Ryan Edwards (English footballer)

Ryan Christopher Edwards (born 7 October 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Scottish Premiership club Dundee United.

Ryan Edwards
Ryan Edwards lining up for Plymouth Argyle in 2017
Personal information
Full name Ryan Christopher Edwards[1]
Date of birth (1993-10-07) 7 October 1993
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Height 6 ft 5 in (1.95 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Dundee United
Number 12
Youth career
2010–2012 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Blackburn Rovers 0 (0)
2012–2013 → Rochdale (loan) 26 (0)
2013 → Fleetwood Town (loan) 9 (0)
2013 → Chesterfield (loan) 5 (0)
2013 → Tranmere Rovers (loan) 0 (0)
2014 → Morecambe (loan) 9 (0)
2014–2017 Morecambe 111 (2)
2017–2019 Plymouth Argyle 61 (8)
2019–2020 Blackpool 21 (1)
2020– Dundee United 16 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:15, 7 February 2021 (UTC)

Career

Blackburn Rovers

Born in Liverpool, Edwards started a two-year scholarship with Blackburn Rovers in 2010. He was captain of the Blackburn squad that reached the final of the 2011–12 FA Youth Cup.[3] Following this, in May 2012, Edwards signed his first professional contract on a two-year deal.[4]

Despite being determined to make a breakthrough under the management of Gary Bowyer,[5] Edwards was among sixteen players to be released by the club at the end of the 2013–14 season.[6]

Loan moves

On 2 July 2012, Edwards joined League Two side Rochdale on a six-month loan.[7] He made his Rochdale debut in the first round of the League Cup, in a 4–3 loss against Barnsley.[8] and he also made his league debut, in the opening game of the season, in a goalless draw against Northampton Town.[9] Having made 26 league appearances for Rochdale, Edwards returned to his parent club after the club's management decided not to extend his loan spell.[10]

Following his time at Rochdale, Edwards had been linked to sign on loan for the second half of the season.[11] On 21 February 2013, he joined Fleetwood Town on a one-month loan.[12] He made his debut for the club two days later, in a 2–0 loss against Aldershot Town.[13] After making four appearances for the club, his loan spell with Fleetwood Town was extended until the end of the season.[14] Edward went on to make nine appearance for the club before returning to Blackburn Rovers.

On 24 July 2013, Edwards joined Chesterfield on a one-month loan deal.[15] Upon the move, the club's first-team coach Keith Lynch believed Edwards could be a "good asset".[16] Edwards made a starting debut for the club in the opening game of the season, a 2–0 win over Bury.[17] His performances throughout the pre-season and at the start of the season led to Chesterfield extending Edwards' loan spell for two months.[18] Edwards featured less in the first team, and then on 24 October 2013 he returned to Ewood Park.[19]

On 28 November 2013, Edwards joined Tranmere Rovers on loan until 29 December 2013;[20] however, he made his only appearance for the club in the second round of the FA Cup, in a 5–0 defeat to Peterborough United.[21] After his loan spell at Tranmere Rovers came to an end,[22] manager Ronnie Moore explained his decision not including Edwards, stating: "It is not ideal for a young kid to be coming into the side with the way we are playing at the moment."[23]

Morecambe

On 21 March 2014, Edwards joined League Two side Morecambe on a one-month youth loan.[24] The next day, he made his debut in a 1–1 draw against Northampton Town.[25] Edwards' seven appearance for the club led, on 24 April 2014, to the extension of his loan stay with the Shrimps until the end of the 2013–14 season.[26] He went on to make nine appearance for the club.

After a successful loan spell at the Globe Arena towards the end of the 2013–14 season, Edwards signed a two-year deal after being released by Blackburn Rovers on 19 May 2014;[27] however, at the start of the season, Edwards fractured his fingers in a friendly match, which kept him out for two months.[28] Throughout August, Edwards started to maintain his fitness after surgery.[29] Edwards' first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis, as well as coming from injury, came in a goalless draw against Cheltenham Town on 6 September 2014.[30] Edwards continued to be in the first team, although he spent six games on the substitutes bench.

Edwards was sent off on 7 March 2015, in a 3–2 win over Luton Town.[31] After making his return against Shrewsbury Town on 17 March 2015,[32] he provided an assist for Kevin Ellison in a 1–1 draw against Accrington Stanley on 3 April 2015.[33] Edwards ended his first full season at Morecambe with 31 appearances after suffering a back injury.[34]

Edwards scored his first career goal in a 2–0 win over Portsmouth on 16 August 2016.[35]

Plymouth Argyle

On 13 June 2017, Plymouth Argyle announced Edwards as their third signing of the summer, from Morecambe.[36]

He was offered a new contract by Plymouth Argyle at the end of the 2018–19 season.[37]

Blackpool

On 14 June 2019, Edwards signed a two-year contract with Blackpool,[38] marking a return to his native North West.

He made his debut for the Seasiders in their opening fixture of the 2019–20 season, a 2–0 victory over Bristol Rovers at Bloomfield Road.

