David Edwards (footballer)

David Edwards
Edwards playing for Wales in 2016
Personal information
Full name David Alexander Edwards[1]
Date of birth (1986-02-03) 3 February 1986[1]
Place of birth Pontesbury, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Reading
Number 16
Youth career
1996–2003 Shrewsbury Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2007 Shrewsbury Town 119 (12)
2007–2008 Luton Town 19 (4)
2008–2017 Wolverhampton Wanderers 284 (41)
2017– Reading 32 (3)
National team
2006–2008 Wales U21 9 (1)
2007–2017 Wales 43 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:46, 6 May 2018 (UTC)

David Alexander Edwards (born 3 February 1986) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Championship club Reading.

Edwards began his career at hometown club Shrewsbury Town, making his professional debut in 2003. After three full seasons with the team in League Two he moved to Luton Town of League One in July 2007. Due to Luton's financial situation he moved the following January to Wolverhampton Wanderers for a fee believed to be £675,000. Edwards was part of the Wolves teams that won the Championship in 2009 and League One in 2013, and also played three seasons with the club in the Premier League. He totalled 307 games and 44 goals for the club before transferring to Reading in August 2017.

He was capped by the Welsh national team 43 times from 2007 to 2017, scoring three goals. Edwards represented the nation at UEFA Euro 2016.

Club career

Shrewsbury Town

Born in Pontesbury, Shropshire,[1] Edwards started as an apprentice at his hometown club, Shrewsbury Town,[2] and made his professional debut in the final match of 2002–03 season as a 83rd-minute substitute for Jamie Tolley in a 2–1 defeat at home to Scunthorpe United on 3 May 2003,[3] as Shrewsbury were relegated from the Football League.[4]

Shrewsbury secured an instant promotion back to the Football League in 2003–04,[5] though Edwards did not play a large role, making just 16 appearances.[6] Upon the club's return to the Football League, Edwards became a regular first-team player, a role he retained for three successive seasons at Gay Meadow.

Towards the end of the 2006–07 season, Edwards was the subject of transfer speculation, after rejecting an offered extension to his Shrewsbury contract. He was then controversially left out of the play-off final against Bristol Rovers by then-manager Gary Peters, despite playing an important role in their run to the final.[7] Shrewsbury lost the match 3–1 at Wembley Stadium and missed out on promotion to League One.[8]

Luton Town

On 26 June 2007, Edwards signed for Luton Town on a three-year contract.[9] As he was under 24, Shrewsbury commanded a compensation fee to cover his youth development. The eventual fee was agreed at a tribunal, but clubs reported differing figures; Luton claiming it was £250,000,[10] with Shrewsbury reporting £250,000 as the initial payment, plus a further £150,000 based on appearances.[11][12] He made his debut on the opening day of 2007–08, starting in Luton's 2–1 home win over Hartlepool United.[13] Edwards scored his first goal for Luton with the equaliser in a 2–1 away defeat to Swindon Town a week later.[14]

Edwards made 19 league appearances for Luton Town in League One and scored four goals.[14] However, the club was struggling financially and were only able to pay their players' weekly wages twice in three months, hence a 10-point deduction.[15] He became linked with Championship teams Watford and Nottingham Forest after a strong performance in an FA Cup third round match at home to Liverpool.[16] Luton accepted a £675,000 offer from Wolverhampton Wanderers.[17]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Edwards playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2014

On 14 January 2008, Edwards signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Wolverhampton Wanderers.[18] Five days after signing, Edwards made a goalscoring debut for the club in a 2–0 win away to Scunthorpe United.[19] However, injuries kept him from playing a regular role in the remainder of the season. He returned fit for the following season, but found new signing David Jones often preferred alongside captain Karl Henry in central midfield; however, Edwards still started half the season's games as they won promotion to the Premier League.[20][21] Following the conclusion of the season, Edwards signed a new three-year contract with the club.[22]

The midfielder became a regular in the team after promotion, and contributed the winning goal against Fulham in the first home win of the season on 20 September 2009.[23] He suffered ankle ligament damage that December which kept him out for four months,[24] but he recovered to make five appearances in the closing months as the club retained their top-flight status.[25] Edwards' contribution to Wolves in the 2010–11 season was severely hampered by injuries. He signed a new three-year contract with the club, including an option of a one-year extension,[26] and made 12 appearances, scoring once in a 2–1 victory at home to Manchester City,[27] where he scored past his former Shrewsbury teammate, and lodger, Joe Hart.[28]

Edwards suffered two injury setbacks during the 2012–13 season, when he firstly tore his hamstring in December in a 4–1 win away to Bristol City,[29] and after returning to first-team action, suffered a broken foot in the reverse fixture.[30] Edwards remained with the club after they suffered a second consecutive relegation,[31] scoring nine goals as the team won promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt as League One champions.[32][33] On 13 June 2014, Edwards signed a new two-year contract with the club.[34]

