Vinnie Jones, one of football's most notorious hardmen, has recalled watching a former teammate throw "one of the best right-handers I’ve ever seen" while on a night out in Sheffield.

Regarded by many as one of the game's most feared characters, Jones has authority when it comes to judging whether an opponent was tough or not.

He recently admitted to being "harder" than Neil 'Razor' Ruddock, Julian Dicks, Paul Ince, Duncan Ferguson and Roy Keane, but in the past, Jones has always pointed towards one man as being the ultimate hardman.

A few years ago, Jones was hosting one of his 'Evening with Vinnie Jones' speaking tours when a member of the crowd asked what it was like to be the hardest man in football.

Instead of naming himself, the former Wimbledon and Chelsea midfielder is said to have pointed to the front row, where special guest Billy Whitehurst was sitting. "You best ask that man," he said.

Paul Gascoigne and Vinnie Jones pictured in 1990. Image credit: Getty

Whitehurst, who played for Hull City, Newcastle and Sheffield United across his career, was not to be messed with.

Former Liverpool centre-back Alan Hansen admitted he was scared by the prospect of facing the Rotherham-born forward. "He frightened every centre-half, and I do mean frightened," he added.

Whitehurst's antics on the pitch even transferred to life off it. Back in the early 90s, the notorious striker was on a night out in Sheffield with teammate Vinnie Jones when the group bumped into a group of Sheffield Wednesday fans.

Explaining the incident in his autobiography, Jones says one of the fans threw a bottle, which hit teammate David Barnes in the face, leaving him with a cut.

Whitehurst is said to have approached the culprit before putting him on the floor.

“Billy threw one of the best right-handers I’ve ever seen – inside or outside a prize-fight ring – and the biggest bloke in the group just crumpled to the floor," said Jones.

Billy Whitehurst lifts his shirt to supporters during a clash between Sheffield United and Leeds United. Image credit: Getty

Jamie Redknapp recalls coming up against Whitehurst on his debut

Back in January 1990, a 16-year-old Redknapp was terrified by the prospect of coming up against one of football's most notorious hardmen as he prepared to make his Bournemouth debut against Hull City.

"He was a proper animal," Redknapp told The Times.

"Then Dad throws me on. My first touch of the ball, I can hear him, he’s making these growling noises like he’s coming after me. So, quick, I pass it out to our left back, Paul Morrell, but I’ve left it a bit short and Billy’s carried on and caught him with an absolute beauty."

Harry Redknapp went on to recall another story about Whitehurst, when he left three players on the floor.

"Whitehurst was something else," he said. "We went to Hull one night, played them in the final of the Associate Members’ Cup [in 1984]. It should have been at Wembley but the Horse of the Year Show had torn the pitch up, so we lost the toss and had to go to their place.

"In five minutes, Whitehurst had three players on the floor, all lying there at different angles like skittles. He’s come in and just smashed them, elbowed one, nutted the next one. There weren’t enough physios to treat them all."