Richard Edghill

Personalia: Born: 23/9 1974 Birthplace: Oldham Nationality: England (0/0) Height: 5`9" (175 cm) Weight: 11st. 3lb (64kg) Position: Defender Playing Record:     League FAC LC Season: Club: App Gls App Gls App Gls: 1992-1993 Manchester City 0 0   0   0 1993-1994 Manchester City 22 0   0   0 1994-1995 Manchester City 14 0   0   0 1995-1996 Manchester City 13 0   0   0 1996-1997 Manchester City 0 0   0   0 1997-1998 Manchester City 36 0   0   0 1998-1999 Manchester City 36 0   0   0 1999-2000 Manchester City 41 1   0   0 2000-2001 Manchester City 6 0   0   0 2000 Birmingham City (loan) 3 0 0 0 0 0 2001-2002 Manchester City 11 0 (9) 0 (17) 0 2002-2003 Wigan Athletic 0 0 0 0 0 0 2003 Sheffield United 1 0 0 0 0 0 2003- Queens Park Rangers 24 0 0 0 3 0 Total: 211 1 9 0 20 0

Richard played for City for over 10 years since signing as a schoolboy in 1988. He was one of City's longest-serving players in the 1990ies, and perhaps one of the most misunderstood. As a success of the club's youth policy, he made his debut in a televised defeat away to Wimbledon at the start of the 1992-93 season when the recently-appointed City boss Brian Horton decided to give him his break-in. The game against Wimbledon was the first of a set of impressive performances for City that led to a four-year deal at Maine Road.

Richard was extremely versatile and capable of playing on either flank. He has represented England at both under-21 and 'B' team level and nearly made the full England squad when the incoming manager Terry Venables held a get-together in 1994.

A knee injury in the 1995-96 season robbed him of a year of his career and since then he was in and out of the team due to recurrent injuries. His return saw him installed in Joe Royle's team when City had to fight their way out of the Nationwide League Second Division. At the end of the only season in City's history at that level, Edghill was brave enough to step up at Wembley and take one of the most important penalties in City's history. He had never taken a penalty before. The successful kick helped the Citizens record a win over Gillingham that sent them back to the Nationwide First Division.

The ensuing three seasons saw Richard play regularly in the side that went up as Division One runners-up to Jean Tigana's Fulham. Richard captained the team for much of the 99/00 season, following the absence of Andy Morrison, but was the target for the boo-boys amongst the City faithful. Despite his attributes as a defender his distribution has always lacked a bit when going forward and this has let him down in the eyes of many observers. After coming under more criticism at the start of the club's first season back in the Premiership, he disappeared from the first team picture after just three games. Eventually went out on loan to First Division promotion hopefuls Birmingham City in November 2000.

He was eventually put on the transfer list by Joe Royle but when Kevin Keegan took over at Maine Road, 'Reg' was given another chance to prove himself to City. He was handed a chance in the wing-back berth for City's fourth game of the season they finished as champions, away to Burnley. His improved play was apparent when he crossed for two of City's five goals that afternoon. This saw him win his place in the starting line-up but bad luck struck again when he sustained an injury to his medial ligaments in City's win at Sheffield Wednesday. He was out for eight weeks but did not regain his place in the team on a regular basis after that.

Richard was first offered a one-year extension to his contract in 2002, but Kevin Keegan had a change of heart and withdrew the offer. This inevitably resulted in a sad departure for Richard, who clocked up more than 200 league and cup appearances during his ten injury-interrupted seasons.

The former City Captain was handed a footballing lifeline in the form of a non-contract deal from Wigan Athletic in October 2002, but failed to impress. Also Peter Reid was said to monitor the Richards availability, but opted not to sign the experienced defender.

2/3 2003: Edghill was in January OSM's feature about players who were victims of football's financial crisis. Edghill, 28, whose contract had expired with Manchester City in the summer, was not playing at all and thinking of becoming a chef. Following our article and subsequent publicity, he signed for Sheffield United in late January on a month's contract. But he has not stayed, because they couldn't guarantee him first-team football.

22/8 2003: Richard Edghill joined QPR on a free transfer.

Provided by: Svenn A. Hanssen, svenn@hanssen.priv.no