Phil Edwards (footballer)


Philip Lee Edwards is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre back.
Edwards began his football career at Wigan Athletic, progressing through the club's youth system before signing a professional contract at the age of 18. In September 2004, Edwards joined Morecambe on a month's loan, playing one game before returning to Wigan. He was loaned out again during the 2005–06 season, this time to Accrington Stanley in October 2005. He subsequently signed for the club permanently in January 2006, helping them win the Conference National. He spent five years at Accrington, playing over 250 games for them in all competitions.
In June 2011, Edwards signed for Stevenage on a free transfer. In March 2012, he joined Rochdale on loan until the end of the 2011–12 season. Released by Stevenage in May 2012, he signed for Rochdale on a permanent basis in August 2012. After a season of regular first-team football at Rochdale, Edwards joined Burton Albion in June 2013. Following a loan spell at Oxford United during the 2016–17 season, he was released by Burton and signed for Bury. Edwards rejoined Accrington in August 2019.

Career

Early career

Born in Bootle, Merseyside, Edwards started his career at Wigan Athletic, signing a professional contract with the club at the age of 18 in 2004. He was sent out on a one-month loan to Morecambe in September 2004 in order to gain first-team experience. However, Edwards made just one appearance for the club, coming on as a substitute in the 36th minute of a 2–2 draw away at Northwich Victoria. He returned to Wigan in October 2004, playing regularly for the reserve side, although he failed to make a first-team appearance for the club.

