Date / Year of birth: 12th May 1972

Position: Sweeper / Centre-back

Season of first appearance: 1996/97

Season of last appearance: 2005/06

Also played for: Fisher Athletic, Sutton United, Tooting & Mitcham United, Erith Town and VCD Athletic

Intelligent defender born in Paddington, London who started his career with Fisher. Bill made his first team debut during the 1989/90 campaign and stayed with the Fish until the end of 1991/92.

He joined Sutton in the 1992 close season before moving on to Tooting & Mitcham in the summer of 1994.

He scored twice in 84 appearances for Tooting during the 1994/95 and 1995/96 seasons before rejoining Sutton early in 1996.

Bill took his total career appearances for Sutton to 49 before joining Margate in the summer of 1996.

He caught the eye during Margate's pre-season friendlies and in July 1996 the Thanet Times wrote that Bill seemed to be "the kind of player who could put many a centre-forward in his place". He made his debut on 17.8.96 - the opening day of the 1996/97 campaign - as Margate beat Yate 4-1 at Hartsdown Park. It was Chris Kinnear's first match as manager and Bill played in a defensive midfield role wearing what became his trademark number four shirt. Later in August the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Bill was "a very good capture" and a few weeks into the season he started playing as a sweeper, quickly making the role his own with his positional awareness and knack for reading the game. The Thanet Times said he was "the outstanding player on the field" in a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Aldershot on 19.10.96 and felt that Bill had another "outstanding" game in a 2-1 win at Havant on 7.12.96. In Margate's next match on 11.12.96 Bill scored his first goal for the club when his speculative 25-yard effort was fumbled into the net by future Charlton keeper Sasa Ilic as Margate lost 3-2 at St.Leonards Stamcroft.

Bill was ever-present until missing a game at Weymouth on 11.1.97 due to getting married. On 8.2.97 he headed an own goal in a 2-1 home defeat against Weymouth but Bill continued to turn in impressive performances and the Thanet Times described him as being "commanding in the middle" during a 1-0 win at Waterlooville on 22.3.97. The papers report on a 3-0 win over Fleet at Hartsdown Park on 5.4.97 said that Bill was "dependable" and he ended the campaign having scored once in 46 appearances. He won both the players' and supporters' 'Player of the Year' awards for the season and in May 1997 the Gazette noted that "for many supporters he was the outstanding player on the books".

Bill started the 1997/98 campaign in fine form once again and the Isle of Thanet Gazette reported that he "never put a foot wrong" in a 2-0 win over Baldock at Hartsdown Park on 23.9.97. The Thanet Times said he "superbly marshalled" the defence in a 4-0 home win over Harrow on 27.9.97 and felt that Bill was "once again outstanding" as Margate beat Deal 2-1 at Hartsdown on 11.10.97. The paper also referred to him as being "composed".

On 16.11.97 Bill played as Margate lost 2-1 at home to Fulham in an FA Cup 1st Round tie shown live on Sky Sports and was unlucky when a Richard Carpenter shot struck him and looped into the net for the Cottagers' equalizing goal. The Thanet Times said Bill was "absolutely superb" and he also caught the eye of the national press as The Independent noted that he "came to the rescue on numerous occasions".

Bill continued to earn rave reviews as the season progressed and the Thanet Times said he was "commanding" in a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Fareham on 22.11.97. The paper said he "starred" in a 4-1 win at Witney on 20.12.97 and felt that Bill was "immaculate" during a 1-0 win over Fisher at Hartsdown Park on 1.1.98. That particular description soon became a favourite of the local press. The praise continued and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Bill "reigned supreme in the middle" of the defence as Margate thrashed St.Leonards Stamcroft 4-0 at Hartsdown on 6.1.98. He turned in another great performance in a famous 1-0 FA Trophy win at holders Woking on 10.1.98. The Thanet Times said Bill "always seemed to be Woking's principal stumbling block in the heart of the rearguard" whilst the Gazette noted that he "made many a timely interception".

On 7.4.98 Bill was in the side that beat Redditch 2-0 in the 1st Leg of the Southern League Cup Final at Hartsdown Park and on 18.4.98 he scored with a 35-yard effort in a 3-0 win at Fareham. The Thanet Times' match report for the game had the headline 'Edwards hits a long-range wonder goal'. The paper said Bill "volleyed a screaming shell of a shot into the roof of the net" after controlling a miscued clearance and described the strike as a "goal of rare quality". A few days later - on 21.4.98 - he played in a 1-0 defeat at Redditch in the 2nd Leg of the Southern League Cup Final and the Gazette said Bill "marshaled his men so well that Redditch were restricted to only a handful of chances". Despite the defeat Margate won 2-1 on aggregate to claim the trophy.

