Name: Carlos Edwards.
DOB: 24-Oct-1978 - Patna Village, Diego Martin.
Position: Midfield.
Club: Sunderland AFC (England, 02-Jan-2007 to present).
Previous Club: Patna United (Trinidad), Queen’s Park CC (Trinidad, 1998), Defence Force (Trinidad), Wrexham AFC (Wales, 2000 to May-2005), Luton Town (England, May-2005 to 02-Jan-2007).
Schools: St Crispin Anglican Primary School (Trinidad), Diego Martin Junior Secondary (Trinidad), St Anthony's College (Trinidad).
T&T Senior Debut: At the 1999 Copa Caribe Cup Tournament.
NOTE: Wrexham payed around £125,000 to Defence Force for the player who have made over 120 appearances for Wrexham. 
He was also named on the Professional Football Association’s (PFA) English Third Division Team of the Year after the 2002-03 season and the PFA English Second Division Team of the Year for the 2003-04 season. He was also voted as Wrexham’s “Player of the Year” by their fan base for the last two seasons. Edwards goal against Torquet FC early in 2003 was also voted 2003 “goal of the year”.
While playing for Wrexham, Edwards have been eyed by clubs such as First Division campaigners Sunderland, Norwich City, Preston North End and Wigan Athletic, English Premiership side Leeds United and Scottish Premier League side Dundee have also shown interest.
While playing for St Anthony's College in 1997, Carlos captained the team to victory in the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Intercol title, with a 2-1 win over favourites St Benedict’s at the Queen’s Park Oval. Rated in 2006 as one of the best wingers in the English Champion's League division. The Trinidad and Tobago international enjoyed a superb World Cup in June 2006, prompting Watford to make a £450,000 (665,000 euros) offer for the player, which was swiftly rejected by Luton Town. In January 2007 Newcastle United, Celtics, Birmingham City, Charlton Athletic and Watford were all after the Luton Town winger, but it was Sunderland who stepped up and grab the player for a fee valued at £1.5m. In Feb 2007 Carlos Edwards was the top rated midfielder in the Coca Cola Championship League even making team of the week and according to the Actim Index he is also ranked as the 9th overall best player in the league. He is also the highest ranking player for Sunderland on the Index. Carlos Edwards have been named on the English Professional Footballer’s Association” “Team of the year” for the 2006/2007 season. In April 2007 Carlos scored a brilliant goal that ended up being Sunderland's match winner in a 3-2 victory over Burnley, the win would eventually see Sunderland promoted to the Premiership with one game in hand. With that goal in mind along with two more he scored in the 2006-7 season as voted by Sunderland fans won him goal of the season (vs Burnley, vs Southampton & vs Birmingham) 1st, 2nd & 3rd place. Yes, all of Carlos goals was voted in the top 3 out of the top 5 for goals of the season.

West Brom eyes Carlos Edwards.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
01-Dec-2005 - Midfielder Carlos Edwards, still new into his contract with English Championship club Luton Town, is being eyed for a new switch to Premiership side West Bromwich Albion.
Word on the weekend was that former England international Bryan Robson, now in charge at West Brom was keen on Edwards having seen him in action for Luton and after signing Edwards’ team-mate Curtis Davies during the last transfer window, Robson could now try to get Edwards by January. It is rumoured that Edwards could cost around TT$7.5 million.
The former Wrexham star was involved for 90 minutes as Luton stopped Crystal Palace 2-0 on the weekend to take a 5th place stance on the latest League standings.
Edwards is still smiling over T&T’s World Cup qualification.
“It’s a real dream come true. Who would have expected this? And if you look back at me suffering that injury against Dominican Republic in the first game last year and then we had a difficult period especially up to the 5-1 loss to Guatemala. You think now that this really is like a dream,” an elated Edwards said on the flight back from Bahrain. “I think there are so many people who need to be commended for this and it starts from the bosses at the top like Jack Warner and coach Leo Beenhakker and then men around the team and most important the players and God. We have everything to look forward to now.”

Edwards: 'I'll never forget the look on Dwight Yorke's face'

By Jason Burt - The Independent.
02-Dec-2005 - Trinidad and Tobago fly the flag for the minnows - and quality of the English Leagues. Carlos Edwards chuckles at his abiding memory from Trinidad and Tobago's astonishing achievement in reaching next year's World Cup. It was Dwight Yorke's face. "Just looking at him," Edwards recalls, "he had this wonderful expression which said, 'Yes. I've done it. I've qualified for a major tournament'. He doesn't have to play any more football for the rest of his life because of that expression. And this was from a guy who has done so much."
The broad smile of Yorke, now 34 and the twin-islands captain, was indeed as bright as it ever was for Manchester United or Aston Villa that evening last month in the Bahrain National Stadium when the so-called "Soca Warriors" earned the victory that took them to Germany 2006.
Among the unsung players of Gillingham, Dundee, Port Vale and Wrexham, as well as the homespun clubs such as San Juan Jabloteh and Caledonia Air Fire, Edwards also appeared, a 27-year-old midfielder or wing-back who is forging his career in the Championship with Luton Town. "Eventually it has sunk in," he says of qualification. "But, yes, it did take a while. About a week and a half, I think."
The memory of returning from the Middle East and stepping out of the team's aeroplane at Piarco International Airport in Port of Spain is equally vivid. "Unbelievable," says Edwards, chuckling again. "I was just not expecting anything like that. It was like 4 July, Independence Day, in America. The whole place was there. On a normal day it takes 30 minutes maximum to get to any destination from the airport. It took us six hours to get to the hotel - that's how many people were on the streets. It showed that the whole country was proud." The street parties continued for days.
That pride grew during the exhausting 20-match campaign in which, after three games, the Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker - whose former clubs include Real Madrid and Ajax - took over and transformed the fortunes of the Caribbean islanders. "It's a big honour to have him," says Edwards. "He actually made us qualify." Yorke, too, has been an inspiration. "He's funny and motivates you in each and every way he can," Edwards says of the unlikely captain.
Above all, Beenhakker instilled belief. "There's no fear whatsoever," explains Edwards. "Before, when we went to places like Mexico and Costa Rica, we would get thrashed four- or five-nil. Now we were unlucky to lose 2-0 to Mexico. And that's a place where even the Brazilians struggle."
Trinidad and Tobago, of course, then beat the Mexicans at home to reach the play-offs. The match took place at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. "And for the first time since I've been playing, since 1999, it has been full to capacity recently," says Edwards. "It's a big achievement for the players to represent the 1.5 million people of Trinidad and Tobago, the red, white and black, but you can see it is also for the fans."
And for all the islands' sportsmen, such as cricketer Brian Lara, who provides another inspiring image for Edwards. "He's a great friend of Dwight's and he came into the dressing room and gave us a bit of motivation," he says. "It was against Costa Rica and we were a bit down, and he gave us a plaque and said, 'No one in the cricket world was expecting the West Indies to win the ICC tournament and we did'."
It shows, Edwards claims, that there is no rivalry. "We are united," he says proudly. "Cricket and football go hand and hand. We are all sportsmen and help each other. It's just a small nation and we all have a laugh, and what is good for one sport is good for the other."
Indeed, not only will Trinidad and Tobago be the smallest country at next year's tournament, they are only the fourth - after Cuba (1938), Haiti (1974) and Jamaica (1998) - to qualify from the Caribbean.
Not that they regard qualification as fulfilment. The draw for the tournament is on Friday and Edwards - who will take a keen interest - insists that "we are going with one thing in mind and that's to compete with the biggest and best teams in the world". He adds: "I can't say we are going to go through to the second round but I hope we will. This campaign is far from over."
Edwards' confidence comes from a belief not only in his team-mates but also from evidence that the "smaller nations are getting stronger and stronger. Just look at who is qualifying - us, Iran. You would not expect that".
He never expected to pursue his career in England, either. "Joey Jones arranged a three-week trial," Edwards says of how he arrived at Wrexham five years ago after being spotted by the former Wales defender playing for the Trinidadian Defence Force team while doing two-and- a-half years' national service.
It took six months to get a work permit because, then, he didn't have enough international caps. Now he has 40 - even if the travelling, and the change of time zones, means that sometimes he is "returning home the day before the game I've just played in has been played, if you know what I mean".
For now, however, he is putting the World Cup to "the back of my mind" as he concentrates on the fortunes of Luton, whom he joined in the summer. The aim is the Premiership. "That would be some double," says Edwards. Indeed it would.

