Willis Edwards
Encyclopedia
Willis Edwards was an English
former professional football
player and manager.
, not far from Chesterfield
and Alfreton
. Like many boys in the area, he left school to go down the pit but he was soon spotted by Chesterfield
as a teenager, playing for the village football team Newton Rangers.
towards the end of the 1924–25
season.
club for 14 years, during which time he was never booked
or sent off. He went on to make 444 appearances and he was widely regarded as the best wing-half in the country, making his England
debut in 1926 and going on to receive 16 caps. Edwards continued turning out for Leeds during the war years and remained at the club after the war. On retiring as a player, he became the Leeds United assistant coach and trainer and he took over the managerial rein
s when Billy Hampson
stepped down in May 1947. His time as manager was relatively unsuccessful and he resumed his place in the backroom staff in April 1948, where he acted as a scout for the club. He only ended his association with Leeds in 1960, after serving the club for 35 years.
and he died in Leeds on 27 September 1988, aged 85.
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...
former professional football
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.
Biography
Willis Edwards was born in the mining village of Newton, North East DerbyshireDerbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, not far from Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
and Alfreton
Alfreton
Alfreton is a town and civil parish in Amber Valley, Derbyshire, England, adjoining the Bolsover and North East Derbyshire districts. It was formerly a Norman Manor and later an Urban District. The population of the Alfreton Ward was 7,928 at the 2001 Census...
. Like many boys in the area, he left school to go down the pit but he was soon spotted by Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
as a teenager, playing for the village football team Newton Rangers.
Chesterfield
Having been close to joining Blackburn Rovers, he instead signed for Chesterfield, where he made his debut in 1919 at the age of just 16. He went on to play 70 league games for the Spireites before joining Leeds UnitedLeeds 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...
towards the end of the 1924–25
1924-25 in English football
The 1924–25 season was the 50th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
season.
Leeds United
Edwards played for the Elland RoadElland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
club for 14 years, during which time he was never booked
Misconduct (football)
Misconduct in association football is any conduct by a player that is deemed by the referee to warrant a disciplinary sanction in accordance with Law 12 of the Laws of the Game. Misconduct may occur at any time, including when the ball is out of play, during half-time and before and after the...
or sent off. He went on to make 444 appearances and he was widely regarded as the best wing-half in the country, making his England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
debut in 1926 and going on to receive 16 caps. Edwards continued turning out for Leeds during the war years and remained at the club after the war. On retiring as a player, he became the Leeds United assistant coach and trainer and he took over the managerial rein
Rein
Reins are items of horse tack, used to direct a horse or other animal used for riding or driving. Reins can be made of leather, nylon, metal, or other materials, and attach to a bridle via either its bit or its noseband.-Use for riding:...
s when Billy Hampson
Billy Hampson
Billy Hampson was an English football player and later manager.Hampson was born in Radcliffe, Lancashire. He played for Rochdale, Bury and Norwich City before moving to Newcastle United for £1,250 in January, 1914. However before Hampson could properly settle at the club, war broke out later that...
stepped down in May 1947. His time as manager was relatively unsuccessful and he resumed his place in the backroom staff in April 1948, where he acted as a scout for the club. He only ended his association with Leeds in 1960, after serving the club for 35 years.
Life after football
In his later working years, Edwards worked in Moorhouses jam factory on Old Lane in BeestonBeeston, Leeds
Beeston is a suburb Leeds, West Yorkshire, England located about 2 miles south of the city centre. The area is separated from surrounding areas to the north, east and west by the M621 motorway....
and he died in Leeds on 27 September 1988, aged 85.
Managerial stats
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| 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... |
 |
May 1947 | April 1948 | 47 | 13 | 26 | 8 | 27.66 |
| 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... (Caretaker) |
|
June 1958 | December 1958 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 50.00 |