On 8 August 2015, he scored the winning goal in Wolves' first game of the 2015–16 season away to Blackburn Rovers, finishing Nouha Dicko's cross with his hand.[35] Manager Kenny Jackett said after the game that the goal was scored by Edwards' hand, albeit not deliberately.[35] Five days later, he signed a one-year contract extension to last until 2017.[36] On 23 January 2016, Edwards broke the fifth metatarsal in his foot during a 1–1 draw away to Queens Park Rangers,[37] ruling him out for three months.[38] He returned to first-team football on 5 April as a 92nd-minute substitute for Joe Mason in a 2–1 win away to Milton Keynes Dons.[39]

Reading

On 26 August 2017, Edwards signed for fellow Championship club Reading on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee,[40] reported by the Express & Star as £1 million.[41] He made his debut as a 63rd-minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat at home to Bristol City on 9 September.[42] Edwards scored his first goal for Reading on 26 September in a 2–1 defeat away to Millwall.[43]

International career

Edwards playing for Wales in 2016

Edwards qualifies for Wales through his father from Welshpool.[44] He had previously played for the Wales U17 and U19 teams making his U21 debut against Cyprus on 16 May 2006. He had been selected for the under-21 squad for an earlier friendly against Northern Ireland on 28 February 2006, but missed the match through injury.

His first experience with the senior team was under John Toshack on 12 September 2007, remaining an unused substitute against Slovakia.[45] He made his full international debut on 17 November against the Republic of Ireland at the Millennium Stadium as a 37th-minute substitute for Carl Robinson in a 2–2 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying match.[46]

On 10 October 2008, Edwards scored the opening goal in a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein,[47] and against Azerbaijan on 6 June 2009.[48] He ended the campaign with two goals. Following Wales' disappointing qualifying campaign, he was called up again for 14 November 2009 friendly against Scotland, a 3–0 win, and opened the scoring with a volley from Aaron Ramsey's assist in the 16th minute.[49]

He retired from international football on 15 March 2018.[50]

Personal life

Edwards attended Pontesbury's Mary Webb School and Science College[2] and shared a house with England international Joe Hart during their days at Shrewsbury Town.[51] Edwards still resides in Pontesbury with his wife Emma and their two children.[52]

In 2015, Edwards and a friend opened a children's indoor soft play centre in Shrewsbury called Little Rascals.[53] In 2017, Edwards launched his charity, The Little Rascals Foundation, aiming to help children with disabilities. The charity launch event, hosted by Jacqui Oatley with guest speaker Kit Symons, in the absence of Wales national football team manager Chris Coleman, was held at the New Meadow, the home of Edwards' hometown club Shrewsbury Town, and raised just under £13,000.[54]

Edwards wrote an autobiography, Living My Dream, which was released in December 2017. All proceeds went to his foundation.[55]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 6 May 2018
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Shrewsbury Town 2002–03[3] Third Division 1000000010
2003–04[6] Football Conference 16000—6[lower-alpha 1]0220
2004–05[56] League Two 27510101[lower-alpha 2]0305
2005–06[57] League Two 30222001[lower-alpha 2]0334
2006–07[58] League Two 45520103[lower-alpha 2]1516
Total 11912522011113715
Luton Town 2007–08[14] League One 19440201[lower-alpha 2]0264
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2007–08[14] Championship 101———101
2008–09[20] Championship 4432020—483
2009–10[25] Premier League 2010010—211
2010–11[27] Premier League 1512010—181
2011–12[59] Premier League 2630021—284
2012–13[60] Championship 2420010—252
2013–14[32] League One 309100000319
2014–15[61] Championship 4162210—448
2015–16[62] Championship 2951000—305
2016–17[63] Championship 44103020—4910
2017–18[64] Championship 10—20—30
Total 284411121210030744
Reading 2017–18[64] Championship 32330——353
2018–19[65] Championship 000000—00
Total 3233000—353
Career total 4546023416112150566
  1. ↑ Five appearances in FA Trophy, one in Football Conference play-offs
  2. 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy

International

Edwards playing for Wales in 2008
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Wales[66] 200720
200881
200982
201040
201110
201230
201410
201540
201670
201750
Total433

International goals

Wales score listed first, score column indicates score after each Edwards goal.[66]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition Ref
1 11 October 2008Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales8 Liechtenstein1–02–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification[47]
2 6 June 2009Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan14 Azerbaijan1–01–02010 FIFA World Cup qualification[48]
3 14 November 2009Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales18 Scotland1–03–0Friendly[49]