Accrington Stanley

Edwards signed for Accrington Stanley on loan in October 2005, making his debut in a 3–3 Football League Trophy draw away at Rotherham United. He made his league debut on 29 October 2005, playing the whole match as Accrington beat York City 2–1 at the Crown Ground. During Edwards' first six games at Accrington, the club had won all six fixtures, conceding just two goals. This form had propelled the club to the top of the Conference National. His loan was later extended until the end of the 2005–06 season in November 2005. In January 2006, the opportunity arose for Accrington to sign Edwards on a permanent basis, and he signed for the club on a free transfer on 12 January. Edwards was part of the side that clinched promotion to the Football League following a 1–0 away victory at Woking in April 2006, playing the whole match. He played a total of 27 times for Accrington during the club's successful campaign. Edwards was an unused substitute in Accrington's first two games back in the Football League, both of which resulted in 2–0 defeats. He came on as an 85th-minute substitute in the club's 2–1 home win against Barnet in the following game, Accrington's first win of the 2006–07 season. Edwards started his first game of the season on 9 September 2006, a 3–2 away defeat to Notts County. He started in the club's next five games, before suffering an injury in a 2–2 draw away at Bury, meaning that he missed the next three games. Edwards returned to the first-team on 17 October 2006, starting in a 1–1 draw against Carlisle United in the Football League Trophy. He scored his first ever professional goal in a 3–3 home draw with Shrewsbury Town in December 2006, scoring a header in the 55th minute to restore parity after Accrington were trailing 2–1. Edwards' last game of the 2006–07 season was in a 3–2 home win against Macclesfield Town, a win that ultimately secured the club's Football League status for another year. He played a total of 39 games in all competitions, scoring one goal.
Edwards opted to remain at Accrington ahead of the 2007–08 season, signing a contract extension in May 2007. He played his first game of the campaign in late August 2007, a 2–0 defeat at Lincoln City. Following Accrington's 4–1 home win against Grimsby Town in September 2007, a game in which Edwards appeared as a 90th-minute substitute, he did not feature in the first-team for two months. He returned to first-team action on 17 November 2007, playing in the club's 1–0 home defeat to Rotherham United. Following a spate of late substitute appearances, Edwards was ever present in the first-team from December 2007 onwards. He scored his first goal of the 2007–08 season on 4 April 2008, scoring the winner in a 1–0 win against Dagenham & Redbridge. The goal all but guaranteed League Two survival for Accrington. It was Edwards' only goal of the season, playing 32 games in all competitions. Edwards started in Accrington's first game of the 2008–09 season, a 1–0 home loss to newly promoted Aldershot Town. In October 2008, Accrington manager John Coleman praised Edwards for his form during the start of the season, "I couldn't pay him enough compliments. I think the last six months he has been absolutely magnificent. I am convinced if he was three inches bigger he would be playing in the Premier League. He is our best defender and hopefully he'll continue to be a great player for us for a long time". Edwards remained ever present in the Accrington first-team, but was taken off after 17 minutes in Accrington's 2–1 win against Shrewsbury Town. Despite needing eight stitches in his knee, Edwards played in Accrington's following league match four days later, a 1–0 home defeat to Wycombe Wanderers. He provided the assist for Paul Mullin's goal in a defeat at Wycombe Wanderers, as well as assisting Jamie Clarke's second goal in a 3–1 home win over Grimsby Town. Edwards played in every one of Accrington's 50 games during the 2008–09 season, with the club finishing 16th in the league table.
In June 2009, Edwards signed a new two-year contract at Accrington. He scored his first goal of the 2009–10 season on 22 August 2009, "bundling" the ball into the net from John Miles' corner kick in a 3–1 loss at Aldershot Town. Ten days later, Edwards doubled his goal tally for the season, scoring a low drilled effort from 14 yards out in Accrington's 2–1 away win at Oldham Athletic in the Football League Trophy. His third goal of the campaign came in a 2–2 draw away at Port Vale, with Edwards scoring from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute. He scored another penalty in a 4–0 win against Cheltenham Town on 10 October 2009, and also found the net in a 2–2 draw at Grimsby Town to take his goal tally to five for the season. Edwards added to his goal tally when he scored from the penalty spot in a 4–2 win against Torquay United on 5 December 2009. He missed a penalty a week later in Accrington's game against Notts County, with Kasper Schmeichel saving his penalty, although Accrington went on to win the match 2–1, ending Notts County's unbeaten home record. He made amends by scoring twice in Accrington's next league match, a 2–1 away win at Morecambe on 26 December 2009, scoring the first goal with a header and then netting from the penalty spot after Bobby Grant was fouled in the area. Edwards scored in another away victory in March 2010, scoring a header from Luke Joyce's corner to give Accrington a 2–1 win at Barnet. The goal meant that Edwards had scored nine goals during the 2009–10 season, again being ever present in the side, playing all 57 of the club's matches as Accrington finished in 15th place in League Two.
During the start of the 2010–11 season, Edwards was key in Accrington's strong defensive record, with the team conceding just one goal in their first seven league fixtures. In October 2010, Edwards scored his first and second goals of the season when he scored twice from the penalty spot in Accrington's 7–4 home win against Gillingham. He scored his third goal of the 2010–11 season in a 4–2 home defeat to Cheltenham Town, scoring a penalty in the 88th minute, only serving as a consolation with Accrington 4–1 down at the time. Three days later, on 2 November 2010, Edwards scored from the penalty spot again, this time in a 5–2 away defeat at eventual champions Chesterfield. His fifth goal of the season came courtesy of a 21st-minute penalty in a 1–1 draw at Bradford City, before he scored another goal at Morecambe in a 2–1 away win on 1 January 2011. A month later, on 1 February, Edwards scored yet again against Morecambe, this time in a 1–1 home draw, salvaging a point by scoring a late penalty. His eighth goal of the campaign came three weeks later, scoring a header from Charlie Barnett's cross in the 82nd minute to give Accrington a 2–1 away win at Wycombe, their first win in five league matches. Edwards took his goal tally into double figures when he scored two first-half penalties in a 3–0 home win against Stockport County on 8 March 2011. He missed a penalty in a 3–1 defeat at Gillingham four days later, before scoring three days later in a 3–1 home win against Burton Albion – scoring from six yards out following good work from Terry Gornell. He scored his twelfth goal of the season with an 82nd-minute penalty in a 3–1 win against Southend United on 5 April 2011, moving Accrington into the play-off places in League Two. Three days later, Edwards scored again from the penalty spot, scoring a 79th-minute penalty to give Accrington the lead against ten-man Macclesfield Town, although a late goal courtesy of Vinny Mukendi earned Macclesfield a point. Accrington cemented a place in the League Two play-offs after finishing fifth, Edwards played in both of the semi-final matches against Stevenage, which Accrington lost by a 3–0 aggregate scoreline. Edwards scored a total of 13 goals from defence in 51 appearances during Accrington's 2010–11 campaign, finishing as Accrington's joint top goalscorer for the season alongside Terry Gornell and Sean McConville. He was offered a two-year contract extension at the end of the season. Accrington assistant manager Jimmy Bell stated "Phil has been offered a good deal and we're quietly confident, although there have been a few rumours about one or two clubs being interested. But Phil has been here since he was young, he can't drive, he gets looked after by the club and he gets lifts in to training, so he feels quite settled here". Edwards played 257 games for Accrington, scoring 24 goals.