Later in April 1998 Bill was named as the supporters' 'Player of the Year' for the second year running and on 4.5.98 he featured as Margate beat Gravesend & Northfleet 1-0 at Stonebridge Road to win the Kent Senior Cup. In total he made 61 appearances during the campaign, scoring once.

In May 1998 he signed a new long-term contract and Bill went on to be ever-present during the 1998/99 season which saw Margate promoted to the Southern League Premier Division. The Thanet Times said he was as "solid as ever" in a 3-1 defeat at Corby on 12.9.98 and "rarely found wanting" in a 2-0 win at Cirencester on 17.10.98. The Isle of Thanet Gazette reported that Bill had "a rare off game" as Margate drew 3-3 with Folkestone at Hartsdown Park on 10.11.98 but the local press were soon referring to him as being "commanding" once again. In its report on a 1-0 win at Yate on 6.2.99 the Thanet Times described Bill as being "ever reliable" and he ended a successful campaign having made 50 appearances without scoring.

Bill started the 1999/00 season in his usual number four shirt and the Thanet Times said he was "as composed as ever" in a 0-0 draw at Croydon in an FA Trophy tie on 9.10.99. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said he "remained unflappable throughout" the replay at Hartsdown Park on 12.10.99 which Margate won 5-0 and in December 1999 the Thanet Times praised Bill's "formidable central defensive pairing" with Tony Dixon. On 15.1.00 Bill was sent off for dissent in the last five minutes of a 3-0 defeat at Boston and the Gazette reported that he seemed "baffled" by the referee's decision. Having previously been ever-present Bill had to serve a two match suspension at the end of January / early February but he then resumed his defensive duties for the remainder of the campaign. At the end of the season the Thanet Times said he "showed massive composure in the sweeper role" and Bill made a total of 51 appearances (one as sub) to take his overall total for the club past 200. He didn't add to his goal tally.

Bill had mixed fortunes at the start of the 2000/01 campaign. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said he was "in top form" in a 2-1 win over Cambridge City at Hartsdown Park on 5.9.00 but on 9.9.00 he made what the Thanet Times said was "a rare mistake" in a 3-1 home defeat against Burton. Bill attempted a header back to keeper Lee Turner which fell short and led to a Burton goal but Chris Kinnear told the paper "you can't blame Bill Edwards because he has been brilliant for us". In its report on Margate's shock 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Banstead in the FA Cup on 30.9.00 the Thanet Times said Bill made "one of his rare forays into the top half of the pitch" and his performances continued to ooze authority. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said his "strength and guile in defence meant that Fisher's occasional second half counter-attacks were easily halted" as Margate lost 1-0 in London on 24.10.00 and in November Bill was selected for a Southern League X1 for a game against an FA X1 but the match was cancelled.

On 13.1.01 Margate pulled off a famous 2-1 win at Woking in the FA Trophy and the Thanet Times said Bill was "virtually faultless" at sweeper. He missed his only match of the season on 24.2.01 - a 1-0 home win over Tamworth - and by then Margate were battling it out with Burton for the Southern League Premier Division crown. The Gazette said Bill made a "brilliant goal-saving tackle" in a 4-0 win at Moor Green on 20.3.01 and he finished another impressive campaign having made 49 appearances (one as sub) without scoring. His consistency was a key factor in Margate winning the title and promotion to the Conference.

In the summer of 2001 Bill signed a new two-year contract and on 18.8.01 he played in Margate's first-ever Conference game - a 1-0 win at Boston. He was a fixture in the number four shirt as usual and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said he made a "crucial challenge" to prevent a certain goal in a 2-1 win at Yeovil on 9.10.01. In the return game with Yeovil at Hartsdown Park on 17.11.01 Bill blasted a rare goalscoring chance over the bar as Margate lost 1-0 and the Thanet Times said "the crowd was reminded why he plays sweeper as the ball flew towards Hartsdown Road. Further reminders were to come later in the game as Edwards put in yet another excellent defensive performance".

