George Edwards (Welsh footballer)
Encyclopedia
George Edwards was a Welsh
professional footballer and Wales
international.
, Edwards began his football career at Swansea Town
as an amateur and made his debut in the Football League
at the end of the 1938–39 season. During the early years of the Second World War
, he continued to study for a degree at Swansea University
while still playing for Swansea Town. Called up to serve in the RAF, he was stationed in the Midlands, and guested for Coventry City
on a number of occasions.
He turned professional with Birmingham City
in 1944, contributing to the club winning the championship of the Football League South
wartime league and reaching the semi-final of the FA Cup
in the 1945–46 season, and winning the Second Division
title in the 1947–48 season.
In December 1948 he returned to Wales to sign for Cardiff City
for £12,000. He made his debut in a 2–2 draw with Leicester City
before scoring on his home debut in a 6–1 victory over Bradford Park Avenue
. He helped the Bluebirds to promotion
as Second Division runners-up in the 1951–52 season and began forming a partnership with striker Wilf Grant
. He decided to retire in 1955 while still first choice for Cardiff.
in their first post-war international match, a 3–1 victory over Scotland
in October 1946, and won a total of twelve full caps
during his career, scoring two goals.
, to gain an MA degree
from the University of Birmingham
. In his later years as a Cardiff City player, he began a business career, working part-time for an oil company. In 1957 he was invited to join the board of directors
of Cardiff City, a directorship which he held for twenty-five years in two spells. He wrote a Sunday newspaper column, reported on Cardiff City matches for the BBC
, and was a magistrate
in Cardiff for many years. He was active on the Sports Council for Wales (now Sport Wales) from its establishment in 1972, and within the Football Association of Wales
.
Edwards was married to Pat, and had no children. He died in Llandough Hospital, Cardiff, on 21 October 2008 at the age of 87.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
professional footballer and Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
international.
Club career
Born in TreherbertTreherbert
Treherbert is a village and community situated at the head of the Rhondda Fawr valley in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. Treherbert is a former industrial coal mining village which was at its economic peak between 1850 and 1920...
, Edwards began his football career at Swansea Town
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
as an amateur and made his debut in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
at the end of the 1938–39 season. During the early years of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he continued to study for a degree at Swansea University
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
while still playing for Swansea Town. Called up to serve in the RAF, he was stationed in the Midlands, and guested for Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
on a number of occasions.
He turned professional with Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in 1944, contributing to the club winning the championship of the Football League South
Football League North and South
The Football League North and Football League South divisions of the Football League were created for the League to continue while limiting the amount of movement that was required by teams. The Leagues started in 1941; however, the leagues only had one full season, in 1945-46...
wartime league and reaching the semi-final of the FA Cup
FA Cup 1945-46
The 1945–46 FA Cup was the 65th season of the world's oldest football cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, generally known as the FA Cup, and the first to be held after the Second World War. Derby County were the winners, beating Charlton Athletic 4–1 after extra...
in the 1945–46 season, and winning the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
title in the 1947–48 season.
In December 1948 he returned to Wales to sign for Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
for £12,000. He made his debut in a 2–2 draw with Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
before scoring on his home debut in a 6–1 victory over Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
. He helped the Bluebirds to promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
as Second Division runners-up in the 1951–52 season and began forming a partnership with striker Wilf Grant
Wilf Grant
Wilfred Grant was an English professional footballer who played as a forward for Southampton, Cardiff City and Ipswich Town.-Early career:...
. He decided to retire in 1955 while still first choice for Cardiff.
International career
Edwards first represented his country as an amateur in 1938, and played for Wales in wartime internationals and for Services representative sides. He made his debut for WalesWales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
in their first post-war international match, a 3–1 victory over Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in October 1946, and won a total of twelve full caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
during his career, scoring two goals.
Outside football
Edwards continued his studies while a Birmingham player, completing a thesis on the history of the 'Daucleddau Coalfield', a major part of the Pembrokeshire CoalfieldPembrokeshire Coalfield
The Pembrokeshire Coalfield in West Wales is one of the smallest British coalfields. The main coalfield extends from Saundersfoot on Carmarthen Bay westwards to Broad Haven on St Brides Bay...
, to gain an MA degree
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
. In his later years as a Cardiff City player, he began a business career, working part-time for an oil company. In 1957 he was invited to join the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Cardiff City, a directorship which he held for twenty-five years in two spells. He wrote a Sunday newspaper column, reported on Cardiff City matches for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, and was a magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
in Cardiff for many years. He was active on the Sports Council for Wales (now Sport Wales) from its establishment in 1972, and within the Football Association of Wales
Football Association of Wales
The Football Association of Wales is the governing body of association football in Wales. It is a member of FIFA, UEFA and the IFAB.Established in 1876 , it is the third-oldest national association in the world, and is one of the four associations The Football Association of Wales (FAW) is the...
.
Edwards was married to Pat, and had no children. He died in Llandough Hospital, Cardiff, on 21 October 2008 at the age of 87.