JOE LEDLEY: MIDFIELD

Cardiff born, Joe was a Bluebirds fan together with his family before he became involved with Cardiff City. He joined the Club's Centre of Excellence at the age of nine, and progressed through the various age-groups into the Academy, becoming a trainee. He signed as a full professional in late-October 2004, having already made his first-team debut on September 21^st 2004 when he came on as substitute in a Carling Cup Second Round 4-1 win at MK Dons. Over the past four years he has become a regular in the Cardiff line-up, and although left-side midfield is his main position, he can also operate in the centre of midfield or at left-back. In 2006/07 he was ever-present in championship matches, last season he played in 41 Championship games (3 as substitute) while injury did keep him out on occasion, but not for long.

He scored the goal at Wembley on April 6^th 2008 that gave Cardiff a 1-0 win against Barnsley in the semi-final of the F.A. Cup, which meant that Cardiff reached the Final for the first time since winning the Cup in 1927 - 81 years previously. That goal was one of 11 that he scored last season when he was joint-top scorer in League and Cup with Paul Parry. One of his best goals of 2007/08 came in the 2-1 win at Preston on December 29^th when he won the ball on the half-way line, exchanged passes with a colleague, and held off a defender to battle his way towards goal and score from an angle. He was capped by Wales at Youth and Under-21 level, and is now very much part of the senior Wales line-up.