Wales skipper Ashley Williams was left 'heartbroken' by West Brom

Wales captain Ashley Williams was left 'heartbroken' by West Brom when they released him as a teenager, his mum has revealed.

Both Wolverhampton and Smethwick lay claim to the defender, who spent his youth at the Baggies.

But he nearly quit football for good after Albion told him he was too small to make the grade.

Williams spent two years at non-league Hednesford Town after that before being picked up by Stockport County and then Swansea.

Tomorrow, he will be leading Wales out for a semi-final at Euro 2016, having qualified for the country through his Welsh grandfather Bill Rowlands, father of his mother Lyn.

"He wasn't tall enough, they said he was too small," Lyn told BBC WM. "He didn't play football for a year, he was heartbroken. Especially at that age, such a tender age of 14 or 15."

The Swansea captain has lived in Wales for nine years and has brought up three children in the country.

He was initially asked to play for them when former Wales youth coach, Brian Flynn, asked if the Williams surname meant he had any connections to the country. It was a fortunate mistake.

"The Welsh name is Rowland because it's my father and family that's Welsh," explained Lyn.

"Their name was Rowland not Williams.

"Ashley most definitely feels Welsh, he's lived there for a long while and he's got three children who are all being brought up in Wales.

"I think he feels quite Welsh. It could have been England but they never came in for him."

Williams himself said: "It is all I have known for ages. Mum and dad are really proud. I have lived in Wales for nine years now and every time I play for Wales and the national anthem is played, my mother gets emotional."

Lyn still lives in the West Midlands, and is currently based in Tamworth, Staffordshire.

But she's travelling out to France with the rest of the Williams family to watch tomorrow's huge match against Portugal.

She said: "It's unbelievable and surreal. He's missing the children a bit, but he's loving it there.

"Each game is a new challenge and he just keeps taking it game by game. I'm very proud of him."