Carlos Edwards relishing World Cup dream.

Luton Town FC.
18-Oct-2005 - Carlos Edwards is just two games away from playing in the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany with Trinidad and Tobago.
Carlos Edwards has described the prospect of playing in the forthcoming World Cup Finals as a 'dream come true', with the Luton defender standing just two games away from participating in the 2006 tournament in Germany.
Following back-to-back wins in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying group against Panama and league-leaders Mexico, Trinidad are on the verge of reaching the tournament finals with the Hatters full-back a realistic inclusion to make their World Cup squad.
Trinidad face a two legged play-off encounter against Bahrain for a debut appearance in football's most prestigious tournament and Edwards admits that the country believe they have an excellent chance of making the finals in Germany.
Talking exclusively to Hatters World, Edwards said: "We really fancy our chances against Bahrain - big time. I am not just saying that because we are now in the play-offs but because of the belief around the country and in the team which is that nobody can beat us.
"For me, it would be a dream come true and hopefully for myself, this football club and my family, I will get there. It would be fantastic recognition for this football club and it will give this club a bigger name.
"Trinidad is buzzing at the moment. We needed two wins to guarantee us a place in the play-offs and we gave it our all and got the six points that we needed. We have one foot in the World Cup Finals in Germany; we just need to get over the finishing line.
"It was an achievement in itself just beating Mexico in that final game. Mexico have some fantastic players in their squad and we knew what they were capable of doing and we just went out there in a positive frame of mind.
"We went a goal down but kept our heads held high and we responded well by getting a quick equaliser. It was game on from there and we took advantage of the opportunity and we got the winner in the end.
"England fans expect their side to be in the World Cup and the expectations are no different in Trinidad. However, people know that there are bigger countries than us who have got better players.
"Our country knows that we have got players who could do even better for themselves but they are not living up to their standard and they are simply not being given the break that I have got myself or players such as Dwight Yorke and Dennis Lawrence."
For the time being, Edwards is focusing on domestic matters and hopes to play a vital role in Luton's bid to bounce back to winning ways against Norwich on Tuesday night following defeat against Crewe over the weekend.
Edwards added: "I'm not thinking of the possibility of being at the World Cup at the moment. I am just keeping in a positive frame of mind and first of all I am looking towards the game against Norwich and nothing else.
"We want to turn around this bad start to the week that we have had following the defeat against Crewe. My club that I play for is my first priority but when I do meet up with my team-mates for my country then that is a different ball game."

Carlos: Anything for the red, white and black.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
07-Oct-2005 - Prominent English-based professional Carlos Edwards has his sights set on playing in the Premiership, especially the way Luton Town are playing these days. But the big focus for the former Wrexham star is getting over these next two games for T&T.
These two games being referred begins on Saturday against Panama at the Estadio Romel Fernandez and then at home to Mexico four days later at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
For Edwards, these two games could set the pace for the “rest of our lives”.
“I’m always thinking positive. This is our best chance to go all the way,” Edwards told TTFF Media as he sat down in the Riande Aeropuerto Hotel lobby on Thursday morning. He was passing some time after learning that the morning training session was put off due to a late arrival of the team bus which stemmed from a strike action by bus drivers here.
“Nothing’s going to get us frustrated because we know all we have to do is get a result over Panama and then automatically we will all be more relaxed and geared up for the match against Mexico next well.,” Edwards said.
He reflected on the last few months in which he was forced to look on from the sidelines due to a serious knee injury.
“It was a very tough time in my career because I was fighting up with the injury and then just after recovering and moving to Luton, something else came up again. It was really frustrating but now thankfully I’m over it and I thank God for that. It was a whole different vibe coming back in the national team and being part of this drive again.”
“There was a little adjustment to make with the new technical staff but I think the transition occurred for the better of the football, not just for the team but for the country on a whole. Things worked out in the right way and it’s still happening.”
The ex-St Anthony’s College standout is all smiles when the topic of life at Luton Town comes up.
“From the first day there I was able to settle in nicely. We had a good laugh and the players even locked me in a room  inside the first week. That was their way of welcoming me and saying well they want me to stay. I’m having  a lot of good times there both on and off the pitch and we just intend to keep this up.”
Shorlty before taking the walk back to his room for a short nap before lunch, the talk turns back towards T&T and reaching Germany.
“Right now we are all just thinking about the next two games and the playoffs to follow. With the national team it’s always different because you are representing the whole population. I always try to keep a positive frame of mind that we can go out there and win the game once we are wearing the red white and black,” he smiled on his way out of the lobby.

Carlos Edwards settles in at Luton.

