Full name Robert Ian Edwards 1971–1973 Rhyl Position Forward Years Team Height 1.85 m | Playing position Role Footballer Place of birth Rossett, Wales Name Ian Edwards | |
Date of birth (1955-01-30) 30 January 1955 (age 60) | ||
Robert Ian Edwards (born 30 January 1955) is a Welsh former footballer who played as a forward. He was capped by Wales and played in The Football League for four clubs.
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Playing career
Born in Rossett, 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.
Honours
West Bromwich Albion
Chester