Stevenage

Edwards signed for League One club Stevenage on 27 June 2011. He joined the club on a free transfer, rejecting a contract extension at Accrington. He signed a one-year deal with Stevenage, with the option of a second year. On joining the club he said "I wasn't particularly looking for another club and I didn't have any interest in any other clubs at the time, so I thought I'd still be at Accrington next season. However, the manager got in touch with my agent and discussed the offer and when I thought I had the chance of playing League One football I decided to sign for Stevenage". Edwards was assigned the number six shirt ahead of the 2011–12 season. He made his Stevenage debut on the first day of the 2011–12 season, playing the whole match in a 0–0 home draw against Exeter City. Edwards made 13 starting appearances for the club, as well as a further 14 appearances from the substitute's bench, during the first half of the club's first ever League One campaign.

Rochdale

Edwards joined Rochdale on loan until the end of the 2011–12 season in March 2012. The move re-united him with manager John Coleman, who had managed Edwards for six years at Accrington Stanley. He made his first appearance for Rochdale a day after signing for the club, on 10 March, coming on as a 61st-minute substitute as Rochdale came back twice to draw 2–2 against Huddersfield Town. Edwards made just three appearances for Rochdale during his loan spell due to a knee injury. At the end of the season, Edwards was released by Stevenage when his contract expired, after just one year at the club. He made 27 appearances during his time at Stevenage.
In August 2012, Edwards signed for Rochdale, plying their trade in League Two, on a free transfer. He signed a one-year deal with the club. Edwards was a regular fixture throughout the 2012–13 season, making 48 appearances in all competitions as Rochdale finished the campaign in a mid-table position.

Burton Albion

After his first full season at Rochdale, Edwards opted to leave the club at the end of the campaign, subsequently joining fellow League Two side Burton Albion on a free transfer on 29 June 2013. On securing Edwards' signature, Burton manager Gary Rowett stated – "In Phil we have a player who knows what it takes to be successful at this level as well as the league above and he is a very consistent performer. At 27 he's also at a good age to continue progressing and I'm sure he'll prove to be a big asset to the club".

Oxford United (loan)

Edwards signed on a season-long loan for Oxford United at the start of the 2016–17 season, following injuries to key defenders. He made 38 league appearances and scored 3 goals, and appeared for the club at Wembley in the EFL Trophy Final.

Bury

In May 2017, Edwards was released by his parent club Burton Albion and signed a two-year contract with Bury.

Accrington Stanley return

In August 2019 Edwards rejoined Accrington Stanley. On June 24 2020 it was announced that Edwards will be leaving Accrington Stanley.

Personal life

Edwards is a supporter of Everton.

Career statistics

;Notes

Honours

Accrington Stanley
Burton Albion
Individual