By: Lasana Liburd (Express).
15-Sept-2005 - Luton manager Mike Newell was composed as he faced questions on his Trinidad and Tobago signing, Carlos Edwards, on Tuesday night after Luton's 1-0 League Championship loss at Queen's Park Rangers.
It was Edward's second full appearance, again as a right back, and, the Luton press insisted, he showed a marked improvement from his full debut in a 1-1 weekend draw at Wolverhampton. Which showing, they wanted to know, represented the real Edwards?
Newell believes that the best is yet to come.
"It is only his second game in a Luton shirt and he is a good player," said Newell. "(Right back) is not his normal position but (we lost our first choice right back and) Carlos is doing a good job for us there. He will definitely play plenty of games for us and in his proper position too."
Edwards was equally relaxed when discussing his promotion from Wrexham, who have bounced between League One and Two for the past three seasons, to ambitious Luton Town, who are one rung below the England Premier League and hungry to graduate.
"The level is higher than I expected," Edwards told the Trinidad Express. "The quality of play is better and more teams play ball possession than in the lower leagues. I am still learning, even from my opponents.
"But it is just a matter of time before I settle in."
On Tuesday's evidence, he is a quick learner. Edwards was not given freedom of the flank but, as a full back, he exhibited good positional sense and tactical discipline. On the defensive, Edwards never left his feet to tackle but won tackles by imposing his will on the QPR attackers. He channeled his opposing flanker down a blind alley and, when his opponent least expected it, picked his pocket. Mission accomplished.
Edwards curbed his attacking instinct significantly, though, and rarely got within 30 yards of the Queen's Park goal. But his touch was so sure when the ball came his way that Luton goalkeeper Marlon Beresford even took to throwing a couple for his Caribbean full back, a rare gesture for a British goalkeeper.
His influence was insufficient to decide the match, though. A sweet second half free kick from Lee Cook split the two sides although a draw may have been just.
Luton started brighter and had two good chances to take the lead in the first half only for QPR to drag themselves back into the game after the interval. And Cook stole the plaudits with a curling left footed free kick in the 57th minute.
Luton, by then, had run out of ways to get behind the opposing backline and never looked capable of an equaliser despite the late ejection of QPR midfielder Tommy Docherty.
However, the 39-year-old Newell, one of Britain's youngest managers, promised a swift response to the defeat. "We're not in the habit of getting beat," said Newell. "And it is not something we plan on getting used to."
Edwards, who joined Luton in the summer despite fielding inquiries from more established outfits like Leeds United, is sure he is in the right place.
"We always look for the biggest here and set high standards," said Edwards. "My first goal this season is to do well and my second is to achieve promotion to the Premiership. Everyone here believes we can do it and, in our first four or five games, I think we showed what we are capable of."
Edwards said that he was enjoying his football at club and international level despite being used alternately as a wide midfielder and full back for both teams.
"If the national coach or the Luton manager have faith in me to play in (the right back) position, then I will play there," said Edwards. "You can be called upon to play anywhere as a professional and I am always ready for that.
"I am really looking forward to this season and especially our next two World Cup qualifying matches. Everyone is very positive and there is a real buzz about the team and I hope the T&TFF and the fans come behind us again and give us their full support. "We are definitely coming to bring more goals (against Panama and Mexico)." Newell is sure he will deliver some for Luton as well.

Q&A with Carlos Edwards.

Conducted By: Shaun Fuentes.
30-Jun-2005 - Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Carlos Edwards, one of the fastest rising players from T&T's fields took time out during the current training camp in Ft Lauderdale to share some thoughts with us. Just some briefs that might be of interest to his fans.
The former St Anthony's College player spoke about his younger days, mentioning an interesting fact which was that he never represented any T&T youth team before making his senior international debut during the 1999 Copa Caribe (Caribbean Cup) which preceded his debut for the T&T Under 23 team. Before that, he started off playing for Diego Martin-based side Patna United at age 12 after being encouraged throughout by his uncle and grandfather Claude Griffith. Success at the National Intercol level would follow in 1997 with St Anthony's College.
"I actually made by debut for the senior team before any other national team," Edwards told TTFF Media. "It's something I look back at and feel proud about and it's helped pushed me through to where I am at the moment."
Fresh from a signing with Luton Town in the English Championship League which Edwards said "is obviously the best deal I've gotten involved in,"  he's now looking to achieve bigger and better things which obviously is playing in the Premiership and being part of the 2006 World Cup experience with the "Warriors.
"It's without a doubt my biggest ambition at the moment," said the former Defence Force standout who tasted Pro League success in the inaugural season of the T&T League in 1999 alongside former Wrexham teammate Dennis Lawrence and Hector Sam who is now a member of Port Vale alongside new T&T recruit Chris Birchall.

Read Carlos' responses.....

1. What’s your most memorable moment or match, whether for country or Club ?
A: Scoring my  first international goal against Guatemala in the World Cup qualifier earlier this year. Even though it was not a great goal or a good result for us, it’s one of those things you tend to cherish for the rest of your life . And for club, it has to be playing for Wrexham at the Millennium Stadium at LDV Cup final 2-0 win over South End United in front of. 36,000 last season.
         
2. Name two persons, whether relative or not who have been an inspiration to you.
A: Late Grandfather Claude Griffith – he always there behind me, encouraging me to follow my dreams. He also bought my first pair of football boots at age 10 while I was at St Crispin Anglican School on Ariapita Avenue.

3. Any favourite player or team ?
A: AC Milan, Brazil, Ronaldo.
 
4. What would be your preferred other profession.
A: Golfer.

5. What do you hope to accomplish either in next 5 years or end of playing career.
A: Taking Trinidad to its highest FIFA ranking and  playing in major tournament which would obviously be the World Cup.

6. Who’s been among your most admired coaches and why ?
A: Ian Porterfield. I’m, still getting to know Leo Beenhakker but they have the same way of handling the team. They both know what they can get out of the players and they let you play your football or play the game on a whole without anything disturbances  yet they have a clever way of letting you  know when you are messing up.
 
7. What do you think of T&T’s chances of making it to the 2006 World Cup.
A: I always think positive and now more than ever I think we stand a great chance, 95 per cent surety.

8. Any instances or plays that you always reflect on.
A: Look at situation this way, if you can be one special person out of the population of 1.5 million  to play football, it’s something special, when you look at everything whether home or in England, the developing rate etc, and people  sweating blood and getting peanuts in return,  and then see us  as footballers being able to make  a decent living, it makes you appreciate what you have and others for what they may have or may not have.  Unfortunately there are some who can’t get anything when the month ends. Not speaking lowly about them but it makes you realize more about life. It’s how the world is at the moment. I consider myself one of the lucky ones.
 
9. What’s the best piece of advice you have received.
A: Always keep your head on your shoulders, respect elders and treat everyone else as you would treat yourself. If you don’t like yourself, don’t expect other to like you.
 
. What do you do to relax away from the game.
A: Chill out watching on TV. Not concentrate on the game but when the time comes, I know when it’s time to focus. I’m always nervous ahead of a game whether it be Bermuda or any high profile team we are playing.
 
What’s your favorite dish ?
A: Anything Chinese.

Favourite drink.
A: Apple Juice.

Favorite time of year ?
A: Christmas -  a chance to spend with close people especially my son Tristan

Most comfortable football boot ?
A: Adidas all the way.

15. Name one thing about yourself you would change if given the chance? Even if it meant going back in time.
A: My age. Would like to be younger.
 
16. Preferred Wear.
A: Casual.

17. Any advice to young ones ?
A: Always keep your head up and on at the same time. Never be discouraged but use bad times as something that you can turn around to spur yourself on in the long run.

Carlos Edwards glad to be with "Sleeping Giants"