On 20.11.01 Bill played for an FA X1 against a Southern League X1 at Crawley in what was effectively a trial for the England semi-professional team and on 24.11.01 he missed Margate's trip to Morecambe as he was serving a one match ban. It was the only game Bill didn't play in during the whole of the 2001/02 season. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said he was "ever-dependable" during a 1-0 home defeat against Dover on Boxing Day and the Thanet Times said Bill made a "brilliant interception" to deny future Margate striker Rocky Baptiste a goal in a 2-1 win over Farnborough at Hartsdown Park on 5.1.02. The paper then said Bill was "faultless" during a 3-1 defeat at Stevenage on 2.3.02 and "immense at the back" in a 2-0 home win over Southport on 23.3.02.

As the campaign drew to a close he continued to impress and in its report on a 1-1 draw with visitors Forest Green on 1.4.02 the Isle of Thanet Gazette said Bill was "typically assured". The paper also mentioned an extremely rare sortie forward that took him to within 25 yards of the Forest Green goal. The Gazette said Bill's foray into the Forest Green half must have left him "suffering from at least severe dizziness, if not quite a nosebleed". He ended the season having made a total of 52 appearances without scoring.

Bill started the first five matches of the 2002/03 campaign and the Isle of Thanet Gazette described him as "dependable" in its report on a 1-1 draw at Kettering on 20.8.02. He missed a 2-2 draw with Barnet at Dover on 3.9.02 with a knee injury but returned to the side as Margate entertained Stevenage in a Conference game at their adopted home in Dover on 7.9.02. Somewhat bizarrely, given his less than prolific goalscoring record, Bill started the game in what the Thanet Times said was "the unlikely position of centre-forward" and early in the match he missed a chance to put Margate in front. The Nationwide football website said Bill "should have done better in the fifth minute when after beating the offside trap he dallied in front of goal" and he was eventually substituted at half-time. The Thanet Times said Bill had "worked hard in his new position, but the switch proved too much" and the match finished in a 1-1 draw.

Bill's knee problem then flared up again and he missed the next four games completely before returning as a substitute in a 1-0 win at Burton on 28.9.02. He made his first start for almost a month in a 1-0 defeat against Chester at Dover on 5.10.02. On 8.10.02 there was a "historic moment" according to the Isle of Thanet Gazette as Bill scored his first goal for well over four years in a 4-1 defeat at Farnborough. His free-kick from close to the halfway line sailed into the net without anybody else getting a touch. Bill was a regular in the side again after that and on 16.11.02 he played as Margate drew 1-1 at Leyton Orient in the 1st Round Proper of the FA Cup. He also played in the replay at Dover on 26.11.02 that Margate won 1-0 and the 3-0 defeat against Cardiff in the 2nd Round at Dover on 7.12.02.

On 25.1.03 Bill headed an own goal as Margate lost 4-1 at Forest Green and in its report on a 1-0 win at Barnet on 15.2.03 the Thanet Times said he was "ever-assured". The paper then described Bill as "excellent" in a 3-2 win at Hereford on 29.3.03. The Nationwide site said he was "outstanding" as Margate won 2-0 at Southport on 12.4.03 and Bill had his last outing of the campaign in a 3-1 win over Scarborough at Dover on 26.4.03, missing the Kent Senior Cup Final at Welling on 30.4.03. He made 44 appearances (one as sub) and scored once during the season.

In June 2003 Bill signed a new contract and around that time he had an operation to remove fluid from his knee which kept him out of the early part of the 2003/04 campaign. He had his first outing of the season in a friendly at Herne Bay in August 2003, a couple of weeks after the new Conference campaign began, before returning to first team duty as a late substitute in a 1-0 win at Halifax on 20.9.03. Over the course of the next month Bill made five more sub appearances as he gradually regained match fitness and in the meantime his place at sweeper was taken by New Zealand captain Chris Zoricich who'd recently joined the club. The last of Bill's sub appearances came in a 3-3 draw with Grays in an FA Cup replay at Ashford on 28.10.03 and the Isle of Thanet Gazette said he "put in an impressive performance in his adopted position of right wing-back".

