Express & Star

Edwards' and Chester's dragons land back home

The Wales team, including Wolves midfielder David Edwards and West Bromwich Albion defender James Chester, received a heroes' welcome by tens of thousands of fans as they arrived home.

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Dave Edwards, centre, behind Sam Vokes and in front of Wayne Hennessey, with superstars Gareth Bale, left, and Aaron Ramsey, right

The team had modest expectations, hoping to qualify from the group and maybe follow in the footsteps of the famous 1958 team by reaching the quarter-finals of a major tournament.

However, they wowed the nation by topping Group B – above England – and reaching the semi-final on Wednesday, where they lost 2-0 to Portugal.

Around 90,000 supporters travelled across the Channel to show their solidarity with the team, and those who stayed at home were able to watch the semi-final via big screens in the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Fans came out in force on Friday to catch a glimpse of the players and their manager Chris Coleman, as the Dragons landed at the temporarily renamed Cardiff Bale airport.

Joining the parade was Edwards, who featured heavily in the tournament and started their historic opening win over Slovakia in Bordeaux. They were also led off the plane by their captain – Wolverhampton-born former Hednesford Town defender Ashley Williams, while former Wolves stars Wayne Hennessey and Sam Vokes were also in the squad. An open top bus parade wound its way from Cardiff Castle to Cardiff City Stadium, where a special homecoming show, featuring Welsh band Manic Street Preachers and an 11-piece brass band. A total of 33,000 people attended the show to welcome the players back home.

Meanwhile, Edwards may soon be playing for a new boss as Wolves were said to be just days away from a multi-million-pound takeover by Chinese billionaire Robin Li.

Talks between the club and their prospective new owner are said to have advanced in the past week.

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