FEATURE: Globetrotting Jake Edwards happy to put down roots with Solihull Moors

Mar 28 2009 by Colin Stoner, Birmingham Mail

JAKE Edwards has clocked up more miles than a trans-European lorry driver in chasing his football dream.

Since arriving from America aged 22, the striker has headed north, south, east and west but home is now well and truly Solihull Moors.

His 11th club in his 11th season in England is literally down the road for the Solihull-based player – and that fact was the deciding factor when he was weighing up offers to join a host of clubs last season.

The forward – whose career highlights including playing against both Liverpool and Manchester United in FA Cup dramas – helped Burton Albion to within sight of the play-off final last term, only for Cambridge United to leave the Brewers bitterly disappointed. Edwards was released as Nigel Clough shaped the squad which this season looks set to secure the Conference title.

“I would have liked to have stayed at Burton, but Nigel probably felt he needed to change things,” said Edwards.

“I was looking to stay full-time but the opportunities I had were from the other ends of the country. My wife has settled here in Solihull with her job and I didn’t want to uproot.

“I spoke to Bob [Faulkner] and I could see he was assembling a decent squad with players like Simon Travis and Jake Sedgemore, so it appealed.

“The location is great too. It’s the shortest I’ve ever had to travel as a player. It’s ten minutes by car but short enough for me to be able to ride my bike to the ground sometimes.”

Edwards would have needed the perpetual motion of Tour de France legend Lance Armstrong to cycle to his first stint in English football.

Despite being born in Manchester, he grew up in Malawi, Borneo and then in New Jersey in the States as his dad’s job with an airline took him around the world.

But football was his sporting love and, having been on a four-year scholarship in college in the US, he flew over for trials at Tranmere Rovers and Wrexham at the age of 22 and the Welsh side were sufficiently impressed to offer him a contract.

Having made 11 league appearances for the Dragons, he then became Telford United’s record signing when Alan Lewer paid £20,000 in 2000, before moving to Yeovil Town, Exeter City and then Tamworth to set up a remarkable FA Cup hat-trick.