{{short description|English association football player (born 1989)}} {{use British English|date=July 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Preston Edwards | image = File:Preston Edwards, goalkeeper, April 2016.jpg | caption = Edwards playing for Dulwich Hamlet in 2016 | fullname = Preston Matthew Edwards<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/RulesandRegulations/~/media/Files/PDF/TheFA/PlayerRegistrations/October%202009.ashx/October%202009.pdf |title=List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/10/2009 and 31/10/2009 |publisher=The Football Association |page=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012024418/http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/RulesandRegulations/~/media/Files/PDF/TheFA/PlayerRegistrations/October%202009.ashx/October%202009.pdf |archive-date=12 October 2012}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|9|5|df=y}} | birth_place = Cheshunt, England<ref name="Hugman 2008-09">{{cite book | editor-last = Hugman | editor-first = Barry J. | title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09 | publisher = Mainstream | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-1-84596-324-8}}</ref> | height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}<ref name="Hugman 2008-09"/> | position = Goalkeeper | currentclub = Dulwich Hamlet | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2006–2009 | years2 = 2009 | years3 = 2009–2010 | years4 = 2010–2016 | years5 = 2015–2016 | years6 = 2016 | years7 = 2016–2020 | years8 = 2020 | years9 = 2020 | years10 = 2020 | years11 = 2020–2022 | years12 = 2022–2023 | years13 = 2023 | years14 = 2023– | clubs1 = Millwall | clubs2 = → Dover Athletic (loan) | clubs3 = Grays Athletic | clubs4 = Ebbsfleet United | clubs5 = → Boreham Wood (loan) | clubs6 = → Dulwich Hamlet (loan) | clubs7 = Dulwich Hamlet | clubs8 = → Cheshunt (loan) | clubs9 = Dartford | clubs10 = Brentwood Town | clubs11 = Braintree Town | clubs12 = Cheshunt | clubs13 = Potters Bar Town | clubs14 = Dulwich Hamlet | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0 | caps2 = 13 | goals2 = 0 | caps3 = 20 | goals3 = 0 | caps4 = 174 | goals4 = 0 | caps5 = 6 | goals5 = 0 | caps6 = 12 | goals6 = 0 | caps7 = 123 | goals7 = 0 | caps8 = 2 | goals8 = 0 | caps9 = 0 | goals9 = 0 | caps10 = 3 | goals10 = 0 | caps11 = 12 | goals11 = 0 | caps12 = 14 | goals12 = 0 | caps13 = 10 | goals13 = 0 | caps14 = 0 | goals14 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2006 | nationalyears2 = 2006 | nationalyears3 = 2011 | nationalteam1 = England U17 | nationalteam2 = England U18 | nationalteam3 = England C | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalcaps2 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalcaps3 = 1 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | club-update = 17:05, 9 October 2023 (UTC) }} '''Preston Matthew Edwards''' (born 5 September 1989) is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Dulwich Hamlet.
==Club career== On 4 September 2007, Edwards made his first professional appearance for Millwall when coming on as a sub against Swansea City in the Football League Trophy first round.
In January 2009, he joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Dover Athletic on loan after an injury to the club's first-choice goalkeeper, John Whitehouse. He made his debut in a 0–0 draw against local rivals Ramsgate. Whilst at Dover Athletic, he helped them secure the title and promotion to the Conference South. On 22 June 2009, he rejected a new one-year deal from Millwall, and was therefore out of contract and released.<ref name="Edwards leaves Lions">{{cite news | title = Edwards leaves Lions | url = https://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12875_5396541,00.html | publisher = Sky Sports | date = 22 June 2009 | accessdate = 23 June 2009}}</ref>
At the start of the 2009–10 season, Edwards signed for Grays Athletic along with eight other players.<ref name="Grays sign nine players in a day">{{cite news | title = Grays sign nine players in a day | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/grays_athletic/8186119.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 5 August 2009 | access-date = 7 August 2009}}</ref> On 24 March 2010, Edwards played in a behind closed doors reserve match for Crystal Palace against Millwall.<ref name="Crystal Palace Res. 2-1 Millwall Res.">{{cite web |url=http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10323~2002991,00.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308212301/http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10323~2002991,00.html |archivedate=8 March 2012 |title=Crystal Palace Res. 2-1 Millwall Res. |publisher= Crystal Palace FC|date=25 March 2010 |accessdate=12 October 2013}}</ref> He was released at the end of the 2009–10 season.