Bill finally made his first start of the season in a 3-3 draw at Morecambe on 1.11.03 and again lined up at right wing-back in the absence of the injured Greg Oates. He made a few more appearances in the unfamiliar role up to the end of November before resuming his trademark sweeper duties as Chris Kinnear chose him ahead of Zoricich. The Times said he led the defence "impeccably" as Margate won 2-0 at Aldershot on 20.12.03 and Bill was a fixture in the side as usual after that. The Thanet Times' report on a 2-1 defeat at Gravesend & Northfleet on 1.1.04 said he was "in a rich vein of form". Bill continued to turn in impressive performances in the closing months of the campaign and the Thanet Times said he was "well in the running for man-of-the-match" in a 3-3 draw with Dagenham & Redbridge at Dover on 6.3.04. He sat out a Kent Senior Cup tie at Dover on 23.3.04 with an Achilles injury but it was the only game Bill missed after regaining his place and on 28.4.04 he was part of the Margate side that won 2-1 at Folkestone to claim the Kent Senior Cup. Bill made a total of 39 appearances (six as sub) without scoring during the season. In its round-up of the campaign the Isle of Thanet Gazette said "without any sort of pre-season after a knee operation, Gate legend Edwards marked his eighth season at sweeper by seeing off the challenge of New Zealand skipper Chris Zoricich and then getting back to his best by the end of the season".

Bill started Margate's first three matches of their debut Conference South campaign but on 21.8.04 he had to go off with a thigh problem during a 2-0 defeat at Dorchester. He missed a 6-0 defeat against Grays at Margate's new adopted home in Ashford on 24.8.04 due to the injury but returned to the side for a 2-1 win over Eastbourne at Ashford on 28.8.04. The Thanet Times described Bill as being "ever-influential".

On 14.9.04 he made his 400th appearance for Margate in a 7-3 defeat at Lewes and Bill became only the sixth player in the club's history to reach the landmark. Before Margate's next 'home' game at Ashford - a 2-1 win over Thurrock on 21.9.04 - he was presented with an engraved tankard by manager Chris Kinnear and on 24.9.04 the Isle of Thanet Gazette ran a feature on Bill.

The Gazette piece described him as being an "eternally bald-headed Hartsdown hero" and as Bill was 32 at the time he told the paper that he didn't think his body would stand the test of time long enough to reach 500 games like his fellow Margate legends Bob Harrop and Terry Joyce. Bill said it was an honour to reach 400 games and added "Eight years is a very long time - it's been interesting. We've achieved some good things, and there have been some important milestones for the club. Unfortunately the situation with the ground changed things on the pitch as well, so it's a case of rebuilding at the moment." Bill mentioned approaches from other clubs and said "I've had offers - but at the end of the day, I've been here long enough to see the bad and the good. I thought it was the right decision to stay and grind it out. Everyone finds somewhere they like to play, and I feel ok at Margate. I've stayed because I want to win leagues and cups, and I've been lucky enough to win bundles of both. The purpose of moving would only have been financial. For a number of years we played with virtually the same 11, so the club must have been quite good to play for. I'm happy to have stayed so long."

Recalling the start of his Margate career Bill said "I remember signing, and my first game was against West Ham in a friendly - it was a disappointment to lose 1-0. Chris Kinnear told me his plans and what he was looking to achieve, and we got on well from the start. We've just gone on together. It's been more good than bad since. I know what he wants from me, and I go out every week and try to do it for the manager and the fans. If the fans are happy, then we must be doing something right."

Thinking about the highlights of his time with Margate Bill told the Gazette "I'd go for the 1-0 wins away to Woking in the FA Trophy when they were two leagues above us, and at Boston in the first Conference game. I get more satisfaction from clean sheets than I do from winning games sometimes. I'm boring like that. Probably the most important result was the 0-0 draw with Newport County we needed to win the Premier Division. In the big FA Cup games we didn't win. You don't achieve anything unless you win it, and even if you're playing someone like Liverpool the result is what matters." Bill said that his favourite players to play alongside had been Iain O'Connell and Tony Dixon and that perhaps the best technically he'd played with was Eliot Martin.

The Gazette's article said "Edwards himself, though, deserves praise for his immaculate displays in the sweeper position over the years. In the lower divisions, he would frequently embarrass opposing attackers with his control, composure and speed of thought. He has remained one of the most solid and consistent defenders in both the Conference and now Nationwide South."

Looking to the future, Bill told the paper he would consider his at the end of the 2004/05 season and he said he hadn't ruled out moving into management later on - "I'd never say never, and it's something I'm interested in - but I'm enjoying playing at the moment. I'm sure Mr Kinnear will be here for a while to come, and maybe I'll cut my teeth somewhere else." The Gazette's piece concluded "whatever the rest of the season holds, it looks like there is still a lot more playing life to come in Bill Edwards".

