The late, great David Potter started a feature of writing about a Player of the Day from Celtic’s illustrious history. In order to do continue that legacy and pay a small tribute to David, we will continue profiling a Celtic Player of the Day…
Joe Ledley
The Welsh midfielder was signed on a free contract from Cardiff City in 2010 and would be a focal point of Neil Lennon’s team moving forward. The mixture of attacking threat and defensive discipline made Ledley a fans’ favourite. In the midfield, Ledley would sit on the left and assisted one of Samaras’ goals on ‘Samaras Sunday’, a 2-0 win at Ibrox. The Welshman also popped up in the 2011 League Cup Final defeat against Rangers but his crowning moment came on the 28th December that year when his header proved to be the difference on a ferocious evening in Glasgow. With rain, wind and Rangers in the way, Ledley rose to header in a second half winner that saw Celtic leapfrog McCoist’s Rangers after that Ibrox team surrendered a twelve point lead.
In 155 appearances, Ledley would score 30 goals and assist on 24 occasions. He was a player with an eye for goal but would also do the dirty work in defence.
Ledley won three SPFL Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups and reached the Champions League Last 16 at Celtic. Following his departure from Celtic, Ledley became a mainstay in the Crystal Palace team before joining Derby County in 2017. His career tailed off after leaving Palace but Ledley admitted he never wanted to leave the club when he did so with the hierarchy keen to get some money for the player, who was free to leave on a free in a matter of months.