Edwards signed for Ebbsfleet United on 28 July 2010, after a successful trial period.<ref name="The new Fleet number one ">{{cite web |url=http://www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=897:the-new-fleet-number-one&catid=63:headline-news |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724153729/http://www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=897:the-new-fleet-number-one&catid=63:headline-news |archivedate=24 July 2011 |title=The new Fleet number one |publisher= Ebbsfleet FC|date=28 July 2010|accessdate=12 October 2013}}</ref>
He became a YouTube sensation in February 2011, racking up over eight million views (as of late June 2014), after being sent off just ten seconds into a 3–0 defeat to Farnborough.<ref name="The fastest red card ever! Preston Edwards (Ebbsfleet United) vs Farnborough">{{cite news | title = YouTube video of the incident | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEVlW3g7gW0 | accessdate = 15 February 2011}}</ref> This is believed to be a record for a goalkeeper.<ref name="Web stardom befalls Ebbsfleet keeper Preston Edwards">{{cite news | title = BBC Sport article | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/9398401.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 15 February 2011 | access-date = 15 February 2011}}</ref> Despite this setback, Preston became a fan favourite amongst club fans and a key asset for the club. After promotion, Preston asserted himself as Ebbsfleet number one before an ankle injury cut his season short. Despite the club finishing second bottom of the Conference Premier in the 2012–13 season, Edwards drew praise from many{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} for his performances throughout the season and went on to dominate the club's end of season awards ceremony, winning a large majority of the trophies on offer including the Players player of the year and the Fans player of the year award. Although it was rumoured{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} that his services were wanted by John Still, the recently appointed manager of Luton Town, Edwards signed a new contract with the club, keeping him on for the 2013–14 season.
Edwards continued as the club's first-choice goalkeeper for the 2013–14 season and was kept on for the 2014-15 campaign. During that season, his spot as the club's first choice goalkeeper was challenged by Brandon Hall. Manager Jamie Day brought him back into the team for the FA Trophy clash with Forest Green Rovers on 10 January in which he helped secure a 1–0 win. Edwards made his 200th appearance for the club in the 2–2 draw with Hemel Hempstead Town in late February.
Ahead of the 2015–16 season, Edwards joined newly promoted National League side Boreham Wood on a season-long loan deal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/wood-bring-england-c-keeper-in-on-loan-40798/|title = Wood Bring England C Keeper in on Loan|date = 17 July 2015}}</ref> However the deal was cut short with Edwards making only six league appearances, and he went on to join Isthmian League Premier Division side Dulwich Hamlet on loan on 20 February 2016 for the remainder of the season.<ref name="Edwards Joins on Loan">{{cite news | url = https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/dulwichhamlet/news/edwards-joins-on-loan-1570487.html | title = Edwards Joins on Loan | accessdate = 20 February 2016}}</ref>
With his contract at Ebbsfleet expiring, Edwards signed for Dulwich Hamlet ahead of the 2016–17 season,<ref name="Edwards Arrives For Keeps">{{cite news | url = https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/dulwichhamlet/news/edwards-arrives-for-keeps-1622512.html | title = Edwards Arrives For Keeps | accessdate = 30 May 2016}}</ref> going on to make 66 appearances in all competitions in his first full season at the club.
