Dave Edwards recalls working with “proper legend” Joe Ledley
Former Wales teammate David Edwards has shared his best memories of playing with Joe Ledley, following the midfielder’s recent retirement from professional football.
Edwards played alongside Ledley for Wales, with both playing a huge part in the National Team’s growing success.
Ledley announced his retirement last month, having represented the likes of Cardiff City, Celtic and Crystal Palace.
At international level, the 34-year-old accumulated 77 caps, scoring on four occasions, quickly becoming a favourite of the Red Wall.
Having spent a great deal of his career with Ledley, Edwards expressed that the two have a very close relationship.
“Joe’s a great lad. He’s someone who I always felt comfortable in his company. He’s progressed to the senior team a lot quicker than me but by the time I got there, the relationship developed over the years like it probably did with a lot of the lads, we were all a similar age group.
“Then by the time I got to sort of the latter part of my Welsh career, sort of late twenties, early thirties, I would say we had a real sort of close group of lads who all got on really well, on and off the pitch. Joe was one of those. Even now, I’ve done some media bits with Joe in recent months and it’s just like were back in the changing room.
“He’s a great lad. He’s hands down the funniest person I’ve ever met in football and played with. Just a real dry sense of humour, doesn’t try to be funny, just naturally gifted in that way.”
Edwards first encountered Ledley whilst representing Wales’ youth sides, both coming through the system at a similar time.
With both being part of a young Wales squad that had a number of big names that went on to have great success for the National Team, Edwards recalls the first time he played alongside Ledley.
“It would’ve been playing for Wales U19’s. He was already in and around Cardiff’s first team at that point as a rangy left winger.
“We always knew he was going to be good. He was quite tall for his age, had loads of quality and for me, always had this sort of deep Welsh accent, which coming from more mid-Wales, I hadn’t really heard too many times.
“He was quite a quiet lad, lovely lad but he was really good at that age group in terms of ability-wise. You could tell he stood out as a left winger which you wouldn’t really associate with him.”
Throughout his career, Ledley is known for his likeability and cult hero status with Wales fans.
While also playing a key part on the pitch, Edwards conveyed that Ledley was an important figure off the field.
“He’s just very laid back. He’ll make a joke out of anything but not necessarily trying to look for laughs or trying to be funny. He was just a very naturally funny guy.
“He’ll take any intensity or pressure out of a moment by just saying a quirky comment or things like that. It’ll be the same speaking to me, speaking to Gareth Bale or speaking to Chris Coleman.
“He just has that relationship with everyone that he can be himself and can make a joke that has everyone in stitches.”
One part of Ledley’s career that may stand out to Wales fans is his recovery from injury to play at Euro 2016.
The midfielder suffered a fractured leg playing for Crystal Palace in May that year, admitting to shedding a tear when his hopes of playing in France were potentially over.
Ledley made a remarkable recovery, returning to action just five weeks later, playing an integral role in Chris Coleman’s side’s success.
Edwards expressed that Ledley’s recovery from injury was testament to his attitude.
“It was an amazing recovery. I’m kind of glad he didn’t get fit a bit quicker because it gave me the opportunity to play that first game against Slovakia, so I owe Joe for that one!
“I remember when the injury happened. You never want to see anyone get injured and I remember hearing it on the radio, seeing it on the tv and thinking that we’ve waited this long for a major tournament and poor Joe’s going to miss it.
“I felt gutted for him because he was such a huge part of that qualification camp and the years leading up to that as well. Him and Joe Allen really became pivotal to the way we were playing, so I was gutted for him.
“But then I heard rumours that he was still hoping to make it. We went out to a training camp in Portugal and he was still miles off it there, he was just staring jogging again.
“You were almost thinking that Joe’s going to get in the squad to play a part at the latter stages of the tournament if we get there and it’ll be good for team spirit to have him there.
“But never did I think he’d get back as quick as he would and be available for that first game. I think that’s testament to Sean Connelly, who was working with him at Crystal Palace and Wales at the time.