Luton Town FC.
28-Jun-2005 - Luton's most recent signing Carlos Edwards has described his new club as 'sleeping giants' and believes that the Hatters will surprise many people when the new season gets underway.
The midfielder popped into the media office on Monday morning to give his first ever interview as a Luton player to Hatters World subscribers after completing a medical at Kenilworth Stadium.
Edwards was at the club to see his new surroundings before jetting off to join his international team-mates, where he will be joining the Trinidad and Tobago squad for the Gold Cup in America.
Edwards arrives at Kenilworth Stadium from Wrexham after spending five years at the Racecourse Ground and described to his move to the Hatters as a 'big break'.
"I can't wait for the season to get underway," admitted Edwards. "This is the big break I wanted in my career and hopefully I can come here to please the crowd and maybe give the team that extra boost to challenge for promotion again.
"Coming to play for Mike Newell was a massive part of my decision to come to Luton Town. I believe I have come to a club which is very ambitious and they want to go places. The opportunity to play in the Championship is the stepping stone for me to go on and play at a higher level.
"I think Luton fans will see me as a very entertaining player, who likes to be creative and gets forward whenever possible to score goals. The fans will see a player who has some tricks up his sleeve but at the end of the day I have come here to do a job and win as many matches as possible.
"Many teams will view Luton as a walk over next season but I honestly believe we will surprise loads of people. I believe we will be in the top half of the league because, from what I have seen, Luton has a good bunch of players.
"This is a new challenge for me and one I'm looking forward to. In my eyes this club is a sleeping giant and when August 6th arrives, I think there will be a few surprised people."
For now, Edward travels to Miami on Tuesday to team up with his international team-mates for the Gold Cup event where Trinidad must face Colombia, Panama and Honduras in the group stages of the competition.
The 26-year-old midfielder could be in the States until the 24th June should Trinidad progress through to the final of the competition but should they fail to get past the group stages it means Edwards will be available to join his new team-mates for the pre-season tour of Bulgaria.
Edwards continued: "The Gold Cup is a stepping stone for the rest of the World Cup qualifies. The Gold Cup is a tournament with some very good teams involved but we are obviously focusing on qualifying for the World Cup.
"Things were a bit difficult for the Trinidad team but we have a new manager who won his first game in charge and although we are struggling in our qualification group there is still a chance we can qualify for the World Cup in Germany."

Carlos Edwards poised to sign for Luton Town.

BBC Sport News.
18-May-2005 - Luton Town manager Mike Newell is on the verge of signing Wrexham right-winger Carlos Edwards on a Bosman free transfer. Edwards will quit Wrexham after agreeing a three-year contract with the Hatters.
The Trinidad and Tobago international joins fellow defender Stephen Roberts - who will join Doncaster Rovers - in leaving the Racecourse.
Edwards, 26, was offered a new deal by the Dragons, but becomes a free agent on 1 July and will join Luton then. Mike Newell's side were promoted from League One as champions, while Wrexham were relegated to League Two.
Edwards' agent confirmed the move to BBC Wales and revealed that both Plymouth Argyle and Coventry City were keen to sign the player.
Wrexham have struggled to pay wages this season and were forced into administration, being docked the 10 League points in the process that pushed them towards relegation.
Edwards' agent Mike Berry confirmed that Edwards will join up with his new team-mates in early June, and praised Newell for building up a good relationship with the 26-year-old whilst he has been tracking his progress.
"He will sign for Luton, effectively it will be the 1st of July, but we've agreed personal terms and he's looking forward to joining the club," Berry told skysports.com.
"We turned down Plymouth last Friday, and also Coventry, but he also had Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds, he had numerous Championship clubs chasing him.
"Mike Newell's been watching him for three years and he has a good rapport with the manager and Mike Newell made him very welcome at the meeting and the chairman was very ambitious and they just said all the right things you know.
"But mainly Mike Newell, he won the League One Manger of the Year award last night and there is a nice rapport between the two of them, that's the main reason he joined, Mike Newell."
The north Wales club still faces an uncertain future off the pitch.
Owner Alex Hamilton has served Wrexham FC with a notice to quit the Racecourse Ground this summer, although administrators running the club are ready to go to the courts to stop Wrexham being evicted.
Edwards joined Wrexham in June 2000 from Trinidad side Defence Force FC and has been one of the team's most consistent performers, catching the eye on both flanks with his attacking flair and defensive qualities.
The player was the subject of a £350,000 bid from Preston North End last season before he suffered a serious knee ligament injury while on international duty that sidelined him for seven months.
He is expected to be the first of three new singings by Luton Town boss Newell this summer, with Portsmouth striker Rowan Vine, who spent last season on loan at Kenilworth Road a target for a permanent move, and ex-Hatters defender Matt Jackson, recently promoted to the Premiership with Wigan Athletic, also on Newell’s summer shopping list.
Newell has freed up some space for new arrivals by releasing Alan Neilson, Ian Hillier, David Bayliss and Lee Mansell after their contracts expired.

A look at T&T's rising star.

Playing Away with Lasana Liburd in the UK.
17-Mar-2005 - It hardly seemed fair. It could not be. On Saturday afternoon, Trinidad and Tobago striker Hector Sam breathed new life into a lacklustre Wrexham outfit with a lively performance and the game's only goal as they snatched a precious 1-0 win at home to visiting Oldham Athletic.
Wrexham sweeper Craig Morgan was adjudged Man of the Match for a steady performance, which included a goal-line clearance, while Welsh international defender Steve Roberts, captain Darren Ferguson and lanky stopper and Sam's compatriot, Dennis Lawrence, also worked tirelessly for the cause.
In contrasting kit, Oldham's lone forward Chris Killen, energetic midfielder Neil Kilkenny and goalkeeper Les Pogliacomi did themselves proud as well.
But it was winger Carlos Edwards, Wrexham's third Trinidad and Tobago international, who left the most lasting memory from the League One affair although he faded badly after the interval and failed to conjure up anything particularly threatening in the first half either.
He was the best player on the field although a videotape of the match would suggest otherwise..
In an age that swears by technology, it can be difficult to disabuse anyone of the notion that a picture-still or motion-can relay untruths. But it can and does.
I have seen enough Elvis Presley footage to last a lifetime but still sneer when I hear him referred to as "The King".
"But he has never even sung anything as memorable as The Beatles or Bob Marley," I argued.
"Maybe so," my aunt countered, "but you had to see him perform."
I shook my head as unconvinced as she was certain.
Yet, I am similarly frustrated when I try to explain the aura of France and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry to a disbelieving friend who chose to judge the player by the harsh light of television cameras and, to a lesser extent, statistics.
But the camera, which is trained to chase the ball, is incapable of relaying an intoxicating swagger or the intake of breath by 40,000 spectators when Henry tames the sphere and draws himself to his full height before nonchalantly flicking for a team-mate to allow a mass exhalation.
In short, television cannot capture charisma. Henry has it in bucket loads and so too, two divisions lower at unfashionable Wrexham, does Edwards.
His body language suggests that you are looking at someone special even before he has touched the ball.
The 26-year-old ex-soldier walks as though on a catwalk. Every movement is done with a deliberately understated flourish. Like someone trying to be humble and not quite pulling it off; sort of how your company CEO would look if he joined your department for a beer at lunch.
Even though Edwards shares the field with 22 persons, including the referee, he moves like a man who believes that everyone is there to watch him.
And he is not far wrong.
A football agent schooled me of the importance of a peep in the visitor's tea-room to catch out the surprise guests at any given fixture. On Saturday, I spied Blackburn Rovers' chief scout and former manager and player, Tony Parkes, while a Sheffield United representative was also reputedly present. Almost certainly, they were there to cast an eye on Edwards, whose contract expires this summer-no club worth their salt would make a purchase based solely on television evidence.
It is difficult to tell what their final verdict would be for a variety of reasons.
First, partly because of the mediocre quality within Wrexham's ranks, Edwards was double marked whenever he crossed the halfline. It is unusual for a wingback to be treated with such deference and Parkes was unable to gauge the player's ability to exploit space.
Despite the bustling and commitment of players, the ball does not stay in play as long nor is it used as constructively in League One as it would be in the Premiership, so that Edwards was not in possession as much as anyone-barring the Oldham players-might have liked.
There was also the obvious fact that he faced mainly average defenders less used to guile and stopovers than in the higher leagues.
League One is not the most demanding level of football and the majority of Trinidad and Tobago Pro League players would not feel out of depth. Allow me to qualify that statement. Any Caribbean player who can survive freezing temperatures, blustery winds, sadistic referees, foul mouthed coaches, flying tackles and an ingrained prejudice against non-European players should do alright-and this is not factoring the inescapable culture shock.
Does not sound quite so easy now does it? Well, it isn't.
But Edwards has done better than merely hold his own. He was selected on the division All-Star team for two years running-an honour bestowed by his professional peers who vote for their own best 11 players-and Parkes and company do not show up merely to see his catwalk impression.
The boy can play.
He has superb balance and awareness on the ball. He dribbles, or rather caresses the ball, with either foot as easily as a point guard does with his hands. Like a matador, he always seems a step ahead of raging, brutish defenders.
Saturday's audience of 4,170 spectators murmured anxiously as Edwards dithered in possession and a vengeful defender stealthily moved in to clobber him from behind. Just as the Oldham defender smirked and readied his coup de grace, Edwards pivoted with a flourish and played in a teammate.