In January 2022, Edwards returned to Cheshunt having spent time with the club on loan in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cheshuntfc.com/2022/01/16/fa-trophy-4th-round-report/|title=FA Trophy 4th Round Report|website=cheshuntfc.com|date=15 January 2022|accessdate=19 January 2022}}</ref> At the end of the season, he signed for Potters Bar Town.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/pottersbartownfc/news/edwards-signs-2784725.html|title=Edwards signs|publisher=Potters Bar Town F.C.|date=10 June 2023|accessdate=12 June 2023}}</ref>
On 7 October 2023, Edwards' return to Dulwich Hamlet was announced.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/dulwichhamlet/news/welcome-home-preston-edwards-2809088.html|title=Welcome Home Preston Edwards|publisher=Dulwich Hamlet F.C.|date=7 October 2023|accessdate=9 October 2023}}</ref>
==International career== In October 2010 Edwards was called up to the England C team for the first time.<ref name="Ebbsfleet stopper rewarded with England C call-up">{{cite news| url = http://www.kentnews.co.uk/sport/fleet_stopper_gets_england_call_up_1_943623| title = Fleet stopper gets England call-up| accessdate = 12 October 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131014201104/http://www.kentnews.co.uk/sport/fleet_stopper_gets_england_call_up_1_943623| archive-date = 14 October 2013| url-status = dead}}</ref>
==Family== His sister Steph reached the final of the 2013 series of ''Britain's Got Talent'' as part of the band Luminites.<ref>{{citation|date=9 June 2013|work=The Non-League Paper|page=19|title=You'll Need Some Talent to Impress Edwards!}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 30 September 2023}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="3"|Millwall | 2007–08<ref name="SB">{{Cite news |title=Games played by Preston Edwards in 2007/2008 |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=44560&season_id=137 |publisher=Soccerbase |accessdate=18 October 2020}}</ref> |League One |1||0||0||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="FLT">Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy</ref>||0||2||0 |- | 2008–09<ref name="SB"/> |League One |0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||2||0 |- |rowspan="1"|Dover Athletic (loan) | 2008–09 |Isthmian League Premier Division |13||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||13||0 |- |rowspan="1"|Grays Athletic | 2009–10<ref name="SW">{{Cite news |title=P. Edwards |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/preston-edwards/50997/ |publisher=Soccerway |accessdate=18 October 2020}}</ref> |Conference Premier |20||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||20||0 |- |rowspan="7"|Ebbsfleet United | 2010–11<ref name="SW"/> |Conference South |41||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="FAT">Appearance(s) in FA Trophy</ref>||0||46||0 |- | 2011–12<ref name="SW"/> |Conference Premier |31||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="FAT"/>||0||35||0 |- | 2012–13<ref name="SW"/> |Conference Premier |43||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="FAT"/>||0||46||0 |- | 2013–14<ref name="SW"/> |Conference South |44||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="FAT"/>||0||49||0 |- | 2014–15<ref name="SW"/> |Conference South |15||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||4<ref group=lower-alpha name="FAT"/>||0||19||0 |- | 2015–16<ref name="SW"/> |National League South |0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !174||0||8||0||colspan="2"|—||13||0||195||0 |- |rowspan="1"|Boreham Wood (loan) | 2015–16<ref name="SW"/> |National League |6||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||7||0 |- |rowspan="1"|Dulwich Hamlet (loan) | 2015–16<ref name="15/16">{{Cite news |title=Dulwich Hamlet – Appearances – Preston Edwards – 2015-2016 |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/dulwich-hamlet/appearances/2015-2016/preston-edwards/44849 |publisher=Football Web Pages |accessdate=18 October 2020}}</ref> |Isthmian League Premier Division |12||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="ILP">Appearance(s) in Isthmian League Premier Division play-offs</ref>||0||14||0 |- |rowspan="5"|Dulwich Hamlet | 2016–17<ref name="16/17">{{Cite news |title=Dulwich Hamlet – Appearances – Preston Edwards – 2016-2017 |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/dulwich-hamlet/appearances/2016-2017/preston-edwards/44849 |publisher=Football Web Pages |accessdate=18 October 2020}}</ref> |Isthmian League Premier Division |44||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||17<ref group=lower-alpha>Five appearances in Alan Turvey Trophy, ten in FA Trophy, two in Isthmian League Premier Division play-offs</ref>||0||63||0 |- | 2017–18<ref name="17/18">{{Cite news |title=Dulwich Hamlet – Appearances – Preston