By the time Margate lost 3-1 at Braintree in the FA Cup on 16.10.04 Bill had been back in the number four shirt for ten matches following his thigh injury but a hamstring problem then ruled him out of the next three games. He returned to the side for a 3-2 defeat at Walton & Hersham in the FA Trophy on 6.11.04 but suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury that forced Bill to miss six matches.

He made his comeback as a substitute in a 1-0 defeat at Hayes on 11.12.04 and Bill then returned to the starting line-up for a 3-0 defeat at Bishop's Stortford on 14.12.04 but his hamstring was still troubling him. He had to sit out Margate's next game and was then only fit enough to feature as a substitute in a 2-1 defeat against Welling at Ashford on 28.12.04. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said Bill "performed admirably despite playing through injury".

He was back in the side for the return game at Welling on 1.1.05 and Bill had to play as an orthodox centre-back, instead of at sweeper, as Margate lost 1-0. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said he was "assured" in a 3-1 win over Dagenham & Redbridge at Ashford in the Conference Cup on 25.1.05 and from then on Bill was a fixture in the defence once more, often filling in as a traditional centre-back due to Margate's lack of defenders. He only missed one match during the last three months of the season.

On 12.4.05 Bill was one of a group of players who tried to help his old team-mate Paul Sykes following his collapse playing for Folkestone against Margate that tragically led to his death.

On 30.4.05 Margate entertained Bishop's Stortford at Ashford in their last Conference South game of a campaign that ended in relegation to the Isthmian League Premier Division and the Thanet Times reported that Bill had his "annual shot at goal" as Margate won 1-0. The paper noted his effort "was off target". Bill rounded off the season by picking up his third Kent Senior Cup winners' medal after Margate beat Dover 2-1 at Folkestone on 2.5.05 in a match where all the proceeds went to Paul Sykes' family. In all Bill made 39 appearances during the campaign (two as sub) without scoring.

In August 2005 the Isle of Thanet Gazette published Chris Kinnear's thoughts about his squad ahead of the new Isthmian League campaign, Margate's first ever, and he said of Bill "In his testimonial season after 10 years at the club, he's done well for Margate over the years. He was with us when we last moved through the leagues."

Bill made his first appearance of the 2005/06 campaign on 13.8.05 when he came on as a substitute as Margate lost 2-0 at Ramsgate in a match played for the Kent Messenger Cup and on 20.8.05 he was back in the number four shirt as Margate took on Maldon in the clubs first game at the temporary version of Hartsdown Park. The Thanet Times said Bill "won all his headers" and he had a hand in Leon Braithwaite's strike that won the game 1-0 for Margate. In its report on a 0-0 draw with Redbridge at Hartsdown Park on 29.8.05 the Thanet Times described Bill as "a player you want at the heart of your defence" and said he "won everything". The paper also said "a goal-saving tackle in the first half" was "vintage stuff".

The Isle of Thanet Gazette said Bill "threw himself at everything when Fisher attacked" in its report on a 1-1 home draw with the Londoners on 6.9.05 and the Thanet Times said he was the "star of the show" in a 1-1 draw at Walton & Hersham on 1.10.05. Three days later Bill had to go off with an ankle injury 55 minutes into a 1-1 draw with Billericay at Hartsdown and the Thanet Times said he was a "Hartsdown hero" having attempted to continue after picking up the knock. The paper said "it was typical of the player that he tried to carry on" and Chris Kinnear said "He never comes off, so we are worried. He has a high pain threshold so if anyone will play it will be Bill. He's played with broken ribs and bad knocks in the past, that's the way he is, and he's been great for us this year." Bill's ankle problem ended up ruling him out of two matches but after returning in a 1-0 win over visitors Wealdstone on 22.10.05 he was a regular in the side again. The Thanet Times said he was "not troubled against a so-called top side" as Margate lost 1-0 at Braintree on 29.10.05.

On 22.11.05 Bill scored his first goal for over three years with a great header from a Dean Standen corner in a 1-1 draw with visitors Bromley and it was his first ever goal at Hartsdown Park in his 452nd outing for Margate. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said Bill "also got Gate fans going with a forward burst in the first half" before sending a "rasping 30-yard effort" just over in the closing stages. Chris Kinnear told the paper "He was disappointed his half-volley didn't go in...but he only scores once every 10 years. Bill scored from 40 yards against Sasa Ilic when he was at St.Leonards. He's referred to that a few times." The Gazette also said of Bill "could he be any more popular ?".

