Crystal Palace midfielder Joe Ledley joined the club in January 2014 from Celtic on Transfer Deadline Day and with only just a day passing since this season’s winter transfer window, we spoke to the player at Selhurst Park about all things Palace without forgetting about the beard.
The 28-year-old seemed in high spirits after training with Alan Pardew currently preparing his side for a trip to Leicester City in the Premier League this weekend in the attempt to forget about Saturday’s defeat against Everton and look to build on the form that came before that game.
On Monday, the Eagles confirmed the signing of four players with only two going into first team football with the other signings heading towards the development squad. Wilfried Zaha re-joined Crystal Palace after spending an unsuccessful year-and-a-half at Manchester United where he was left out and sent out on loan before the club also signed South Korean international Lee Chung-Yong from Bolton, both for undisclosed fees.
“Personally for myself, I found it the most stressful thing of my life. I didn’t know what I was doing, I didn’t know if I was coming or going,” Ledley said, speaking about signing for the club last January.
“It’s a big decision on you within a few hours and I think I made the right decision, playing in the Premier League – the best division in the world and we’ve got a fantastic team, hopefully we can keep on building.”
The January transfer window was Tony Pulis’ first chance to make additions to the squad after taking over the reigns at Selhurst Park in November that season after Ian Holloway resigned as manager, Joe Ledley was one of his key signings and looks to be one that is continuing to pay dividends for the club with the player putting in good performances every week. Speaking to a group of fan-media for the launch of MyPalaceNews.com – the midfielder said:
“Every club I’ve been to the fans have been brilliant and I’ve always respected them. They pay a lot of money to come and watch you play so you’ve always got to respect that.
“I have the same feeling as I had at Celtic and Cardiff here, they’ve welcomed me from day one since I’ve been here and always supported me so I’ll always remember that.”
Ledley joined from Celtic in 2014, a side that were doing well in the Scottish Premier League with the absence of Old Firm rivals Rangers; the Hoops had also managed to do well in Europe in previous seasons in which the midfielder featured in for the club. The 28-year-old picked up a firm fighting spirit through this and that is paying off now with Crystal Palace battling to stay up in the top flight of English football for a second year running.
“I think when I signed, I believed in the squad that we would stay up. Obviously we were very much down there but with the manager, players and belief we had, I knew we would stay up,” he said.
“The second year is always harder but hopefully this year if we stay up then we can keep improving and improving, be like Stoke and remain in the Premier League for many years. That’s what the fans want and hopefully one year we will make Europe.”
A key affection that has grown among players at the club this season is the growing trend of beards with Julian Speroni most recently taking credit for the recent trend at his recent Q&A Testimonial Event in Croydon but Joe Ledley seems to be the one getting the players onto the bandwagon. Ledley revealed information about the care for his beard and also spoke of his attempts to lure more players into the group:
“I go to a little grooming place in Central London and look after it with a few oil treatments as well, I’ve got a few oils to put on to keep it nice.
“It was going to be on the 1st January (Lose the Beard) but then I had a little vote on Twitter and the majority of them wanted to keep it so I’ll wait until the end of the season and see if I’m there.
“I’m trying to make as many of them grow beards but not many of their wives and girlfriends are having it. I’m trying to get McCarthy to grow one, Mile has finally grown his back.I think there could be a good few beards going on. Hennesey’s trying to grow one but can’t do it so hopefully we can get a few more beards out there.”
Follow us on Twitter over the next couple of days to find out how you can be in with a chance to winning some signed merchandise from the bearded Welshman.
