LEDLEY: GARETH IS REALLY GOLF CRAZY

JOE LEDLEY expects his big pal Gareth Bale to prepare for Wales’ final World Cup group clash with some crazy golf in the team hotel.

Former Dragons midfielder Ledley (above), who has just announced his retirement from football at the age of 34, revealed how the star will relax ahead facing Belgium in Cardiff tomorrow.

Ledley said: “You have to try to switch off when you can, especially when you are away from your family. It was important to entertain ourselves.

“We would bring our golf clubs and have a laugh and mess around as much as we could. We would try small wedge shots and chip into a cup and set up a little crazy golf course in the hotel.

“We would do it for hours, and in the corridors as well. We got away with a lot of things but nothing was reported or smashed. It proves how good we were at golf!”

Ledley won 77 caps, but nearly missed the

2016 Euros finals when he fractured his leg on May 7 that year. He pulled out all the stops to be ready after using an oxygen tent.

Now he has paid tribute to Bale’s own return ahead of schedule following two months out with a hamstring tear. After seeing Bale

(right) win his 100th cap in the defeat of Belarus, Ledley added:

“When you want to fight for something, you go through a lot of things with your body. That is obviously what Gareth has done.”

Looking back on his own career, which took in spells at Celtic,

Crystal Palace and Derby, Ledley said:

“It all started when I was nine and signed for Cardiff. I’ve had an amazing and wonderful journey. But today, sadly it’s time to hang up my boots.”

Ledley was speaking at the FAW and Mcdonald’s Grassroots Football Awards

2021, celebrating the unsung heroes of the grassroots football community of

Wales. He said: “It was emotional to see the volunteers and hear what they do.”