Ian Edwards (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername = Ian Edwards


fullname = Robert Ian Edwards
height = height|ft=6|in=1
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1955|1|30
cityofbirth = Rossett
countryofbirth = Wales
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
currentclub = Retired
clubnumber =
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1971–1973
1973–1976
1976–1979
1979–1982
1982–1983
1983–198?
198?–19??
clubs = Rhyl
West Bromwich Albion
Chester
Wrexham
Crystal Palace
Mold Alexandra
Porthmadog
caps(goals) =
016 0 0(3)
0104 0 (36)
076 00 (20)
018 0 0(4)
nationalyears = 1977–1980
1977–1978
nationalteam = Wales
Wales national under-21 football team
nationalcaps(goals) = 0 4 0 0 (4)
0 2 0 0 (0)
managerclubs = Porthmadog
manageryears = 1994–1995
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Ian Edwards (born 30 January 1955, Rossett) is a former Welsh professional footballer who played as a striker. He was capped by Wales and played in The Football League for four clubs.

Playing career

Edwards began his playing days with non-league side Rhyl, before joining West Bromwich Albion in February 1973. He marked his league debut two years later by scoring in a 4–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday [’Where are they Now?’, Chester City v. West Brom. matchday programme; 10/4/1993; pg. 20] . But he found first-team opportunities at West Brom limited and in November 1976 he joined Chester for £18,000 [cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | year=1997| pages= p.92 |id=ISBN 1-874427-52-6] . A debut goal against Northampton Town followed and Edwards went on to score a hat-trick in the club’s 4–0 win at Southend United and a last minute winner against Luton Town as Chester reached the FA Cup fifth round [cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | year=1997| pages= p.92 |id=ISBN 1-874427-52-6] . Unfortunately he was injured scoring against Rotherham United in March 1977, with a knee injury that was to have lasting repercussions for the player [’Where are they Now?’, Chester City v. West Brom. matchday programme; 10/4/1993; pg. 20] .

The 1978–79 season saw Edwards back in regular action, scoring in a Football League Cup giantkilling win over Coventry City. In October 1978, Edwards scored four times for Wales in a 7–0 win against Malta and then followed it up with a hat-trick in his next Chester appearance against Brentford [cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | year=1997| pages= p.94 |id=ISBN 1-874427-52-6] . 12 months later he moved to Wrexham for £125,000, having scored in his final Chester appearance at Barnsley [cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | year=1997| pages= p.95 |id=ISBN 1-874427-52-6] . His move led to Ian Rush successfully becoming Chester’s regular centre-forward [cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | year=1997| pages= p.95 |id=ISBN 1-874427-52-6] .

Edwards spent three years at Wrexham and then joined Crystal Palace under the guidance of new manager Alan Mullery for a largely unsuccessful spell [cite web|url= http://home.clara.net/chriswinter/1982.htm |title=1982-83 | publisher= Chris Winter | accessdate=2008-02-04] . However, Edwards struck the decisive winner for Palace in their final game of the season against Burnley to save them from relegation to Division Three with his final touch for the club [cite web|url= http://home.clara.net/chriswinter/1982.htm |title=1982-83 | publisher= Chris Winter | accessdate=2008-02-04] . This was to also mark the end of his professional career as he retired due to his injuries and he played briefly for Mold Alexandra and Porthmadog. Outside of football he worked as a milkman in the Wrexham area and then became the owner of a hotel near Criccieth [’Where are they Now?’, Chester City v. West Brom. matchday programme; 10/4/1993; pg. 20] . He also had a spell as manager of Porthmadog before being replaced by Mickey Thomas [cite web|url= http://www.porthmadogfc.com/ser.htm| title= Porthmadog Stars (see Mickey Thomas)| publisher= Porthmadog FC | accessdate=2008-02-04] .

Honours

West Bromwich Albion

*Football League Second Division promotion as third placed team: 1975–76 (5 apps, 1 goal).

Chester

*Debenhams Cup winners: 1976–77.

External links

* [http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/ianedwards.htm Career stats from Neil Brown]

References