“Then, obviously Joe’s work rate, you talk about some of the stuff he went through and during that he didn’t leave anything to chance. He’s absolutely the ultimate professional.
“He didn’t have much of a home life during those five weeks. He was constantly in hyperbaric chambers and on ice machines and nutrition, everything was absolutely 100%. It was all was worth it in the end because he did get back and he was an integral part to us doing so well in that tournament.”
Embed from Getty ImagesLedley’s return was not only a benefit to Wales on the pitch, but his presence was most certainly valuable off it.
Edwards recalled his best memories of being alongside Ledley in what was a magical summer in France.
“We had lots of memories together, lots of drunken memories from after good Wales performances, but I’d say the specific ones are from the Euros, because we got to spend so much time in each other’s company.
“We had loads of situations where we were all together as a group and we were split up into these teams and we did different quizzes and stuff like that. Joe was on an opposing team to me and he had to end up doing different types of forfeits. He would just have everyone in absolute stitches.
“I always sat on the same table as Joe at breakfast, lunch and dinner. There was six or seven of us and you could just sit and listen to him and Wayne Hennessey, usually as a double act.
“Everyone got their own room in the Euros apart from Wayne and Joe. They had to room together because they had to be in each other’s company so much.
‘Those two together was like a double act because I think the Euros in particular was where Joe stood out and developed that dance that went viral.
“I remember, after the Northern Ireland game, him dancing in the room then doing a Klinsmann dive right across this big table in the middle that had loads of pizzas on it. They all went everywhere and everyone was in stitches. That’s probably my most standout moment from him.”
While Ledley is known for his fantastic personality off the pitch and contribution to the side’s closeness, he was also an integral part on the field.
Edwards expressed that the midfielder is perhaps underrated for the quality he showed during his career.
“He was a terrific footballer and it was great to see how his game evolved. He was more of a winger when I first met him and then he was a box-to-box attacking-midfielder. Then, later in his career, he ended up just being a midfielder who really good positioning, would break up play, was very good on the ball and I think he was a little underrated at times.
“The work he does goes unnoticed and it’s important to have a player who’s always available to receive the ball, when you’ve got someone like Joe Allen alongside you.
“Joe Allen’s probably a bit easier on the eye, you can see what he does whereas Joe Ledley does a bit more of the dirty work, but the manager and the players definitely appreciate what he did.
“He was terrific technically, receiving the ball, keeping it moving, very good passer. You look at his pass in that opening game against Slovakia to Aaron Ramsey in between the lines, taking on passes like that. He had an eye for goal, probably more so at club level, but he was a terrific footballer.”
Following his retirement, Ledley has began working in the media, whilst also working on his coaching badges.
Edwards conveyed that his multi-talented former teammate has the capabilities of going down either route.
“I think he’s doing his coaching badges so I wouldn’t rule it out but I think he would suit the media. He’s a very likeable personality. I think that’ll come across really well on radio and TV. His knowledge of the game is excellent, some of the stuff he picks up in games, he’s very analytical.
“It would definitely suit him but I also think he’d be unbelievable in a club environment as well or in the Welsh setup. I think having someone like that in the backroom staff would be worth its weight in gold.
“His coaching ability, I’m sure will improve and get where it needs to be to coach for them, but just as a person in and around the dressing room, I think that would be invaluable for the players and staff.
“I could see him going both ways. He’s definitely got the option of doing both. If he wants to do anything at all that is, just work on his handicap otherwise!”
With Ledley retiring this year, Wales fans can look back on a fantastic career and a huge contribution to the National Team.
In his message for his former teammate, Edwards expressed that working alongside Ledley throughout his career was a great experience.
“I’d just like to say well done on such an amazing career. I feel very privileged to have played or been a small part of it as well.
“Some of the memories that we shared in a Welsh shirt, the highs and I’d say even more, the time off the pitch in and around training camps.
“I’ve been very privileged to be in his company and he’s someone who I’d definitely remember long after I’ve retired. He’s one of the funniest guys I’ve met in football, proper legend!”
