Keith Edwards
Encyclopedia
Keith Edwards was an English
footballer.
Edwards actually started his early career as a youth player with Leyton Orient in London, as his father was an Orient supporter. He became homesick and joined Sheffield United.
A prolific goalscorer
, he had two spells (1975–1978 and 1981–1986) at Sheffield United
for whom he scored 171 goals in 293 appearances. Whilst with the Blades, he was the highest scoring player in a division twice, scoring 36 goals (one for Hull City
) in Division 4
in 1981-2 and 33 goals in Division 3
in 1983-4. The latter haul earned Edwards his second Adidas Golden Boot award.
His debut for United came in a FA Cup
Third Round Tie against Leicester City on January 3, 1976 and his League debut came on February 28, 1976 in a Division 1
game against Queens Park Rangers. However, his first goal didn't arrive until the next season in Division 2
against Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 24, 1976.
In between his time at Bramall Lane
he played for Hull City who paid £
50,000 for Edwards in 1978. Ian Porterfield bought him back for £100,000 and played him for the first time against Scunthorpe United on September 26, 1981, the 1-0 home victory being the first of a 17-game unbeaten run. Edwards scored his first two goals under Porterfield in a 4-0 win over Crewe Alexandra three days later.
He formed an impressive partnership with Bob Hatton
, feeding off the distribution of Colin Morris as United ended the season with 19 games without defeat to win the Fourth Division
Championship, his 35 goals being a post-war
record.
His final appearance for United came in a pre-season friendly at Bramall Lane
against Spanish
club Sevilla FC
on August 1, 1986. He began the 1986-87 season at Leeds United
after a transfer fee of £125,000 but only managed 9 goals in 51 appearances, although one of those was against Coventry City
in the FA Cup
semi-final at Hillsborough
in 1987.
Aberdeen
secured his services in 1987 and he returned to Hull City in 1988. He later played for Stockport County
, Huddersfield Town and finished his career at Plymouth Argyle
in 1990. He is one of the select band of players to have scored over 250 league goals in English football
.
In recent years, Keith has worked for BBC
Radio Sheffield commentating on matches involving one of his former clubs, Sheffield United.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer.
Edwards actually started his early career as a youth player with Leyton Orient in London, as his father was an Orient supporter. He became homesick and joined Sheffield United.
A prolific goalscorer
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, he had two spells (1975–1978 and 1981–1986) at Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
for whom he scored 171 goals in 293 appearances. Whilst with the Blades, he was the highest scoring player in a division twice, scoring 36 goals (one for Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
) in Division 4
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
in 1981-2 and 33 goals in Division 3
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...
in 1983-4. The latter haul earned Edwards his second Adidas Golden Boot award.
His debut for United came in a 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...
Third Round Tie against Leicester City on January 3, 1976 and his League debut came on February 28, 1976 in a Division 1
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
game against Queens Park Rangers. However, his first goal didn't arrive until the next season in Division 2
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
against Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 24, 1976.
In between his time at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
he played for Hull City who paid £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
50,000 for Edwards in 1978. Ian Porterfield bought him back for £100,000 and played him for the first time against Scunthorpe United on September 26, 1981, the 1-0 home victory being the first of a 17-game unbeaten run. Edwards scored his first two goals under Porterfield in a 4-0 win over Crewe Alexandra three days later.
He formed an impressive partnership with Bob Hatton
Bob Hatton
Robert James "Bob" Hatton is an English former association footballer who played as a centre forward. He played more than 600 matches in the Football League for a variety of clubs and scored at a rate better than one goal in every three matches.Wolverhampton Wanderers recognised his potential and...
, feeding off the distribution of Colin Morris as United ended the season with 19 games without defeat to win the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
Championship, his 35 goals being a post-war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
record.
His final appearance for United came in a pre-season friendly at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
against Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
club Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
on August 1, 1986. He began the 1986-87 season 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...
after a transfer fee of £125,000 but only managed 9 goals in 51 appearances, although one of those was against Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
in the 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...
semi-final at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
in 1987.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
secured his services in 1987 and he returned to Hull City in 1988. He later played for Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, Huddersfield Town and finished his career at 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...
in 1990. He is one of the select band of players to have scored over 250 league goals in English football
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
.
In recent years, Keith has worked for BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Radio Sheffield commentating on matches involving one of his former clubs, Sheffield United.