"Ole!"
Not that he always escaped. Oldham left back Adam Griffin scythed him down, midway though the first half, after taking exception to a neat shimmy. Edwards dusted himself off, with little external indication of displeasure, and looked for an open player from the resulting free kick. The Wrexham faithful cheered; Griffin, presumably, felt even more inferior.
But can Edwards make the likes of Gary Neville (Manchester United) and Ashley Cole (Arsenal) look silly?
It is worth noting that the smooth criminal is yet to torment CONCACAF defences as casually and gracefully as he does in League One. To be truthful, his international career so far is quite uninspiring.
Edwards is yet to score after 34 international senior caps. He has two Caribbean Championship gold medals but was a fringe player in both tournaments-he was used once off the bench in the 1999 edition and started just one match in a meaningless group fixture in 2001.
Bertille St Clair, in his earlier stint as head coach, did not select Edwards on his 2000 Gold Cup team while Brazilian Rene Simoes also overlooked him when he took T&T to the 2002 Gold Cup.
I prefer to trust my own eyes though and am certain of his improvement over the past three years. It is not so much his raw talent although he does possess some. He serves the ball well with either foot, has a deceptive turn and is athletic enough to chase the length of the flank for 90 minutes.
But it is Edwards' confidence and calm temperament, which tells me that he can stay afloat in more trying conditions. His knack for keeping his head in the face of provocation; his ability to churn out steady performances regardless of Wrexham's precarious position-financially and otherwise-and despite the uncertainty over his own future.
Scouts have been queuing up for over a year and he must have been silently praying for a big move last summer. Instead, he suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in his knee on international duty last June that kept him inactive until after Boxing Day.
If he was frustrated, he hid it well. His commitment to the sinking ship that is Wrexham is unquestionable.
No camera or data sheet can detect or assess such qualities. But the discerning eye of a clever coach or scout would.
Edwards, like Henry, has what the French call "Je ne sais quoi"-a quality difficult to describe or express. Lucky devil.

I’m taking my time - Carlos Edwards.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
18-Jan-2005 - Midfielder Carlos Edwards is still hopeful of signing a new contract with Wrexham, despite the club’s financial woes.
The talented player returned from a serious knee injury last week, scoring against Bury. He pledges to do his best to help the club avoid relegation.
Wrexham is hoping that Andrew Smith completes a deal to buy the club and the ground from Alex Hamilton, which will possibly see Edwards extending his stay.
“I’d love to stay with Wrexham, but at present things are at a standstill until the club’s future is sorted," says Edwards, who had been out since being injured in June against Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo.
“At the moment, I’m focused on just getting back out on the pitch. The injury was the worst of my career, but I have taken my time and tried to keep positive.”
The former Defence Force player is also hoping to make a return to the T&T team soon, but at the same time has asked fans not to expect any quick explosion from him.
"All I have to say to the fans is don’t expect me to come flying out of the blocks like Linford Christie and win the gold medal straight away," he said.

Carlos Edwards coming for Mexico clash.

By: Shaun Fuentes, TTFF Press Officer.
04-Sept-2004 - English-based midfielder Carlos Edwards will fly home from London on Monday to show his support for the Trinidad and Tobago’s senior team in Wednesday’s enticing semi-final round 2006 World Cup fixture against Mexico at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Edwards, nursing a ligament injury which has forced him out of action for the next five months, will come home on invitation from TTFF special adviser Jack Warner who felt it was necessary to have the Wrexham star close to his national teammates despite him not being able to play. Warner has made all the necessary arrangements for Edwards to be in Trinidad for a week and he also did the same to have skipper Angus Eve, suspended for the St Kitts/Nevis match and the injured Gary Glasgow, fly over to the tiny island on Saturday morning to link up with the team at the Marriot Hotel. They were expected to travel with the team to Warner Park for Saturday night’s match against St Kitts/Nevis before returning home on Sunday.
Warner, who arrived in Basseterre on Saturday morning with a group of T&T fans on a chartered flight and had asked former T&T captain David Nakhid to accompany the fans to St Kitts, but the Lebanon-based was forced to return home after receiving news at Piarco that his mother had passed away moments earlier. Nakhid arrived home last week to visit his ailing mom.
“I think it is important that the guys are made to feel as comfortable and receive the best treatment possible. If you want to get the best out of them then you’ve got to give them the best and that’s what I am trying to do now with the resources available,” Warner told TTFF Media as he dropped by the Marriot with other TTFF officials including General Secretary Richard Groden, Vice President Rudolph Thomas, CFU General Secretary Harold Taylor and some of the fans like Tim Nafziger at midday.
“The team needs all the support it can get now and I felt that if we are to go the distance then everyone must be together as much as possible and as such we are bringing Carlos to see the Mexico match and Angus Eve and Glasgow are now here with the team in St Kitts. The team is evolving and we are heading into exciting times,” Warner added. Utility player Anthony Rougier will rejoin the team on Monday having returned from China where he just agreed to a contract with a club there.

Carlos Edwards op a success.

29-Jul-2004 - Wrexham winger Carlos Edwards' knee operation was a success and he should be back in action in six months, according to agent Mike Berry. The 25-year-old required surgery after damaging knee ligaments in a World Cup qualifier for Trinidad & Tobago in the Dominican Republic earlier this summer. Edwards has been an outstanding performer for the Dragons since moving to the Racecourse four years ago and was a transfer target for Championship outfit Preston earlier this year.
Berry said: "The operation was routine and it was a success. The surgeon was pleased to report that with good rehabilitation he will be back in six months and said it was a similar injury to the one Ruud van Nistelrooy had. "I've told Carlos the most important person in his life now isn't his wife or his son, it's the physio."