Dundee United

On 3 August 2020, Edwards signed for Scottish club Dundee United.[39][40]

Personal life

Edwards survived testicular cancer after treatment only three months after being diagnosed with the disease.[41]

Career statistics
As of match played 6 February 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Blackburn Rovers 2012–13[42] Championship 0000000000
2013–14[43] 0000000000
Total 0000000000
Rochdale (loan) 2012–13[42] League Two 26010101[lower-alpha 1]0290
Fleetwood Town (loan) 2012–13[42] League Two 9000000090
Chesterfield (loan) 2013–14[43] League Two 5000101[lower-alpha 1]070
Tranmere Rovers 2013–14[43] League One 0010000010
Morecambe (loan) 2013–14[43] League Two 9000000090
Morecambe 2014–15[44] League Two 31010002[lower-alpha 1]0340
2015–16[45] 37020103[lower-alpha 1]0430
2016–17[46] 43110204[lower-alpha 1]1502
Total 11114030911272
Plymouth Argyle 2017–18[47] League One 25320102[lower-alpha 1]1304
2018–19[48] 36500101[lower-alpha 1]0385
Total 618202031689
Blackpool 2019–20[49] League One 21120103[lower-alpha 1]0271
Dundee United 2020–21[50] Scottish Premiership 162004100203
Career total 2581210012117229715
  1. Appearances in the EFL Trophy

References
  1. "Professional retain list & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  2. "Ryan Edwards". dundeeunitedfc.co.uk. Dundee United F.C. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  3. "McPhillips hails Rovers starlets as they reach FA Youth Cup final". Lancashire Telegraph. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  4. "Rovers gem agrees deal". Sky Sports. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
  5. "Rovers youngster eyes first team spot". Lancashire Telegraph. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  6. "Retained list". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. "McIntyre, Rafferty and Edwards join Rochdale". BBC Sport. 2 July 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  8. "Rochdale 3–4 (aet) Barnsley". BBC Sport. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  9. "Rochdale 0–0 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  10. "Edwards Decision Yet To Be Made". Rochdale A.F.C. 31 December 2012. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. "A host of clubs are weighing up moves for Blackburn defender Ryan Edwards". Sky Sports. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  12. "Ryan Edwards: Blackburn defender joins Fleetwood on loan". BBC Sport. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  13. "Aldershot Town 2–0 Fleetwood Town". BBC Sport. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  14. "Fleetwood extend Edwards stay". Sky Sports. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  15. "Chesterfield sign Blackburn Rovers' Ryan Edwards on loan". BBC Sport. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  16. "Edwards gets Lynch backing". Sky Sports. 27 July 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  17. "Bury 0–2 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  18. "Edwards sticks with Spireites". Sky Sports. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  19. "Ewood offer to attract youngsters". Lancashire Telegraph. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  20. "Tranmere Rovers: Edwards, Otsemobor & Peterson join on loan". BBC Sport. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  21. "Peterborough United 5–0 Tranmere Rovers". BBC Sport. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  22. "Loan Latest". Tranmere Rovers F.C. 31 December 2013. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  23. "Liam Ridehalgh must plug soft centre for Tranmere Rovers". Liverpool Echo. 26 December 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  24. "Shrimps bring in defender". Morecambe FC. 21 March 2014. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  25. "Morecambe 1–1 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  26. "Edwards extends stay". Morecambe FC. 24 April 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  27. "Shrimps sign four". Morecambe F.C. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  28. "Edwards Sidelined". Morecambe F.C. 1 August 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. "Ryan Edwards Injury Update". Morecambe F.C. 22 August 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  30. "Morecambe 0–0 Cheltenham Town". BBC Sport. 6 September 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  31. "Luton Town 2 – 3 Morecambe". BBC Sport. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  32. "Morecambe 1 – 4 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  33. "Morecambe 1 – 1 Accrington Stanley". BBC Sport. 3 April 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  34. "Morecambe defender Edwards set to miss Wycombe clash". Morecambe Visitor. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  35. "Morecambe 2–0 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  36. "Edwards the Third". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  37. "Jamie Ness: Plymouth Argyle release midfielder and offer deals to 12". BBC Sport. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  38. "Ryan Edwards: Blackpool sign Plymouth Argyle defender on two-year contract". BBC Sport. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  39. "Ryan Edwards Departs Blackpool" - Blackpool F.C., 3 August 2020
  40. "RYAN EDWARDS IS TANGERINE". dundeeunitedfc.co.uk. 3 August 2020.
  41. "Ryan Edwards: Plymouth Argyle defender gets cancer all-clear from doctors". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  42. "Games played by Ryan Edwards in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  43. "Games played by Ryan Edwards in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  44. "Games played by Ryan Edwards in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  45. "Games played by Ryan Edwards in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  46. "Games played by Ryan Edwards in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  47. "Games played by Ryan Edwards in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  48. "Games played by Ryan Edwards in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  49. "Games played by Ryan Edwards in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  50. "Games played by Ryan Edwards in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
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