born in treherbert, edwards began his football career at swansea town as an amateur and made his debut in the football league at the end of the 1938–39 season. during the early years of the second world war, he continued to study for a degree at swansea university while still playing for swansea town. called up to serve in the raf, he was stationed in the midlands, and guested for coventry city on a number of occasions.