Carlos Edwards injury now worse than first thought.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
30-Jun-2004 - Carlos Edwards received the worst news possible when further examinations on Monday revealed that he could be out of action for up to seven months and may have to undergo surgery in a month’s time on his injured knee.
Edwards picked up the injury in the first leg World Cup qualifier earlier this month against Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo. At first, doctors reported that he would not need surgery and should recover within a month, but now the injury is a lot more serious as scans have revealed medial ligament and cartilage damage. Edwards will miss the start of the English season for his club. “It’s going to make life a lot more difficult,” Wrexham manager Denis Smith said.
“It’s probably the worse news we’ve had for a fairly long time. We don’t know for sure how bad it is because the knee needs time to settle down. He’ll be operated on in a month’s time. Edwards said: “This means that I’ll most likely have to sit out the next round of the World Cup qualifiers and also miss most of the season for Wrexham.”
In related news, Wrexham have demanded compensation from the Trinidad and Tobago FA after Carlos Edwards was yesterday ruled out of action for SEVEN months due to injury he picked up on international duty.
The 25-year-old wing-back was told by a specialist that a knee injury he sustained playing a World Cup qualifier for Trinidad against the Dominican Republic a fortnight ago requires surgery that could keep him sidelined until the new year.
Wrexham yesterday faxed the TTFA demanding compensation for the crocked player. The League One club hope Edwards' wages will be paid for the full period he is missing from the first team.
The 25-year-old was expected to leave the club at the end of his current contract which runs out next year. But he will now miss a large part of next season, although he hopes to return to action early in the new year.
Edwards said yesterday: "I'm shocked but what more is there to say ? It's going to be a frustrating time for me, because I'm also going to miss out on Trinidad's World Cup campaign.
"Really I just want to get back playing for Wrexham.
"The best chance of getting fit quickly is under (club physio) Mel Pejic's supervision so I'm staying here in Wrexham." Edwards' leg has been put into a splint and he will undergo an operation after the swelling goes down in a month's time.

Wrexham turned down £400k Edwards bid.

By Andy Gilpin & Mark Currie.
08-Jun-2004 - Wrexham will receive just HALF of any transfer fee paid for wing-back Carlos Edwards, the Daily Post can reveal. The Dragons have rejected a bid from First Division Preston North End for the Trinidad international, understood to be around £400,000.
But under the terms of the deal that brought Edwards and his compatriots Hector Sam and Dennis Lawrence to the Racecourse, Wrexham would receive just 50% of the fee, with 40% going to the Trinidad and Tobago FA and 10% to the player.
This means any potential buyer would need to make a massive bid in order to tempt Wrexham into parting with Edwards. It now seems likely that unless the Dragons tie down the player - whose contract runs out at the end of next season - to a longer deal, he will walk away from the club in 12 months' time under the Bosman ruling.
Edwards' agent Mike Berry, who talked to the 25-year-old about the prospective move to Deepdale, said: "Carlos would be happy to try and test himself at a higher level. But on the other hand he would also like to stay on at Wrexham for another year and prove his worth to them."
Dragons assistant manager Kevin Russell claimed the decision was an indication the cash-strapped Race-course outfit would not be stampeded into selling their best players simply in a bid to balance the books.
"We are not in the best of financial positions but that doesn't mean we are going to give players away," he said. "Carlos is one of those we definitely want to keep.
"He has done really well for us in the past couple of season so it's no surprise that other clubs are interested in him but we are going to be running with a small enough squad as it is next season and we can't afford to lose him."
Russell admitted Preston' s approach may just have been an opening bid, although it is doubtful whether Edwards would be tempted by a move to Deepdale.
"It's obvious Preston's offer was some way below our valuation and just because the market has been flat for the past couple of years, it does not mean we will be selling cheaply," added Russell.
"But if Preston come back with an improved bid, we have to be realistic and we all know that the club has to survive.
"To be fair to Carlos, too, we don't want to stand in his way if there is an opportunity for him to play at a higher level and to advance his career, so that has to be considered as well.
"At some stage there may well be a point where that trade-off point is reached but, as I' ve said, we don't want to lose him and I'm delighted that seems to be the case."
Edwards, who joined Wrexham in June 2000, is currently on international duty for Trinidad as they prepare for the start of their World Cup qualification campaign later this month. Last Sunday evening he played a full match against Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, Preston chairman Derek Shaw has confirmed the club will not be increasing their bid of around £200,000 for Wrexham wing-back Carlos Edwards.
Wrexham rejected North End's offer for the 25-year-old Trinidad & Tobago international, while a 50% sell-on clause with Edwards' former club in Trinidad also complicated matters.
Shaw said: "Carlos is a very good player who we were keen on, but he is untried at First Division level and we made Wrexham what we felt was a decent offer.
"As a club, we've had to make several cutbacks in recent years, particularly since the collapse of ITV Digital, and will therefore not stretch ourselves beyond what we have budgeted for or what we feel a certain player is worth."
Meanwhile, Wrexham managing director John Reames has urged supporters to back his decision to keep hold of Carlos Edwards. The Dragons turned down an offer from Preston for the wing-back on Monday. Edwards only has one year left on his contract and could leave for free when that expires next summer. However, Reames insists the club are keen to keep hold of the player, who is on international duty with Trinidad & Tobago.
He told the club's official website: "We received a form offer from Preston and that has been rejected. Carlos still has a year left on his contract, which could mean he leaves for nothing in a year's time as a free agent. "I hope that Wrexham supporters will appreciate this decision, as I feel it shows we want to keep our best players and be successful on the pitch."

Carlos Edwards move to Preston fails.

Skysports.
26-Mar-2004 - Division One side Preston North End failed in a transfer deadline day bid to sign Wrexham ace Carlos Edwards. 
Edwards's agent Mike Berry confirmed to skysports.com that Lilywhites chairman Derek Shaw and his Wrexham counterpart Mark Guterman met on Thursday to discuss a possible move for the 25-year-old. However, both sides were unable to reach a deal before the 5pm deadline for the Trinidad & Tobago international. "I can confirm that Preston made a move for Carlos on deadline day," Berry told skysports.com.
"However, the two clubs failed to come to an agreement.
"Carlos will now concentrate on keeping up his great form with Wrexham." It is understood that Thursday's move for Edwards by the Deepdale club was their second for the highly-rated winger. Edwards has attracted the interest of a host of clubs in The Premiership and Division One in recent months and it remains to be seen if the Caribbean star will be leaving The Racecourse Ground in the summer.

Caribbean Queen.

