The hilarious Ledley wind-up that helped post-England

BALE’S FREE-KICK STUNNER Edwards: “It was a really cagey game. Then, towards the end of the first half, we got a free-kick. Immediately, we shared one thought — Baley!

We had seen his goal from a free- kick against Slovakia, and we knew what he was like in training with 95% of his freekicks ending up in the back of the net.

This one was way out, though, so we were thinking the same thing. ‘He’s never going to try it from there is he?’

He just put the ball down, walked back, and you could tell from the way he was standing that he was going to have a go. Go on, Baley!

The anticipation grew. The guys on the bench linked our arms around each other. ‘He’s going to score. He’s going to do it.’ We had that much confidence in him it was almost the equivalent of someone taking a penalty.

We knew that as soon as he hit it we would be able to tell by the trajectory whether it had a chance. We could sense the expectation amongst the Wales fans at the other end of the ground — that feeling that something special was about to happen.

Baley stepped up, hit the ball and, straightaway we knew this had got a chance. The ball dipped, then we saw the net ripple and Gareth running off.

The bench just erupted, the biggest release of energy you can imagine. He’d done it again. The substitutes and the coaching staff were hugging each other and Gareth ran off to the corner. This felt even better than the opening goal against Slovakia. We were turning to each other on and asking how on earth he’d done it.” WALES LOST, BUT EDWARDS RECEIVED A LOVELY PICK-ME-UP FROM OLD CLUB-MATE JOE HART Edwards: “After the Slovakia game, our dressing room had an incredible buzz. This was the opposite, in the space of just four days — from a huge high to a bottomless low.

We needed to lift ourselves quickly, which happened that evening and the next day. There was still so much to play for. Joe Hart helped me as well.

He said that we had to keep our spirits up, we were still on three points and England were only on four. He told me that we were better than the Russians – 100% – and that England should have beaten them. That we had more than enough to go and get the result.

He said we had to stay together, and couldn’t afford to let anyone get too down. Get rid of the disappointment straightaway, and keep upbeat. It was a stirring talk from Joe, good advice from a mate, and it was nice to hear.” THAT SPECIAL WALES TEAM BOND (The Welsh players used to have court sessions in the evening. Split into small teams, those on the losing side had to sing a song, do a dance... or make a spoof phone call in front of everyone else. It proved important for lifting morale post-England). Edwards: “With just over 48 hours until the Russia game, we had a tough session that Saturday, and then nothing really during the afternoon until the meal in the evening, which turned into something absolutely hilarious. It was time for the court again, and there were loads of nominations. Joe Ledley and Owain Fôn Williams were the men in the dock for something that had gone on a few days previously. The three judges, as usual, were the gaffer, Osian Roberts and Paul Trollope. The evidence was presented and, at the end of it, the lads had to do their nominations, the dice was rolled and the forfeit was the dreaded phone call. We were sat there at dinner, the phone is put on speaker, and Joe had to phone ‘IG’ (FAW head of public affairs Ian Gwyn Hughes) and say there was a story coming out in the national newspapers on Monday about him having an affair. Yes, on Monday, the day of one of the biggest games in Wales’ history. Picture the scene. The squad and staff are there listening, stifling the giggles, as Joe phones IG, who is only a short distance away in his room.

‘I’m sorry IG,’ he said. ‘I’ve got something I need to tell you. I’m ashamed, especially with the game coming up on Monday, but this story is going to come out in the national newspapers about me having an affair.’

Joe then began alluding to the graphic details, laying it on thick. He is just unbelievable at things like this. IG kept asking if he was joking, but Ledds managed to convince him he wasn’t.

Then the line went silent for about five seconds before IG’s reply of, ‘Heck Joe, what have you done?!’ That was it, we couldn’t hold back the sniggering anymore, the roar of laughter was huge as we collapsed about the place in hysterics.

It was absolutely hilarious. Joe is such a funny guy, and delivered to a T.

Owain had to do his a few days after because the first attempt went to answerphone. He had to phone Suzanne, who looked after a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff with the squad, with various arrangements such as ticket allocations.

Owain phoned to tell her he had ordered some tickets for the Russia game, and had sold them to a group of Russians, who were going to be able to sit in the Wales end.

He said he was offered so much money for them that he couldn’t turn it down. He told Suzanne he realised he’d made a huge mistake and it had only just dawned on him what was going to happen.

Similar to IG, Suzanne was asking if he was having her on and then: ‘What on earth were you doing?’ Once again, much laughter when all was revealed.

Joe and Owain’s court sessions played a massive part in lifting everyone’s spirits. I think it was one of the funniest nights I’ve had. THRASHING THE RUSSIANS

(Wales were brilliant in winning 3-0 in Toulouse, then came the news England had only drawn). Edwards: “The atmosphere was unreal, and was about to get better. There was a big screen in the corner and suddenly the Wales fans started cheering wildly. I looked up and the England result was up there. A 0-0 draw with Slovakia.

This was confirmation that we’d won the group, and the fans starting singing ‘We are top of the League’. What an amazing achievement to go into a tournament and to top a group containing two footballing heavyweights such as England and Russia – and Slovakia are no mugs either.

Such memorable times. We just didn’t want to leave the pitch, and I don’t think the fans wanted to leave either!

‘Don’t Take Me Home’ was in full flow and how perfect those words fitted this particular moment. We formed another post-match huddle, David’s Press, priced £13.99, and is available in good bookshops from Monday. St. David’s Press has a limited number of signed copies which can be ordered from: www.st-davidspress.wales. David Edwards’ proceeds from the book are going to the Little Rascals Foundation. this time with the staff, and just enjoyed the moment which reinforced that sense of togetherness.”