Bryan Edwards (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Bryan Edwards is a former football
player and manager
. He played 483 games as wing half for Bolton Wanderers
picking up an FA Cup
Winners medal in 1958 and later managed Bradford City
and was a coach and physiotherapist at several clubs.
and Yorkshire CCC
in 1947. He joined Bolton and signed a full-time professional contact in October 1947. He stayed at Burnden Park
for 18 years, although his career was interrupted by two years National Service, winning an FA Cup
winners medal in 1958 when Bolton defeated Manchester United 2–0. He made 483 league appearance, most as wing half before converting to centre half, at Bolton before he retired in 1965, aged 35.
as assistant trainer-coach before moving to Preston North End
first as coach and later first-team trainer. He moved to Plymouth Argyle
as chief coach, before becoming manager at Bradford City
in November 1971.
He took over with City struggling towards the bottom of Division Three
but he could not arrest the slide and the club were relegated in bottom place in the 1971–72
season. The club came 16th the following season and 8th in 1973–74
before Edwards resigned in January 1975 to be replaced by Bobby Kennedy
.
He became a qualified physiotherapist and served as physio and coach at Huddersfield Town
and youth team coach at Leeds United
before returning to Bradford City in July 1977. He filled a host of roles at Valley Parade
including physio, assistant manager and general manager.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
. He played 483 games as wing half for Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
picking up an 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...
Winners medal in 1958 and later managed Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
and was a coach and physiotherapist at several clubs.
Playing career
Edwards excelled at both football and cricket and had trials for both sports, at Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
and Yorkshire CCC
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
in 1947. He joined Bolton and signed a full-time professional contact in October 1947. He stayed at Burnden Park
Burnden Park
Burnden Park was the home of English FA Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers who played home games here between 1895 and 1997. As well as hosting an FA Cup Final replay it was the scene of one of the greatest disasters in English football and the subject of an L. S...
for 18 years, although his career was interrupted by two years National Service, winning an 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...
winners medal in 1958 when Bolton defeated Manchester United 2–0. He made 483 league appearance, most as wing half before converting to centre half, at Bolton before he retired in 1965, aged 35.
Managerial career
When Edwards retired he first joined BlackpoolBlackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
as assistant trainer-coach before moving to Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
first as coach and later first-team trainer. He moved to Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
as chief coach, before becoming manager at Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in November 1971.
He took over with City struggling towards the bottom of 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...
but he could not arrest the slide and the club were relegated in bottom place in the 1971–72
1971-72 in English football
The 1971–72 season was the 92nd season of competitive football in England.-FA Cup:Leeds United overcame holders Arsenal to win the 1972 FA Cup Final...
season. The club came 16th the following season and 8th in 1973–74
1973-74 in English football
The 1973–74 season was the 94th season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Don Revie marked his last season as Leeds United's manager by guiding them to league championship glory, before taking over from Sir Alf Ramsey as the England national football team manager, with England...
before Edwards resigned in January 1975 to be replaced by Bobby Kennedy
Bobby Kennedy (footballer)
Robert 'Bobby' Kennedy is a Scottish former soccer player who could play in midfield or at right back.-Playing career:Bobby Kennedy started his career at Coltness United and after trials with Queen of the South and Clyde he joined Kilmarnock in 1957...
.
He became a qualified physiotherapist and served as physio and coach at Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
and youth team coach at Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
before returning to Bradford City in July 1977. He filled a host of roles at Valley Parade
Valley Parade
Valley Parade, also known as the Coral Windows Stadium through sponsorship rights, is an all-seater football stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It was built in 1886, and was the home of Manningham Rugby Football Club until 1903, when they changed code from rugby football to association...
including physio, assistant manager and general manager.