By Alun Prichard - Daily Post.
27-Jan-2004 - Alun Prichard meets one footballer's wife determined to get her share of the limelight.
IT'S a scenario that would challenge even the script writers of Footballers' Wives, a player's spouse caught up in a gangster shoot-out while on an international singing tour.
And it would have had Victoria Beckham scrambling for headlines, milking the drama for every possible column inch of the red top tabloids.
But it really did happen to Trinidadian Teressa Edwards, the unflappable wife of Wrexham fans' favourite Carlos Edwards, while touring the Caribbean with her church choir.
Small wonder then that she was undeterred by the chorus of chanting and booing that greeted her when she walked out onto Wrexham's Racecourse ground to entertain her husband's fans.
"The worst place to sing was Jamaica, because we were in the heart of the gangster area and every five minutes we'd hear a gunshot go off. But we got through, and if you can get through that you can get through anything," she says philosophically.
This was certainly true when she strode onto the pitch to sing at half time in the Wrexham versus Sheffield Wednesday match to a chorus of boos from the Yorkshire contingent among the 8,000 crowd.
As the wife of one of Wrexham's star players the visiting fans tried to rattle her. Undeterred, she soon turned them around, leaving the pitch to a standing ovation from both sets of fans.
Teressa, 23, and Carlos moved to Wrexham from Trinidad, an island paradise closer to Venezuela than other Caribbean islands, three years ago when Carlos' talent was spotted as he played for the Trinidadian Defence Force Team during his national service.
"I was dead excited for him," Teressa recalls of the moment he was asked to come to Wrexham. "His parents weren't happy that he wanted to do that as a profession with them being religious people. For Seventh Day Adventists like most people back home, having games on the Sabbath is a no no."
But the couple decided to take the plunge and move to North East Wales. "When people used to talk about England we automatically thought London, and we knew about Liverpool and Manchester from the football, then we heard about Wrexham and Wales... OK, where is that ?"
"The hardest thing to adjust to here is the climate. I adjusted to everything else quickly but I'm never going to get completely used to the climate. I came up here for the first time in the middle of summer and I was cold then, and I was thinking, 'why is this place so cold?' Everybody was in shorts and I had a jacket on and thought 'these people are crazy'."
She admits that when the temperatures drop she doesn't come to watch Carlos, preferring to stay at home with their two-year-old son Tristan, who was born in Chester.
Her strong voice has already attracted record producers and she has been juggling looking after Tristan and her job as a sales assistant in Wrexham, with recording self-penned material for a single due for release in February.
She says she owes her talent to the time she spent in the gospel choir at home. "They say that the best vocal training you can get is gospel because you learn how to control your voice and how to manipulate it," she says, twiddling her braids almost shyly.
It is no coincidence that the likes of Whitney Houston started out in a gospel choir. "If I had to categorize my music I'd say probably it's around Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin," she says.
Although her voice is already making waves she is very aware that the British music charts are dominated by the likes of Pop Idol winners. "The industry now just want an image instead of a proper voice like..." she pauses, and with a mischievous smile whispers a little aside referring to that other singing footballer's wife, "... like Victoria Beckham. There's no voice there, they probably have the looks, go shake their bun and there you have a big hit. What I'm hoping is that soon voices will come back in." If they do it will be no surprise if they turn to this softly spoken taxi driver's daughter from the Caribbean who laughs as easily as her international footballer husband passes the ball.

Sunderland, Norwich after Carlos Edwards.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
23-Dec-2003 - Midfielder Carlos Edwards is likely to be playing in a higher Division in 2004.
Edwards has been linked to several clubs in recent months, most notably Premiership side Leeds United, and with the transfer window opening in January, his Second Division side Wrexham may lose his services.
Edwards has one year left on contract following the current season. Other clubs now in the chase for him include First Division campaigners Sunderland as well as Norwich City, which is currently top in Division One and Wigan Athletic, which is now fourth in the same division, Premiership side Leeds United and Scottish Premier League side Dundee, team of local defender Brent Sancho have also shown interest.
“I am well aware that there are interests from clubs, but at the moment my contract is with Wrexham and I will like to help take them higher up the table and maybe even into the First Division,” Edwards said on Monday.
“It’s every player’s dream to play at a higher level and the bigger picture is obviously the Premiership, but I don’t want to get taken away by any hype. So at this time I will just continue giving my best at Wrexham until something else comes up.”
He added: “At the moment, we would like to be a more consistent in terms of results but we are not doing too badly and hopefully myself, Hector (Sam) and Dennis (Lawrence) can put it together with the rest of the team and get back to winning ways.”

Leeds on trail of Carlos Edwards.

planetfootball.com
24-Sept-2003 - Leeds United have joined the chase for Wrexham wing back Carlos Edwards. The Whites have been frequent visitors to The Racecourse Ground this season as they continue to monitor defensive starlet Craig Morgan.
Whilst Morgan remains high on Peter Reid's list of potential buys, Edwards has emerged as another target after a string of eye-catching performances.
The Trinidad & Tobago star moved to North Wales in 2001 from Defence Force in his homeland.
The 24-year-old has since made over 100 appearances for The Red Dragons and is now attracting a great deal of attention with his displays.
Newcastle United are another Premiership outfit understood to be monitoring his progress and now Leeds have joined the chase.
The player's agent Mike Berry said his talented client is concentrating on his duties with Wrexham. "Carlos is a class act," he told planetfootball.com.
"His time will come, but he needs to concentrate on playing with Wrexham right now."

The Rush is on for Carlos Edwards.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
05-Jun-2003 - English-based midfielder Carlos Edwards, fresh from scoring in T&T’s 2-0 win over Kenya’s Olympic team, is being chased by newly promoted Division Two teams Rushden and Diamonds and Hartlepool. But the former Defence Force player is satisfied with his conditions at Wrexham where he recently signed a two-year deal alongside local striker Hector Sam.
The Division Three all star returns to Trinidad with the T&T team before traveling to Wrexham next month to join the “Red Dragons” for the Isle of Man tournament involving Rushden, team of Jamaican striker Onandi Lowe, Rotherham and Blackpool. They will also face Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion in other preseason games.
“I will go back to Trinidad to see about some businesswith my wife before returning with her to England on June 27. We start training on July 2. The disappointing news is that topscorer Andy Morrel has gone to Coventry City but on the positive side, we were promoted to the Second Division and I didn’t do too badly so it’s just to pick up from there. We should do well this season,” Edwards said in Nairobi.
On the topic of the sides after him, which agent Mike Berry is monitoring, Edwards said “Hartlepool and Rushden are interested but it’s up to them to put the cards on the table. You will always want better and I don’t think Wrexham will put themselves in my way. They will cash in if a good bid comes up but at the moment I’m at Wrexham and that’s where my priorities lie.”

Fans vote Carlos Edwards best player.

By: Shaun Fuestes.
14-May-2003 - Less than a month after being named on the Professional Players Association English Third Division “Team of the Year”, Carlos Edwards will walk away with two more accolades this weekend.
Having just completed a successful season for Wrexham, Edwards has been voted “Player of the year” by the supporters. His goal against Torquet earlier this year was also voted “Goal of the year”.
Teammate Andy Morrell, who topscored with 34 goals, was named the club’s official player of the year. Edwards will receive the awards at Wrexham’s awards ceremony on Saturday. “It’s an honour to be recognised by the fans. These two awards sum up what has been a good and enjoyable season for me,” said Edwards.
His countryman, defender Dennis Lawrence, netted in last weekend’s 6-1 win over Newport County to pace Wrexham to the Welsh Cup title. Wrexham have also been promoted to the English Second Division.
Edwards, Lawrence and Hector Sam are scheduled to be in Trinidad this month as all are expected to travel with the National team to South Africa later this month.

Carlos Edwards makes ‘Team of the Year’.

By: Shaun Fuestes.
15-Apr-2003 - Midfielder Carlos Edwards has been named on the Professional Football Association’s (PFA) Third Division Team of the Year for the 2002/2003 season.
The Wrexham star, who netted his sixth goal of the season in a 4-0 win over RHYL FC on Monday, will join the rest of all star players including those from the Premiership at a gala awards dinner in London next month. He and Wrexham teammate, leading goalscorer Andy Morrell, has also been selected on the “Team of the Year.”
“It came as a surprise for me but to be honest this has been one of my most productive seasons and it was just a matter of time before something happened. I was happy in a sense but I just hope that the team can keep doing better. My aim is to go higher but you must creep before you walk. The aim is just to get the team promoted to the Second Division,” said Edwards, while in the company of Superstar Rangers chairman Richard Fakoory and Pro Sports Caribbean representative Peter Miller at the Racecourse Ground, Wales on Monday.
The former St Anthony’s College and Defence Force star made his 100th appearance for Wrexham last Wednesday against Shrewsbury and now has 16 goals in three seasons for the club. He will hope to lead the “Red Dragons” to the Welsh Cup title when they face Newport City in the final with $100,000 pounds at stake next month.

