Ian Edwards (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Robert Ian Edwards is a Welsh
former footballer who played as a striker. He was capped by Wales
and played in The Football League
for four clubs.
, 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
. But he found first-team opportunities at West Brom limited and in November 1976 he joined Chester
for £18,000. 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. Unfortunately he was injured scoring against Rotherham United
in March 1977, with a knee injury that was to have lasting repercussions for the player.
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
. 12 months later he moved to Wrexham
for £125,000, having scored in his final Chester appearance at Barnsley
. His move led to Ian Rush
successfully becoming Chester’s regular centre-forward.
Edwards spent three years at Wrexham and then joined Crystal Palace
under the guidance of new manager Alan Mullery
for a largely unsuccessful spell. 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. 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
. He also had a spell as manager of Porthmadog
before being replaced by Mickey Thomas.
Chester
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
former footballer who played as a striker. He was capped by 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...
and played 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...
for four clubs.
Playing career
Born in RossettRossett
Rossett is a village and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales.At the time of the 2001 Census, Rossett community had a total population of 3,336 people.-Geography:Rossett is geographically located near to the Welsh and English...
, Edwards began his playing days with non-league side Rhyl
Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
, before joining West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in February 1973. He marked his league debut two years later by scoring in a 4–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. But he found first-team opportunities at West Brom limited and in November 1976 he joined Chester
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
for £18,000. A debut goal against Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
followed and Edwards went on to score a hat-trick in the club’s 4–0 win at Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
and a last minute winner against Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
as Chester reached the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
fifth round. Unfortunately he was injured scoring against Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
in March 1977, with a knee injury that was to have lasting repercussions for the player.
The 1978–79 season
1978-79 in English football
-FA Cup:Manchester United had seemingly pulled off a remarkable comeback against Arsenal in the 1979 FA Cup Final to make the score 2–2 after being two goals down, but a last-minute goal from Alan Sunderland saw Arsenal lift the trophy with a 3–2 scoreline...
saw Edwards back in regular action, scoring in a Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
giantkilling win over 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...
. In October 1978, Edwards scored four times for 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...
in a 7–0 win against Malta
Malta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
and then followed it up with a hat-trick in his next Chester appearance against Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
. 12 months later he moved to Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
for £125,000, having scored in his final Chester appearance at Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
. His move led to Ian Rush
Ian Rush
Ian James Rush, MBE, is a retired football player from Flint, Wales. He is best remembered as a player for Liverpool, where he was among the top strikers in the English game in the 1980s and 1990s. He also had spells playing at Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield...
successfully becoming Chester’s regular centre-forward.
Edwards spent three years at Wrexham and then joined Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
under the guidance of new manager Alan Mullery
Alan Mullery
Alan Patrick Mullery MBE is a former English football player and manager. After enjoying a successful career with Fulham and in the 1960s and 1970s, he became a manager working with several different clubs. He is now employed as a television pundit...
for a largely unsuccessful spell. However, Edwards struck the decisive winner for Palace in their final game of the season against Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
to save them from relegation to Division Three
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
with his final touch for the club. 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
Mold Alexandra F.C.
Mold Alexandra F.C. is a football club based in Mold in Wales. A founder member of the League of Wales, the club are now playing in the Welsh National League Premier Division, the third tier of Welsh football.-History:...
and Porthmadog
Porthmadog F.C.
Porthmadog Football Club is a football team, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1884 and plays at Y Traeth, Porthmadog, which accommodates 2,000 spectators .- History :...
. Outside of football he worked as a milkman
Milkman
A milkman is a person, traditionally male, who delivers milk in milk bottles or cartons. Milk deliveries frequently occur in the morning and it is not uncommon for milkmen to deliver products other than milk such as eggs, cream, cheese, butter, yogurt or soft drinks...
in the Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
area and then became the owner of a hotel near Criccieth
Criccieth
Criccieth is a town and community on Cardigan Bay, in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd in Wales. The town lies west of Porthmadog, east of Pwllheli and south of Caernarfon. It has a population of 1,826....
. He also had a spell as manager of Porthmadog
Porthmadog F.C.
Porthmadog Football Club is a football team, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1884 and plays at Y Traeth, Porthmadog, which accommodates 2,000 spectators .- History :...
before being replaced by Mickey Thomas.
Honours
West Bromwich Albion- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 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...
promotion as third placed team: 1975–761975-76 in English footballThe 1975–76 season was the 96th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won their first major trophy under Bob Paisley by narrowly winning the league title after heated competition from Queens Park Rangers. They also lifted the UEFA Cup for the second time in their...
(5 apps, 1 goal).
Chester
- Debenhams CupDebenhams CupThe Debenhams Cup was one of several short-lived football competitions introduced in the 1970s and 1980s, along with the Watney Cup, Texaco Cup, Anglo-Scottish Cup, the Screen Sport Super Cup and Simod Cup...
winners: 1976–771976-77 in English footballThe 1976–77 season was the 97th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League revamped the tie-breaking criteria for teams level of points, replacing the traditional goal average tie-breaker with one based on goal difference to try to encourage more scoring...
.