month, he’ll be tying the knot with fiancee Kelly.

With a Barcelona stag-do in the offing, life could not be much better for Stones. But if he ever doubts his good fortune, the utility player only has to think of his day job.

As a community worker in the youth justice service, he helps troubled youths in North Wales overcome their problems.

Stones’ efforts revolve around supporting 13 to 18-year-olds in Flintshire.

His employers, Community Justice Interventions Wales, aim to steer the teenagers away from crime or anti-social behaviour while also assisting those youths battling social deprivation.

Stones said: “I deliver Duke of Edinburgh and various other projects.

“We do a lot of sports with young people on court orders and prevention orders before they get to court.”

Young men and women are encouraged to develop wide-ranging skills and qualifications, from first aid to bike maintenance and managing money.

“We have the facility to see what the kids’ backgrounds are – it can be quite harrowing at times,” added Stones. “Some of them haven’t got much and are in care homes.

“There are kids from really bad areas who are trying to break out.

“It is sobering to see what things happen to young people and you see that your life isn’t all that bad.”

Success in steering young people towards a better life is therefore particularly rewarding for Stones.

“I have had young people who have gone from being heavily into drugs and alcohol to being successful on college sports courses and going into jobs,” he said.

“They have turned themselves around in the space of 12 months and it is overwhelming when you get results like that.”

Through his experiences, Wallasey-based Stones can more easily put into perspective any setbacks on the field – such as the Evo-Stik League First Division North leaders’ festive mini-slump.

The player served boss Neil Young at Poulton Victoria, Rhyl and Colwyn Bay before accompanying him to the Exacta Stadium on the rebirth of the Blues.

“I had a couple of offers from clubs a bit higher and on the day I signed for Chester, I was supposed to be going to another club to talk,” said Stones.

“But having spoken to Neil and seen the whole thing at Chester, it was obvious that was the place to be. It’s been a great experience.”

Stones’ ability to play in a number of position has been invaluable to Chester, but the Wirralian admits his ‘versatile’ tag means it is hard for him to settle into a chosen position.

But he added: “Once I am asked to do a job, I’ll do it for the good of the team.”

Stones has experienced European football with TNS and Rhyl.

In 2005, he and current Blues coach Gary Powell scored in Lithuania to help Rhyl defeat FK Atlantis in the UEFA Cup. However Liverpool fan Stones fell victim to former Reds manager Roy Hodgson’s FK Viking in the second qualifying round.

“It was an amazing feeling seeing the ball hit the back of the net,” said Stones, whose career has also seen a three-month trial at Crewe Alexandra and a stint with Blue Square North outfit Stafford Rangers.

“I don’t really look at picking highlights from my career but maybe I will do when I retire. Hopefully, I have got more highlights to come.”