Bryan Edwards (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Bryan Edwards


fullname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1930|10|27|df=yes
cityofbirth = Woodlesford, Leeds
countryofbirth = England
height =
position = Wing half
currentclub =
clubnumber =
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1947–1965
clubs = Bolton Wanderers
caps(goals) = 483 (?)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
manageryears = 1971–1975
managerclubs = Bradford City

Bryan Edwards (born October 27 1930) is a former football player and manager. He played 483 games as wing half for Bolton Wanderers picking up an FA Cup runners-up medal in 1958 and later managed Bradford City and was a coach and physiotherapist at several clubs.

Playing career

Edwards excelled at both football and cricket and had trials for both sports, at Bolton Wanderers and Yorkshire CCC in 1947.cite book
last = Frost
first = Terry
title = Bradford City A Complete Record 1903-1988
publisher = Breedon Books Sport
year = 1988
pages = pp76-77
isbn = 0907969380] He joined Bolton and signed a full-time professional contact in October 1947. He stayed at Burnden Park for 18 years, although his career was interrupted by two years National Service, winning an FA Cup winners medal in 1958 when Bolton defeated Manchester United 2–0. He made 483 league appearance, most as wing half before converting to centre half, at Bolton before he retired in 1965, aged 35.

Managerial career

When Edwards retired he first joined Blackpool as assistant trainer-coach before moving to Preston North End first as coach and later first-team trainer. He moved to Plymouth Argyle as chief coach, before becoming manager at Bradford City in November 1971.

He took over with City struggling towards the bottom of Division Three but he could not arrest the slide and the club were relegated in bottom place in the 1971–72 season. The club came 16th the following season and 8th in 1973–74 before Edwards resigned in January 1975 to be replaced by Bobby Kennedy.

He became a qualified physiotherapist and served as physio and coach at Huddersfield Town and youth team coach at Leeds United before returning to Bradford City in July 1977. He filled a host of roles at Valley Parade including physio, assistant manager and general manager.

References

External links

*soccerbase (manager)|258|Bryan Edwards