Mike Edwards (footballer, born 1980)
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mike Edwards
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Michael Edwards
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|4|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Hessle, England{{cite book|editor1-first=Glenda|editor1-last=Rollin|editor2-first=Jack|editor2-last=Rollin|title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013|year=2012|publisher=Headline|location=London|isbn=978-0-7553-6356-8|page=507|edition=43rd}}
| currentclub = Torquay United (Assistant Manager)
| clubnumber =
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}
| position = Defender
| youthyears1 = 1995–1997
| youthclubs1 = Hull City
| years1 = 1997–2003 | clubs1 = Hull City | caps1 = 178 | goals1 = 6
| years2 = 2003 | clubs2 = Colchester United | caps2 = 5 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2003–2004 | clubs3 = Grimsby Town | caps3 = 33 | goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2004–2012 | clubs4 = Notts County | caps4 = 269 | goals4 = 20
| years5 = 2012–2014 | clubs5 = Carlisle United | caps5 = 24 | goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2014–2018 | clubs6 = Notts County | caps6 = 42 | goals6 = 6
| totalcaps = 551 | totalgoals = 33
| club-update = 22:42, 26 December 2016 (UTC)
}}
Michael Edwards (born 25 April 1980) is an English football coach and former professional footballer who is assistant manager at Torquay United.
As a player he was a defender. Edwards played professionally between 1997 and 2018 and most notably played for Notts County, where he spent eleven years over two spells which yielded 311 League appearances and 26 goals. He also
played for Hull City, Colchester United, Grimsby Town and Carlisle United.{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=13640 |title=Mike Edwards |work=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=24 November 2009}} In his final season with County, he doubled up his playing duties with being the clubs strength and conditioning coach.{{cite web|url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/mike-edwards-says-emotional-farewell-1730525|title=Mike Edwards says emotional farewell to Notts County as he leaves Meadow Lane|first=Leigh|last=Curtis|date=29 June 2018|website=NottinghamshireLive|accessdate=29 December 2020}}
Playing career
=Hull City=
Edwards was born in Hessle, Humberside, and began his football career as a trainee with Hull City. Primarily a centre back, he made his debut on 28 December 1997 in the Division Three game away to Rotherham United which Hull lost 5–4,{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=13640&season_id=127 |title=Games played by Mike Edwards in 1997/1998 |work=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=24 November 2009}} but did not turn professional until the end of the 1997–98 season. By the time he left the club in March 2003, he was their longest-serving player, though still only 22 years old, and had played 208 games in all first-team competitions.{{cite web|url=http://www.hullcityafc.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10338~360702,00.html |title=Edwards Departs |publisher=Hull City A.F.C |date=21 March 2003 |accessdate=12 June 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301013122/http://www.hullcityafc.net/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10338~360702%2C00.html |archivedate=1 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}
=Colchester United=
Edwards joined Colchester United until the end of the season, but was then released, and then after had a trial for Boston United.
=Grimsby Town=
Following another trial for Grimsby Town,{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11714_2271339,00.html |title=Former Tiger set for Mariners trial |first=Neil |last=Foster |publisher=Sky Sports |date=21 July 2003 |accessdate=24 November 2009}} Edwards signed a one-year deal with Grimsby.{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11769_2272887,00.html |title=Mariners seal double deal |first=Graeme |last=Bailey |publisher=Sky Sports |date=7 August 2003 |accessdate=24 November 2009}} He spent the season rotating in the team in the centre half position, partnering Tony Crane, Paul Groves and Simon Ford. Following the club's relegation from the Second Division he was not offered a fresh contract and departed the club in May 2004.
=Notts County=
Edwards was signed by Notts County in May 2004 on a free transfer from Grimsby Town by Gary Mills.{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11746_2300432,00.html |title=Mills adding new faces |first=Simon |last=Fudge |publisher=Sky Sports |date=26 May 2004 |accessdate=24 November 2009}} He played just 10 games until cruciate ligament damage sustained during a League Cup first round tie away against West Ham United ruled him out for the rest of the season.{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11768_2311813,00.html |title=More misery for Magpies |first=Mark |last=Buckingham |publisher=Sky Sports |date=23 September 2004 |accessdate=24 November 2009}}{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=13640&season_id=134 |title=Games played by Mike Edwards in 2004/2005 |work=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=24 November 2009}} Under new manager Gudjon Thordarson, Edwards made a remarkable comeback to play in all 50 league and cup games in the 2005–06 campaign,{{cite web |url=http://www.soccerbase.com/squad_season.sd?teamid=1871&seasonid=135 |title=Notts Co 2005/2006 player appearances |work=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |accessdate=24 November 2009}} demonstrating his versatility by operating in central midfield for most of that season. He slotted back into defence after the departure of Kelvin Wilson towards the end of the season putting in consistent and impressive performances. Edwards scored seven times proving a menace to the opposition at set plays.
Edwards signed a new contract in May 2006 taking him through until May 2008.{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11768_2377947,00.html |title=Edwards seals Magpies stay |first=James |last=Pearson |publisher=Sky Sports |date=25 May 2006 |accessdate=24 November 2009}} He won the club's Player of the Season award for 2006–07, and before the following season was made club captain.{{cite web |url=http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10426~1065931,00.html |title=Edwards Handed Club Captain's Role |publisher=Notts County F.C |date=4 July 2007 |accessdate=24 November 2009}} Only weeks later, in a pre-season fixture against St Blazey, he suffered a badly-broken leg and was out of the side until January 2008.{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11768_2610480,00.html |title=Defensive blow for Magpies |first=Mark |last=Buckingham |publisher=Sky Sports |date=20 July 2007 |accessdate=24 November 2009}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10426~39016,00.html |title=Morecambe vs Notts County |publisher=Notts County F.C |date=26 January 2008 |accessdate=24 November 2009}} He renewed his contract for a further two years in June 2008.{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11750_3665437,00.html |title=Edwards committed to County |publisher=Sky Sports |date=8 June 2008 |accessdate=24 November 2009}} He was a regular in the Notts County starting 11 in 2010–2011 season. He made his 300th appearance for the club in the 2011–12 season in a 0–0 draw against Scunthorpe United.
=Carlisle United=
On 11 June 2012, he signed a two-year deal with Carlisle United.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18400573 "Carlisle United sign Mike Edwards from Notts County"] BBC Sport. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2013. Edwards was limited to 24 appearances in two seasons with the club, this eventually led to his release at the end of the 2013–14 season.
In July 2014 he returned to Notts County and played in their pre-season warm up match with Carlton Town, however this was only done as a favour to the player to keep up his fitness levels before the new season.{{cite web|url=http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/article/mike-edwards-set-for-run-out-with-magpies-at-carlton-town-1774524.aspx|title=Mike Edwards Notts County|author=Notts Media Team|work=nottscountyfc.co.uk|accessdate=5 August 2014}}
=Return to Notts County=
In August 2014 Edwards signed a contract at Notts County as a Conditioning Coach and player until January 2015. Edwards scored his first goal since re-signing for Notts against Sheffield United in a 1–1 draw on 28 November.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30140254|title=Sheffield United 1-1 Notts County|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=3 December 2014}}
He was released by Notts County at the end of the 2017–18 season and retired shortly after.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44216750|title=Notts County: Shola Ameobi and Alan Smith leave League Two club|date=22 May 2018|accessdate=24 May 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Notts County F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Mike}}
Category:Footballers from the East Riding of Yorkshire
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Hull City A.F.C. players
Category:Colchester United F.C. players
Category:Grimsby Town F.C. players
Category:Notts County F.C. players
Category:Carlisle United F.C. players