“YES, I USED TO FOLLOW ENGLAND – BUT MY LOYALTIES AREN’T DIVIDED”
Wales’ Wolverhampton-born skipper, Ashley Williams, tells FFT that he’ll have only one thing on his mind when the rival nations meet in Lens
What will it mean to you to be captaining Wales at a major tournament? Leading the team out in that first game of the tournament we’ve longed for, the tournament we’ve worked so hard to get to, will be the proudest moment of my career. Wales have had really good teams in the past with quality players who haven’t had the chance we’ve got in front of us – we don’t want to be on the first plane home. We’re a good team and we shouldn’t be fearful going into the tournament.
What did you think when you were drawn in the same group as England? As players, we had a feeling we’d draw them. There’ll be a little bit more riding on that game than just three points, but as professionals we need to remember that it’s just a game. We played England in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2012 and lost both times, but we did OK. We feel it will be a more even game now.
Having been born and raised in England, will it be strange for you to play against them? No, I don’t think it will be at all. It doesn’t feel like my loyalties are divided. I’ve played for – and lived in – Wales for eight years, and I’ve been captain for a lot of that time. Yes, I used to follow England games growing up, but I don’t look out for them any more. I’m proud of playing for Wales, and winning over the fans was a big thing for me. That’s why I learned to sing the anthem in Welsh, and even if I’m injured, I’m at every game. I try to show my commitment and what it means to me to play for Wales.
You were playing for Stockport when you were first called up. Is it true John Toshack came to watch you but left at half-time? Yes! [Laughs] When I was at Stockport, Brian Flynn was watching Wayne Hennessey and he saw the name Williams and followed it up. My dad’s from Jamaica and that’s where Williams comes from, but I was in fact eligible to play for Wales. Peter Ward, the assistant manager at Stockport, said to me: ‘You might actually get a cap here’. John Toshack came to watch me play in a match at Hereford and he told me that he left at half-time because it was such a crap game! I got called into the squad a few weeks later, and because of injuries I managed to start the game. I’ve started virtually every game since. I could never have imagined this, coming from Stockport in League Two. I’m on 58 caps now and it’s just unbelievable.
As captain, do you ever have to boss Gareth Bale around? [Laughs] No, he’s such a good pro that I don’t need to say anything to him, ever. He’s been a massive part of what we have achieved: he scores or assists most of the goals, and there’s no getting away from that. But he’s just another one of the fellas – there’s no special treatment at all. He just gets on with it. We’re all a big group of mates now; when you’re not on international duty you miss the fellas, and we speak a lot on the phone.
What is Wales’ aim for the tournament? Personally, I’d like to get out of the group and see what draw we get. Sometimes you see smaller sides progress through the tournament – we’ve seen that before with a few teams. Why can’t that be us this time?