Incredibly in Margate's next game against Hampton & Richmond at Hartsdown Park on 26.11.05 Bill scored again - his second goal in four days. On 21 minutes he drove home a left-footed shot after James Donovan flicked on an Anthony Allman corner to set Margate on the road to a 3-2 win and Chris Kinnear told the Thanet Times "He said we can't keep relying on him to score, he's pleased with himself and rightly so. It's quite funny really." Before kick-off there had been a minute's applause for George Best who'd died the day before and the paper said "If Best's talent was rare, so is the sight of Bill Edwards scoring in successive matches".

Bill continued to be a fixture in the number four shirt for the next few months, sometimes playing as a centre-back, rather than at sweeper but on 11.2.06 he was sent off in the closing minutes of a 2-1 win at AFC Wimbledon. It was only the second red card of his Margate career and came over six years after his first. The Thanet Times said it was a case of Bill "putting his team first" as keeper Darren Behcet cleared the ball straight to a Wimbledon player who would have scored if Bill hadn't brought him down to prevent a goal. Chris Kinnear told the paper "The goalie was pretty upset, he blamed himself for Bill getting sent off - that's how much he cares. As the lads said, Bill took one for the team." Two weeks later he served a one match ban.

Bill was back in the side for a 1-0 defeat at Chelmsford on 3.3.06 and then featured in the next six games. On 11.3.06 he was expected to miss a home match against Windsor & Eton due to attending his sister's wedding and Chris Kinnear told the Isle of Thanet Gazette "He's really peed off about it. He's only got one sister, so he won't have to go to any more weddings." The game ended up being called off and by then Bill had changed his mind and would have played.

On 4.4.06 Bill lined up in the number four shirt for what turned out to be the final time as Margate took on Windsor & Eton at Hartsdown Park in a rearranged game. The match ended in a 1-1 draw and immediately afterwards Chris Kinnear was sacked as manager. New caretaker boss Robin Trott then switched Margate's formation from 5-3-2 to 4-4-2 which meant a sweeper wasn't required and Trott played alongside Hasim Deen and then James Donovan in the heart of the defence for the last five matches of the season, leaving Bill on the sidelines. Before his first game in charge Robin Trott told the Thanet Times "It was very tough but I phoned Bill on Friday and he backed me, which is really good." The new manager also said that Bill had been one of the players asking for the formation to be changed to a 4-4-2.

On 29.4.06 Bill made his 475th and final appearance for Margate when he came on as sub after 84 minutes of a 4-2 win over Hendon at Hartsdown Park. It was clearly a chance for Margate's fans to say goodbye to one of the clubs true legends. After the match Bill picked up the 'Supporters' Player of the Year' award for the third time but on 12.5.06 - the day of his 34th birthday - he was released. Bill had scored twice from 44 outings (two as sub) during 2005/06 and in all he'd played in almost 90% of Margate's 528 games since his debut at the start of the 1996/97 campaign.

Robin Trott, by then confirmed as Margate's permanent manager, spoke to the Thanet Times about Bill's departure and said "Bill's been a great servant to this club down the years, a real stalwart who's commanded an awful lot of respect from his team-mates and opponents alike. When I spoke to him a week or so ago, he wasn't too sure what he was planning to do and he hadn't made any plans to join another club. At 34, I guess he's coming towards the end of his career, but if he decides to carry on playing he certainly won't be short of offers. Bill's certainly got at least two good years in him yet and it's a shame he won't be spending them at Margate, but we wish him well with whatever the future has in store for him." Trott also told the KM Extra "It was a sad time having to tell Billy my decision, but he's a man's man and was fine."

Margate director Keith Piper told the KM Extra "Bill has been a massive player for Margate, totally loyal and committed, the sort of player every club hopes to sign. He has been an outstanding servant." He also spoke to the Isle of Thanet Gazette and said "When Bill put pen to paper, you always knew what you were getting. Total honesty, total commitment and total professionalism. When Bill stages his testimonial game, I'm hoping that as many people as possible turn up to pay tribute to a man who was not only a great ambassador to Margate FC but to the game as a whole."