Edwards – 2017-2018 |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/dulwich-hamlet/appearances/2017-2018/preston-edwards/44849 |publisher=Football Web Pages |accessdate=18 October 2020}}</ref> |Isthmian League Premier Division |34||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||3<ref group=lower-alpha>One appearance in Alan Turvey Trophy, two in FA Trophy</ref>||0||39||0 |- | 2018–19<ref name="SW"/> |National League South |40||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||3<ref group=lower-alpha name="FAT"/>||0||45||0 |- | 2019–20<ref name="SW"/> |National League South |5||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||2<ref group=lower-alpha name="FAT"/>||0||7||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !123||0||6||0||colspan="2"|—||25||0||154||0 |- |rowspan="1"|Cheshunt (loan) | 2019–20<ref name="19/20">{{Cite news |title=Cheshunt – Appearances – Preston Edwards – 2019-2020 |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/cheshunt/appearances/2019-2020/preston-edwards/44849 |publisher=Football Web Pages |accessdate=18 October 2020}}</ref> |Isthmian League Premier Division |2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||2||0 |- |rowspan="1"|Dartford | 2019–20<ref name="SW"/> |National League South |0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0||0||0 |- |rowspan="1"|Brentwood Town | 2020–21<ref name="20/21">{{Cite news |title=Brentwood Town – Appearances – Preston Edwards |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/brentwood-town/appearances/preston-edwards/44849 |publisher=Football Web Pages |accessdate=18 October 2020}}</ref> |Isthmian League North Division |3||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||6||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Braintree Town | 2020–21<ref name="SW"/> |National League South |6||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0||6||0 |- | 2021–22<ref name="SW"/> |National League South |6||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||7||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !12||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||13||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Cheshunt | 2021–22<ref>{{Cite news |title=Cheshunt – Appearances – Preston Edwards |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/cheshunt/appearances/preston-edwards/935808 |publisher=Football Web Pages |accessdate=19 January 2022}}</ref> |Isthmian League Premier Division |18||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||5<ref group=lower-alpha>One appearance in the FA Trophy, two in the Alan Turvey Trophy, two in the Isthmian League Premier Division play-offs</ref>||0||23||0 |- | 2022–23<ref name="SW"/><ref>For FA Cup Second Qualifying Round: {{Cite news |title=Emirates FA Cup Second Qualifying Round – Cheshunt 3 - 1 St Neots Town |url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2022-2023/fa-cup/cheshunt/st-neots-town/424817 |publisher=Football Web Pages |accessdate=2 May 2023}}</ref> |National League South |14||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||15||0 |- !colspan=2|Total !32||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||5||0||38||0 |- |Potters Bar Town |2023–24<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/potters-bar-town/appearances/preston-edwards/935808|title=Potters Bar Town – Appearances – Preston Edwards|website=www.footballwebpages.co.uk|accessdate=9 October 2023}}</ref> |Isthmian League Premier Division |10||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||11||0 |- !colspan=3|Career total !408||0||21||0||0||0||46||0||475||0 |}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==Honours== ;Ebbsfleet United Conference South play-off winners: 2010–2011
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}} *[http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/dulwichhamlet/teams/56196/player/preston-edwards-1651513 Preston Edwards] at Dulwich Hamlet F.C.
{{Dulwich Hamlet F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Preston}} Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:People from Cheshunt Category:English men's footballers Category:England men's youth international footballers Category:England men's semi-pro international footballers Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Millwall F.C. players Category:Dover Athletic F.C. players Category:Grays Athletic F.C. players Category:Ebbsfleet United F.C. players Category:Boreham Wood F.C. players Category:Dulwich Hamlet F.C. players Category:Cheshunt F.C. players Category:Dartford F.C. players Category:Brentwood Town F.C. players Category:Braintree Town F.C. players Category:Potters Bar Town F.C. players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Isthmian League players Category:Footballers from Hertfordshire Category:21st-century English sportsmen