Carlos Edwards gets his 90 minutes.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
27-Mar-2003 - Wrexham midfielder Carlos Edwards had a smile on his face as he enjoyed some resting time following dinner at the Royal Palm Suite Hotel on Wednesday night after T&T's 2-0 victory over Antigua and Barbuda.
Not only was the former Defence Force man satisfied with the result but moreso, it was his first full 90-minute appearance for the National Senior team since making his debut in 1999.
"It was a nice feeling today being back playing with the guys for the first time in maybe a year and a half. Again it was nice experience linking up with guys like Stern and Marvin, Brent, Evans and the others. Coming through the 90 minutes was also a nice feeling. It was my first full 90 minutes for the national team," Edwards told TTFF Media.
"It was a positive start for us and I'm just looking forward to the next two games and the remainder of the Gold Cup campaign."
He believes that the players and technical staff members will continue to strengthen their ties as the days go by.
"There's always room for improvement and I think the coach and the rest of the guys will just come more together over the rest of the games and get things going. Things are looking positive and hopefully things will just move on from here. It's all down to the players and the staff," added Edwards.
Another one of the "Soca Warriors" who was quietly confident was Evans Wise after scoring his first goal for T&T in some years.
"The result was a positive one for us. The last time I played was during the 2002 World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and this win was a good feeling. It's even a better feeling to score for the national team because I haven't score many before wearing the national shirt. There were the obvious butterflies but not for the fact that I had not played in a while for the country," said Wise.

Carlos Edwards & Hector Sam gets new work permits.

Wrexham Football Club.
6-Mar-2003 - Welch top football club Wrexham recieved some good news this week as both Hector Sam and Carlos Edwards have been granted new work permits.
The club was represented at this morning’s panel hearing in Preston by David Rhodes, Denis Smith and Joey Jones, when a nine-man committee considered our request for an extension to their present permits.
The panel was made up of three members from the football industry, three from the Government departments concerned, plus one each from the Football League, FAW and the PFA.
After the hearing the panel congratulated the club on presenting such a well laid out case and promised us an answer with in a few hours.
Sure enough, late this afternoon a phonecall confirmed that both Hector and Carlos had been granted a two-year extension.
“I’m relieved that the hearing came down on our side,” said Denis Smith. “As both players have made a good contribution to the club since their arrival and we would like to think that they will continue to do so in the years ahead.

Carlos Edwards nets late winner.

By: Shaun Fuentes.
10-Sept-2002 - Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Carlos Edwards couldn't have delivered at a better time for English Third Division club Wrexham. The former St Anthony's College player netted an injury time winner to give the "Red Dragons" a 2-1 win over Bradford City in the first round of the Worthington Cup yesterday.
Andy Morrell equalised for Wrexham in the 89th minute and then Edwards who played the entire match, stepped up to net the winner and caused huge celebrations among the club's fans.
Edwards' T&T teammate Hector Sam also made a start and went close in the opening moments of the match. Defender Dennis Lawrence was on the bench for Wrexham.

Rene Simoes states: 'Lawrence and Edwards not talented enough'.

By Kwame Williams.
19-Feb-2002 - Rene simoes, Trinidad and Tobago's national football coach, said defender Dennis Lawrence and midfielder Carlos Edwards are not talented enough to play for him.
Simoes, who is also T&T technical director was responding to the comments made by football agent Mike Berry, who is calling on Simoes to give Hector Sam, Clayton Ince, Lawrence and Edwards (who all play in the English Second Division) an opportunity to represent their country.
Simoes, who took over the national team from Scottish Coach Ian Porterfeild in June said that Lawrence and Edwards never impressed him and this is why they were not selected for his Gold Cup squad.
"It is my decision as coach to pick who I think should play. I saw Dennis Lawrence and Carlos Edwards in action when the team was being coached by Porterfield and frankly I was not impressed by their performances," said Simoes.
"Where age issue is concerned, I told everyone that after the Gold Cup I will be looking at the younger players with respect to qualification for the 2006 World Cup. Although Dennis is younger than Reynold Carrington, who is over 30, I find Reynold to be the better defender," Simoes added.
"The players I select are the ones that suit my style of coaching and play. These agents have their own agendas to see about so it is only natural that he (Mike Berry) would be displeased if his clients are not selected," he went on to say.
Clayton Ince, who was on the Gold Cup roster but did not get to play, was also disappointed by Simoes' choice to start Shaka Hislop instead of himself, but all Simoes had to say about that was, "I think Shaka is the better goalie."
Simoes admits that he has only seen Hector Sam on highlight tapes but said he has already told Sam that he would be invited for any friendly games that Trinidad and Tobago will be playing.

Carlos Edwards completes Wrexham victory.

By: fleX.
14-Feb-2002 - Preston North End player Jackson headed past his own keeper David Lucas in the eighth minute to put The Red Dragons (Wrexham) in front before T&T's Carlos Edwards completed the scoring when he nodded home the second in the 15th minute in the Avon Insurance League Premier Division.
Carlos Edwards: "I haven't been playing in the first team, so I knew this was a chance to impress the gaffer. I've just got to get back to my normal self and make an impression on the manager.
"It wasn't a good game, but it was an important win and we're happy to take the two goals and the three points. The confidence is coming back - I haven't been playing much in the first team, as I said, but I'm still enjoying myself - it's still fun!
"The goal was shocking for me - I haven't been scoring many goals with my head! I'll take that one!"

T&T Carlos Edwards demolishes Clarets.

17-Jan-2002 - Carlos Edwards could be in contention for Saturday's (19-Jan-02) clash with Oldham after his sparkling display in the reserves' 7-1 victory over Burnley. 
The pattern of play was set as early as the second minute when Carlos Edwards crashed a shot onto the post and he was standing in the bye line, about five yards in from the corner flag!
Ten minutes later Lee Trundle beat two men on the left wing before sending over a great cross that Edwards got on the end of. The winger crashed his volley down into the ground from about 10 yards out and it bounced up and over the crossbar as Greek keeper Luigi Cennamo stood and watched.
Any thoughts of calling it a day we brushed aside as Carlos Edwards grabbed the goal that his play on the night had so richly deserved. On 88 minutes he ran on his own to the edge of the box and with Wrexham shirts all around him, decided to finish the move himself, beating the dispirited keeper with an angled shot into the left hand corner of the net.
As Wrexham boss Denis Smith was laid up at home ill yesterday, he may now face a further headache over the selection of the team to face The Latics at Boundary Park. 
The reserve team put in a stunning display to demolish a high-flying Burnley side 7-1 last night and at the hub of all the action was Trinidad international Edwards. 
The young striker was on the scoresheet again and is now looking to force his was into Paul Brush's squad on a regular basis, and with performances like this, it should only be a matter of time.

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