On 19.5.06 the Isle of Thanet Gazette published an interview with Bill who said "The body is telling me it's had enough now, maybe I should listen to it. But maybe I'll come back and manage Margate one day once I've had a break from the game ! When Chris Kinnear signed me back in the summer of 1996, he said that he was planning to take the club places. And he wasn't wrong. The high point for me was when we gained promotion to the Conference by holding off Burton Albion to win the Southern League championship. The following year we actually led the Conference table and although it didn't last, the table told the story that we were the best non-league club in the country for a while. And that was a great feeling."

Unfortunately Bill didn't get his testimonial and he didn't play at all during the 2006/07 season but in the summer of 2007 he made a surprise comeback when he signed for Kent League club Erith Town. Their manager Mark Tompkins told the Kentish Football website "He's a mate of mine as I played with him at Tooting & Mitcham United - I can't see many better centre halves in the Kent League than Bill." Tompkins said Bill's key qualities were "His experience, his talking, his positional sense."

Bill made his Erith debut in a 5-0 win at Faversham on 11.8.07 and then surprisingly marked his home debut with a goal as Erith beat Cobham 3-1 in an FA Cup tie on 18.8.07. Only 30 spectators saw the match.

On 3.5.08 Bill was part of the Erith side that beat Hythe 1-0 in the Kent League Cup Final at Folkestone and he told a Margate supporter who was present that he'd be retiring after the match. However Bill then became Erith's player-assistant manager for the 2008/09 campaign but before the season proper started manager Mark Tompkins left the club and in August 2008, a couple of weeks into the new campaign, Bill signed for VCD.

VCD's manager Paul Foley, a former Margate player, had played with Bill when they were both on Fisher's books and Bill spent a few months with the Kent League club before finally retiring midway through the 2008/09 season.

In March 2012 it was announced that Bill would finally be getting a testimonial in recognition of his ten years at Margate, six years after leaving the club, and on 30.3.12 the Isle of Thanet Gazette ran an article about the forthcoming match that was scheduled to take place on 12.5.12 - the day of Bill's 40th birthday. The paper said Bill was a "legend" and was being "rewarded for a decade of dedication" whilst his wife Nicky who'd decided to organise the game said "Bill's very unassuming and he would never push for his own testimonial". Chris Kinnear, by then back in charge of Margate, told the Gazette "I played with Bill's dad at Maidstone so I've known him since he was a little kid running round the car park. He was one of the first signings I made at Margate and he stayed with us through the leagues and into the Conference. He was exactly the type of player we wanted and we played a formation that suited him perfectly. He was serious about his football and never missed training - he just wanted to win games. Bill was one of those players I never thought about replacing. Having him made it easy for me because I could concentrate on strengthening other positions. There are a few stories I could tell you about Bill - but none that could go in the paper !"

Earlier in March 2012 Bill's wife Nicky told a story that epitomized his commitment to Margate saying "While I was in labour with our son Alfie, it was on a Wednesday which was training night. He actually left me to go to training as it was the training session before the Fulham game. He just made it back for the birth. Then the day I came home from hospital, was the day of the game. Needless to say he wasn't there that day either. I don't think he missed any training sessions or games, if he did he'd of been bedbound. You wouldn't get many players as loyal as that - or many wives as understanding !!"

A follow-up piece in the Isle of Thanet Gazette on 6.4.12 had the headline 'Edwards: My Pride' and Bill told the paper about his feelings for Margate saying "It's a special club and there are a lot of good people there. I bonded really well with the fans, we had a special connection. I think it was just the way I played - they enjoyed watching me. I turned up week-in, week-out, always gave my best and they appreciated that." Bill also revealed that he and Iain O'Connell had been interviewed for the Margate manager's job in the summer of 2008 with the idea being they would share the role but Barry Ashby and Paul Smith ended up being Margate's preferred candidates.

Looking back on his decade with Margate Bill said "Ten years is a long time to spend at one club but luckily the good days by far outweighed the bad. There were no superstars but Chris had us well-organised, we worked hard for each other and we had a good mental attitude to go with it. Unfortunately, problems with the ground put an end to our reign in the Conference and basically stopped us going to the next level."

Bill's father Billy had a distinguished football career of his own, also as a defender, and was on Tottenham's books as a youngster before playing for non-league clubs including Tooting & Mitcham, Dulwich, Leatherhead, Bromley, Maidstone and Staines. Billy was part of the Walton & Hersham team beaten 1-0 by Margate in the FA Cup 2nd Round Proper on 9.12.72 and he enjoyed the best spell of his career with Wimbledon where he made well over 200 appearances, including 24 during 1977/78 - the Dons' first ever season in the Football League.