Edmonds: Derek James (Derek)

1969-1972 (Player Details)

Goalkeeper

Born: Hexham, Northumberland: 09-11-1950

Debut: Nil

5'10 1/2" 11st 8lb (1969)

An England Youth International, Edmonds joined the Leeds groundstaff as an apprentice, signing professional forms on 11th January 1967. United had three youthful keepers at the time. Gary Sprake was barely twenty-two, but already a seasoned International, David Harvey not yet twenty and Edmonds only sixteen. Harvey was already well into his marathon stint in the Leeds Central League team with Sprake an ever-present first team custodian, so there was just a place in the Juniors for Edmonds as he learnt his trade. He did find himself on the bench in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup on 3rd October 1967 in the away leg with Spora Luxembourg and on 29th November 1967 in the away leg with Partizan Belgrade as David Harvey deputised for Gary Sprake. Similarly he was again on the bench on 9th April 1968 for the home leg with Rangers and on 1st May 1968 at Dundee. That was as close as he got to making his debut for Leeds. On 5th January 1970 he left Elland Road for Second Division Watford. He made eleven appearances in the League in what remained of the 1970-71 season and then made four appearances in the 1971-72 season before leaving to play for Capetown City in South Africa. He stayed there until he returned to England at the start of the 1974-75 season, when he joined Fourth Division Southport. He only made two League appearances before leaving to join the Durham Police Force.