Honours

Shrewsbury Town

Wolverhampton Wanderers

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 135. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. 1 2 Garrison, James (21 April 2009). "Dave's joy at Premier prospect". Shropshire Star. Telford. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Games played by David Edwards in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  4. ↑ "Shrewsbury 1–2 Scunthorpe". BBC Sport. 3 May 2003. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Shrews secure promotion". BBC Sport. 16 May 2004. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Dave Edwards season details 2003/2004". Hull City Mad. Digital Sports Group. Archived from the original on 17 October 2016.
  7. ↑ "Edwards left out of Wembley squad". BBC Sport. 23 May 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  8. ↑ Bevan, Chris (26 May 2007). "Bristol Rovers 3–1 Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  9. ↑ "Luton capture midfielder Edwards". BBC Sport. 26 June 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  10. ↑ "Edwards deal agreed". Luton Town F.C. 2 August 2007. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012.
  11. ↑ "Edwards fee". Shrewsbury Town F.C. 1 August 2007. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012.
  12. ↑ "Luton, Shrews end Edwards dispute". BBC Sport. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  13. ↑ Leech, Tom (11 August 2007). "New boys win opener as Blackwell era begins". Bedfordshire on Sunday. Bedford. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by David Edwards in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  15. ↑ Wathan, Chris (13 January 2008). "Edwards escapes mad-Hatters party". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  16. ↑ Whyatt, Chris (6 January 2008). "Luton 1–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  17. ↑ "Five players leave troubled Luton". BBC Sport. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  18. ↑ "Wolves complete Edwards transfer". BBC Sport. 14 January 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2008.
  19. ↑ "Scunthorpe 0–2 Wolves". BBC Sport. 19 January 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  20. 1 2 "Games played by David Edwards in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  21. ↑ "Barnsley 1–1 Wolves". BBC Sport. 25 April 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  22. ↑ "Edwards pens new Wolves contract". BBC Sport. 29 June 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  23. ↑ Henson, Mike (20 September 2009). "Wolverhampton 2–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  24. ↑ "Wolves suffer Dave Edwards ankle injury blow". BBC Sport. 14 December 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  25. 1 2 "Games played by David Edwards in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  26. ↑ "Dave Edwards signs new three-year Wolves contract". BBC Sport. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  27. 1 2 "Games played by David Edwards in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  28. ↑ "Wolves hero: Hart will be happy I fired the winner". Daily Mirror. London. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  29. ↑ "Wolves: Dave Edwards ruled out with hamstring injury". BBC Sport. 4 December 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  30. ↑ "Wolves trio Carl Ikeme, Bakary Sako and Dave Edwards ruled out for the season". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  31. ↑ "Wolves relegated to League One". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 6 May 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  32. 1 2 "Games played by David Edwards in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  33. ↑ "Wolves crowned League One Champions". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  34. ↑ "Wolves: Dave Edwards signs new two-year contract at Molineux". BBC Sport. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  35. 1 2 "Blackburn Rovers 1–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  36. ↑ "Dave Edwards: Wolves midfielder extends contract". BBC Sport. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  37. ↑ "Queens Park Rangers 1–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  38. ↑ "Injury woes are piling up for Wolves". Birmingham Mail. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  39. ↑ "Milton Keynes Dons 1–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  40. ↑ "Dave Edwards: Reading sign Wales midfielder from Wolves". BBC Sport. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  41. ↑ Spiers, Tim (26 August 2017). "Dave Edwards leaves Wolves for Reading". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  42. ↑ "Reading 0–1 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  43. ↑ Smith, Anthony (26 September 2017). "Millwall 2–1 Reading FC: Royals floored at New Den as George Saville brace secures Millwall comeback". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  44. ↑ Wathan, Chris (14 June 2016). "How these nine English-born footballers came to be Wales' Euro 2016 heroes". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  45. ↑ Pope, Bruce (12 September 2007). "Slovakia 2–5 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  46. ↑ Jackson, Lyle (17 November 2007). "Wales 2–2 Republic of Ireland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  47. 1 2 Dulin, David (11 October 2008). "Wales 2–0 Liechtenstein". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  48. 1 2 "Azerbaijan 0–1 Wales". BBC Sport. 6 June 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  49. 1 2 Shuttleworth, Peter (14 November 2009). "Wales 3–0 Scotland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  50. ↑ "Aaron Ramsey to miss China Cup as Ryan Giggs names first Wales squad". BBC Sport. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  51. ↑ "Wales' Dave Edwards ready to make former tenant Joe Hart pay again". Sky Sports. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  52. ↑ Howell, Bill (13 July 2014). "Family man Dave Edwards loving life at Wolves". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  53. ↑ "Wolves star Dave Edwards plans children's play centre in Shrewsbury". Shropshire Star. Telford. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  54. ↑ "Dave Edwards has a ball as Little Rascals Foundation is launched". Shropshire Live. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  55. ↑ Friday, Courtney (1 December 2017). "Reading FC's Dave Edwards reveals all about his career and the World Cup campaign with Wales in 2016". Reading Chronicle. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  56. ↑ "Games played by David Edwards in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  57. ↑ "Games played by David Edwards in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  58. ↑ "Games played by David Edwards in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  59. ↑ "Games played by David Edwards in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  60. ↑ "Games played by David Edwards in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  61. ↑ "Games played by David Edwards in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  62. ↑ "Games played by David Edwards in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  63. ↑ "Games played by David Edwards in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  64. 1 2 "Games played by David Edwards in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  65. ↑ "Games played by David Edwards in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  66. 1 2 "Edwards, David". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  67. 1 2 "D. Edwards". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
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