*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Neil Edmonds
Appearances: 7+8 Goals: 0
Date / Year of birth: 11th March 1968
Position: Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 1988/89
Season of last appearance: 1988/89
Also played for: Bracknell Town, Ramsgate and Whitstable Town
Midfielder who started his career with his hometown club Bracknell as a fifteen year-old during the 1983/84 campaign. Neil moved to the Margate area halfway through that season and soon joined Thanet United's youth set-up.
He progressed from United's Colts side into the reserves during the 1987/88 season and made 21 appearances for them, scoring three goals. By then Neil's father Alan had become Thanet's chairman.
Neil stayed at Hartsdown Park for the 1988/89 campaign and again played regularly for the reserves, making 16 appearances for them and scoring three times. He also made numerous first team appearances in what was Thanet's last season. Neil made his senior debut on 13.9.88 when he came on as a substitute in a Southern League game at Corinthian that ended as a 2-2 draw. On 1.10.88 he made his first home appearance when he came on as sub in a 3-1 defeat against Fisher in the FA Cup. The Thanet Times said that he "hardly got a kick" as United were comfortably beaten by their higher-graded opponents. Neil made his full debut for the club in a Southern League Cup tie at home to Canterbury on 11.10.88 that Thanet lost 2-1 and then enjoyed a run of four consecutive starts from the end of the month until mid-November. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said that he was "desperately unlucky not to put United in front with an angled drive that shaved the post" in a 5-0 defeat at home to Dover on 8.11.88.
Neil spent most of the remainder of 1988 back in the reserves and he had to wait until 14.1.89 for his next start in the first team. He was recalled for a 1-1 draw at Dunstable and turned in a good performance. The Thanet Times said that he "strove might and main" in midfield but after making two further sub appearances before the end of January Neil found himself out of the first team picture once more. He came on as a sub twice more, once in March and once in April, before making his final appearance for Thanet in the club's last-ever match before the name change back to Margate. It was a Southern League game at Bury on 6.5.89 and Neil wore the number nine shirt as United went down 3-0. It took his record for the season to 15 appearances (eight as sub) without scoring and Thanet failed to win any match that Neil was involved in.
He left Hartsdown in the summer of 1989 and joined Ramsgate for the 1989/90 campaign. Neil stayed with the Rams until the end of 1991/92 when he left the Thanet area and dropped out of regular football. Over the next few years he made a handful more appearances for the Rams first team and reserves when he was available to do so.
Neil didn't play regular senior football again until 1996/97 when he joined Whitstable. He was a regular in the Oystermen's reserves during the season but didn't make any first team appearances.
Neil retired from football in the early 2000's and in 2005 he said "I hung up my boots about four years ago when my knees finally gave way !!"
During the late 1980's and early 1990's he had played local football for the successful Ramsgate Miners team and Neil was still living locally in 2005.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
||
|
1988/89 (TUFC) |
7 (52) |
8 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (20TH OF 22) |
2QR |
2QR |
2R |
1R |