Neil Edwards (footballer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Neil Edwards.
Neil Edwards
Personal information
Full name Neil Ryan Edwards
Date of birth December 5, 1970 (1970-12-05) (age 37)
Place of birth    Aberdare, Wales
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club Bolton Wanderers
(assistant goalkeeping coach)
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1988-1991
1990
1991-1997
1997-2005
2005-2006
1991-2006		 Leeds United
→ Huddersfield Town (loan)
Stockport County
Rochdale
Bury
Total		 000 (0)
000 (0)
164 (0)
239 (0)
024 (0)
427 (0)   
National team
Wales U21 001 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

Neil Ryan Edwards (born December 5, 1970) is a former Welsh footballer who played as a goalkeeper, before retiring in 2006. He also played for Wales's under 21's. After his retirement, he has since been coaching Carlisle United and Bolton Wanderers goalkeepers. He is the assistant goalkeeping coach for the latter.

[edit] Playing career

Edwards started his career as a reserve goalkeeper at Leeds United, playing one first team match, a Full Members Cup game against Barnsley. He also went on loan to Huddersfield Town, but failed to play a first team match.

On September 3, 1991, Edwards joined Stockport County for £5,000, where he played over 200 games for the Greater Manchester club, but first team opportunities were restricted due to the team's elevated position in 1996-97.

On November 3, 1997, Edwards joined Rochdale, where he found himself a fans` favourite, and played his part in one of the best defensive records in Division 3. In the pre-season of the 2001-02 sesaon, Edwards was named the captain of Rochdale, but injury made him miss the majority of the season due to injury. In the latter seasons, injuries and the impressive performances of Matthew Gilks forced Edwards out of the first team picture at Spotland. In total, he played 279 League and Cup games at Rochdale.

Edwards then had two contracts offered to him, by Rochdale and Bury, and on 02 July, 2005, he joined Bury on a one year contract, with the garuntee of first team football as well as a slightly higher wage. "Taff" played 24 League games for the Mancunian Gigg Lane club, before an injury ended his season, and he decided to retire at the end of season.

[edit] Coaching career

In the summer of 2006, Edwards joined new Carlisle United manger Neil McDonald's backroom team as goalkeeping coach, but left to Bolton Wanderers to become their assistant goalkeeping coach to Fred Barber.

[edit] Sources