Preston Edwards

Preston Edwards
Personal information
Full namePreston Matthew Edwards[1]
Date of birth5 September 1989
Place of birthCheshunt, England[2]
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current team
Ebbsfleet United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2006–2009Millwall1(0)
2009→ Dover Athletic (loan)13(0)
2009–2010Grays Athletic18(0)
2010–Ebbsfleet United68(0)
National team
2006England U171(0)
2006England U181(0)
2011–England C1(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:30, 18 November 2011 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Preston Matthew Edwards (born 5 September 1989) is an English footballer who plays for Ebbsfleet United as a goalkeeper.

Club career

On 4 September 2007, Edwards made his first professional appearance for Millwall when coming on as a sub against Swansea City in the Football League Trophy first round.

In January 2009, he joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Dover Athletic on loan after an injury to the club's first-choice goalkeeper, John Whitehouse. He made his debut in a 0–0 draw against local rivals Ramsgate. Whilst at Dover Athletic, he helped them secure the title and promotion to the Conference South. On 22 June 2009, he rejected a new one-year deal from Millwall, and was therefore out of contract and released.[3]

At the start of the 2009–10 season, Edwards signed for Grays Athletic along with eight other players.[4] On 24 March 2010, Edwards played in a behind closed doors reserve match for Crystal Palace against Millwall.[5] He was released at the end of the 2009–10 season.

Edwards signed for Ebbsfleet United on 28 July 2010, after a successful trial period.[6]

He became a YouTube sensation in February 2011, racking up over eight million views (as of late June 2014), after being sent off just ten seconds into a 3–0 defeat to Farnborough.[7] This is believed to be a record for a goalkeeper.[8] Despite this setback, Preston became a fan favourite amongst club fans and a key asset for the club. After promotion, Preston asserted himself as Ebbsfleet number one before an ankle injury cut his season short. Despite the club finishing second bottom of the Conference Premier in the 2012–13 season, Edwards drew praise from many for his performances throughout the season and went on to dominate the club's end of season awards ceremony, winning a large majority of the trophies on offer including the Players player of the year and the Fans player of the year award. Although it was rumoured that his services were wanted by John Still, the recently appointed manager of Luton Town, Edwards signed a new contract with the club, keeping him on for the 2013–14 season.

International career

In October 2010 Edwards was called up to the England C team for the first time.[9]

Family

His sister Steph reached the final of the 2013 series of Britain's Got Talent as part of the band Luminites.[10]

Honours

Ebbsfleet United

Conference South play-off winners: 2010–2011

References

  1. ↑ "Search results: Preston Edwards". Findmypast.com. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hugman, Barry J. (ed) (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  3. ↑ "Edwards leaves Lions". Sky Sports. 22 June 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
  4. ↑ "Grays sign nine players in a day". BBC Sport. 5 August 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
  5. ↑ "Crystal Palace Res. 2-1 Millwall Res.". Crystal Palace FC. 25 March 2010. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  6. ↑ "The new Fleet number one". Ebbsfleet FC. 28 July 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "Youtube video of the incident". Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  8. ↑ "BBC Sport article". BBC Sport. 15 February 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  9. ↑ "Fleet stopper gets England call-up". Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  10. ↑ "You'll Need Some Talent to Impress Edwards!", The Non-League Paper, 9 June 2013: 19

External links