Bouncing Back: How Trevor Edwards guided the Town to Triumph after 3 years out of football

Article by George Kirk

It’s the last Saturday before Christmas. Most people are with their families or racing around for some last-minute gifts. This is not the case for Trevor Edwards and his teammates, who are battling the cold in Leicestershire, as Nuneaton Town take on Birstall United in the Capelli Midland Football League Division One. 

Darting up and down the line at right back, a rendition of the 12 days of Christmas rings out from the stand-but this one is a bit different. “Six TREVOR EDWARDS, FIIIIVE TREVOR EDWARDS, FOUR TREVOR EDWARDS, THREE TREVOR EDWARDS, TWO TREVOR EDWARDS AND A TREVOR EDWARDS”. 

The grafting right-back turns around and can’t hold in his smile. There standing behind the goal are around 50 travelling Town fans dressed in nativity-themed costumes wearing Trevor Edwards masks. 

This is the story of how Trevor Edwards came back into football after three years, and helped guide Nuneaton Town to a first league title in 26 years, becoming a fan favourite in the process.

Getting stuck in - Trevor makes a smart tackle to deny his opponent.

Trevor Edwards has always been a battling, hardworking player even before joining the Town. Spending 12 years at Midland Premier League side Highgate United, captaining them for four seasons.

He was always a regular on the team sheet, winning the Midland Football League Division One during the 2014/2015 season. A much-loved figure at the club, who always gave it his all on the pitch.

After coming out of Covid, the Birmingham based side were full of optimism going into the 2021/2022 season, with Edwards ready for the challenge ahead.

The 29-year-old didn’t know this at the start of the 20/21 season – but this was his last at Highgate.

He left that season – after the crushing death of club captain and close friend Sam Oji.

Oji was 35, a former Birmingham City/Leyton Orient centre-back and a key figure in the dressing room. Cultured, dedicated, classy. A true professional. The type of player everyone looked up to.

“He was the strongest, fittest player you’ll ever meet and the nicest person ever.” Trevor says.

Edwards was rocked by the incident, completely changing his view on the game. Things just weren’t the same on the pitch. There was a real close bond in the team between himself, defender Corey Currithers 33’, and Sam.

Trevor with Corey Currithers

That buzz for the game had gone away.

“I’d just had enough,” says Edwards. “I wasn’t enjoying it anymore. With having children myself I decided to take a break and focus on my running. I didn’t miss it one bit.”

He spent the next three years focusing on his passion for trial running and spending time with his family. Filling his weekends with treks and adventures, he had been given a new lease of life taking a step back from the game, focusing on the things that meant the most to him. Until one day, everything changed.

After three years out of the game, Trevor’s interest was sparked when former Highgate boss, Russell Dodd, was appointed co-manager of the newly- established club Nuneaton Town. The pair had previously worked together during the 2019/2020 season and had established a decent relationship.

“I couldn’t believe Russ got the job. I thought, ‘Bloody hell - how’s he got that?’ I rang him up. He wouldn’t have rung me because everyone thought I was finished,” Trevor says.

“You’re out of everyone’s mind when you’ve been out the game for so long. To be fair I just said is there any chance I can come along. One to see if I can still play, and two to see if I still enjoy it.”

He got a chance. Nothing signed. But the opportunity to prove himself in pre-season and see if he’d still got it. At the time, Nuneaton were already keen on signing former team-mate and friend Corey Currithers, who eventually signed for the season.

“I was grateful he gave me the opportunity. He could have turned me away and said no you haven’t kicked a ball,” says Trevor.

“Luckily at the end of pre-season it worked out, it could have gone either way. We probably did it the right way, where nothing was agreed.”

With the resilient Brummie signed up, the first game of the Midland Football League Division One season was a matter of weeks away against Birmingham based Paget Rangers. A massive game for Trevor returning to competitive action. It turned out to be a game the 33-year-old will never forget.

“We’ve never had that type of support. I remember me and Corey in the tunnel, we’ve turned to each other and gone ‘This is what it’s all about’. We’d never played in front of a crowd like that I remember both of us thinking ‘we wish we’d have done this sooner’.” says Edwards.

A 5-1 win, not a bad way to kick-off the season. This set the trend for things to come as Nuneaton went on a sensational run, only losing one of the first 20 competitive outings. Trevor started every game.

He put in the hard yards at right back, never afraid to make a tackle, making it a nightmare for wingers to get past him, as all those years of running kept his stamina high. It didn’t take long for him to win the fans over, gaining an almost cult-like following.

“I remember being at old at Boldmere’s ground playing Smethwick Rangers. I’m in the warmup before the game and all I can here is ‘There’s a star man running down the line, his name is Trevor Edwards, and he’s dynamite.’ I turned to the lads and said, ‘bloody hell I’ve got a song’. I loved it”.

As the weeks went by, fans got more and more creative with their support for the reliable right back.

“My kids were at a game at Birstall United, and there were about 40 fans behind the goal with masks of my face on, dressed as characters from the nativity, singing a rendition of the 12 days of Christmas but with my name instead. All I hear is ‘SIX TREVOR EDWARDS, FIVE TREVOR EDWARDS, FOUR TREVOR EDWARDS, THREE TREVOR EDWARDS, TWO TREVOR EDWARDS, ONE TREVOR EDWARDS’ It was unbelievable.” chuckles Trevor.

“I can’t stop laughing I’ve never experienced anything like anywhere. It’s unreal and gives you a proper boost. It means so much to the team having the backing that they give us”.

The relationship between Edwards and the fans has not just blossomed on the pitch, but off it as well, with his wife and children also having a special bond with the supporters.

“My kids love it, especially my three-year old George, he’s on the pitch after every game, my wife Kelly is there most games, she’s only missed four all season. All the fans look after them.” says the reliable right-back.

“There was a game the other week and some of the supporters picked Kelly up and took her to the game. I think that’s just lovely. My whole family have loved it.”

The support seems to have worked wonders for the right-back, wrapping up the Midland League Division One title on the 22nd of March, winning 3-1 at Kirby Muxloe. An incredible achievement for the fan favourite after such a period out the game.

“It was a special day! Our focus was completely on the game, nobody was getting ahead of themselves. We just knew we needed to get the job done and carry the momentum forward.” says Edwards.

“Everyone thought Heather were going to win. We didn’t celebrate too much because we expected to win. We’ve got an end of season getaway to Ibiza to celebrate”.

Despite title triumph, everyone is still focused as two games remain, including a Midweek Floodlit Cup Final against Cradley Town at Walsall’s Poundland Bescot Stadium.

“We’ve lost 2 all season that’s how we want it to end. Nobody has taken the foot off the gas; we want to keep winning.”

One question on every fans lips is will we see a Trevor goal before the end of the season?

“I’ve got to start shooting a bit more. I already know the pressure is there from the fans. My main goal is to play every single game this season, from not playing at all to playing every single game is some achievement.” says Trevor.

“Don’t get me wrong I’d love a goal. Otherwise, I’ll be putting £200 into the back to Nuneaton fund, which I’d be more than happy to do.”

After being given a second chance in the game, Trevor is ambitious about the future and wants to give back to the club that helped him comeback. With the fans bringing back his love for the game.

“I’ve got to go away and get sharp for the next season. My main aim is to play and go into coaching in the future. Anything to stay with the club really. If that club needed me to do anything, I’d be more than happy to do it especially for the fans.”