Gareth Edwards in action against Guilsfield (Lead Image by John Pickles
Playing in the JD Cymru Leagues for 15 years, Gareth Edwards (or Gaz as he is known to his peers) has certainly had more than one or two experiences in Welsh domestic football.
However, the journey all started for the centre-half in the West Cheshire Leagues.
Edwards got asked to play at Upton FC where he excelled to then get asked to play in the Welsh system.
“I came back from university and got asked to play at Upton FC, played with some lads I knew,” added Edwards.
“ I was new to the club and had a couple of seasons there, and one of the coaches I knew well asked me to go Buckley with him.”
Edwards played at the Globe for three campaigns in the second tier of Wales that was then known as the Cymru Alliance.
Europe with Cefn Druids
A move to Cefn Mawr soon followed as Edwards signed for Cefn Druids. That Summer the 38-year-old got straight in to play European football with Druids, after the Wrexham based side won the European play-offs in the Cymru Premier to make it into the Europa League qualifying.
The Ancients were drawn against MYPA in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League in the 2012-13.
Edwards recognises it as one of his finest moments in his career to play European football despite the outcome over the two legs.
“Playing for Cefn Druids for Europe was one of my best experiences.
“We got a 0-0 at the Racecourse Ground and got “tonked” 5-0 in Finland.
“It was just the experience flying out as a club and playing in a European Competion.
“They left a few of their players at home for the away leg, we honestly believed that we had an opportunity!
“This was like a new team we were playing against, honest, fit, and professional players.
Like Buckley, Edwards spent three years at Druids where there would be no more European, however it was successive seasons in Wales’ top domestic flight.
Caernarfon Town
The next stop in Edwards’ career was where he spent his longest time as a move to the north west Wales coast happened.
Caernarfon Town was a football club that became very special to Edwards as he became club captain overtime there. It was also where Edwards spent the majority of his career, seven in total.
In January 2019, Caernarfon ended up drawing Bangor City away in the Welsh Cup in what was a hotly anticipated derby. The match turned out to be Edwards’ finest moment in his career as he describes.
“My defining moment was scoring the winning goal against Bangor.
“Knowing the rivalry that the club had against Bangor it was a big day.
“There was a lot of pressure on us to go to there and get a result with Crowther crossing it in with me heading it in, that was probably my best moment in football.
“I had some really good times at Caernarfon great people, great club.”
Just last season after a long tenure with the Cofi’s, Edwards moved on and be closer to home and so made the switch to the Wingmakers at the start of this season.
Airbus UK Broughton
“The club (Airbus UK Broughton) tried to sign me a few seasons before when I was at Caernarfon, I didn’t want to leave when I was captain then.
“Playing with Jamie Crowther at Caernarfon and we car shared and then he came here as a coach it felt like the natural thing to do, it is on my doorstep.
“The club has got a rich pedigree of playing in Europe.
“It was just an attractive proposition that I couldn’t turn down with the stage I am at in my career and also, I wanted to be closer to home.
“I have got the beauty of taking my kids to do whatever they want to do on a Saturday morning with drama clubs and sport clubs and still get to games as well which is great.”
This season has had key results at away matches where the team has come from behind.
Champions performances including a winning consistency has been a major reason why Airbus have ended as the JD Cymru North victors and promotion as Edwards describes.
“That consistency has been good, just seeing out results when we needed to, winning away at Llandudno after going down to ten men early on in the game has got to be up there and Holyhead away, 1-0 down and coming back to win 2-1.
“I have had some really positive experiences; it had been good.”
Looking ahead to the future, as Airbus are heading back up the Cymru Premier it is a big commitment for any player to be travelling across Wales for matches.
Edwards is set to look ahead to the upcoming campaign and see it is right for him to be playing at the top level once more.
“I will have a sit down with my family, it is a big commitment next season and see whether I can commit to the club in which quite rightly I should be.”
Whatever happens in years to come, Edwards reflects on a career that he is very happy with.
The three-time Cymru North champion describes how he has been able to make the most out of his time.
“I didn’t ever think there would be a defining moment where I think I would be a semi-professional footballer.
“When you get older and mature as a person and as a player, you realise that you know what your good at.
“Do not try and pretend anything you’re not because you will get found out.
“If you stick to what your good at in particular, for me it was heading it and defending and tackling, then you have got half a chance, I have maximised my ability.
“Looking back I don’t think I could have played higher up.
“I’ve represented many Welsh clubs, captained a big club in the Welsh Premier League, played in Europe.
“Every opportunity that I have had, I’ve taken.”
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