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BRYAN Edwards, one of the last surviving members of Wanderers’ 1958 FA Cup winning side, has passed away at the age of 85.
Sixth on the club’s all-time appearance list, Edwards played 518 times and would undoubtedly have played more had he not been called up for National Service in 1952.
The Leeds-born wing-half signed professional forms on his 17th birthday after being spotted playing for Oulton Youth Club, and also had trials for Yorkshire Cricket Club.
A one-club man, he made his debut in a 3-3 draw with Liverpool in September, 1950, and became a regular in the team by the end of that season.
It is often said his military stint cost him a place in the 1953 FA Cup final side beaten by Blackpool but a broken leg sustained in a game at Portsmouth also played its part.
He recovered, regaining his place from Eric Bell at the start of the 1954-55 and missed just two games in the next four years.
His deflected pass set up Nat Lofthouse for the first goal against Manchester United at Wembley in 1958, after which he helped the Whites achieve their highest-ever league finish of fourth in the following season.
Nicknamed “Slim” for his slender statue, Edwards switched to centre-half later in his career after the emergence of Warwick Rimmer and Graham Stanley, reaching the 500 mark in a goalless draw against Ipswich Town in January 1965. He also captained the club on several occasions in the 1960s in Roy Hartle’s absence.
Away from the pitch Edwards’ interest in cricket remained keen and he opened the batting for Heaton CC for a number of years alongside Graham Ridding, son of the Bolton boss, Bill. Francis Lee and Eddie Hopkinson also regularly played in the team.
He joined Blackpool as an assistant trainer-coach and then moved on to Preston North End, where he served as first team coach.
Edwards worked at Plymouth and then accepted the job of manager at Bradford City, where he stayed for four years between 1971 and 1975.
He qualified as a physiotherapist and worked at Huddersfield Town and Leeds United before moving back to Bradford in a number of roles.
He continued to live in the Bradford area but fell into ill health in recent years.
Edwards’ passing means there are now just three surviving members of the 1958 team; Tommy Banks, Doug Holden and Brian Birch.
He is survived by wife Jean, two sons and grandchildren.
Details of the funeral will be announced in due course.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/14571303.Wanderers__1958_FA_Cup_winner_Bryan_Edwards_passes_away_at_age_of_85/
RIP.
Sixth on the club’s all-time appearance list, Edwards played 518 times and would undoubtedly have played more had he not been called up for National Service in 1952.
The Leeds-born wing-half signed professional forms on his 17th birthday after being spotted playing for Oulton Youth Club, and also had trials for Yorkshire Cricket Club.
A one-club man, he made his debut in a 3-3 draw with Liverpool in September, 1950, and became a regular in the team by the end of that season.
It is often said his military stint cost him a place in the 1953 FA Cup final side beaten by Blackpool but a broken leg sustained in a game at Portsmouth also played its part.
He recovered, regaining his place from Eric Bell at the start of the 1954-55 and missed just two games in the next four years.
His deflected pass set up Nat Lofthouse for the first goal against Manchester United at Wembley in 1958, after which he helped the Whites achieve their highest-ever league finish of fourth in the following season.
Nicknamed “Slim” for his slender statue, Edwards switched to centre-half later in his career after the emergence of Warwick Rimmer and Graham Stanley, reaching the 500 mark in a goalless draw against Ipswich Town in January 1965. He also captained the club on several occasions in the 1960s in Roy Hartle’s absence.
Away from the pitch Edwards’ interest in cricket remained keen and he opened the batting for Heaton CC for a number of years alongside Graham Ridding, son of the Bolton boss, Bill. Francis Lee and Eddie Hopkinson also regularly played in the team.
He joined Blackpool as an assistant trainer-coach and then moved on to Preston North End, where he served as first team coach.
Edwards worked at Plymouth and then accepted the job of manager at Bradford City, where he stayed for four years between 1971 and 1975.
He qualified as a physiotherapist and worked at Huddersfield Town and Leeds United before moving back to Bradford in a number of roles.
He continued to live in the Bradford area but fell into ill health in recent years.
Edwards’ passing means there are now just three surviving members of the 1958 team; Tommy Banks, Doug Holden and Brian Birch.
He is survived by wife Jean, two sons and grandchildren.
Details of the funeral will be announced in due course.
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/14571303.Wanderers__1958_FA_Cup_winner_Bryan_Edwards_passes_away_at_age_of_85/
RIP.
