Player #387 for Aston Villa, George Edwards, played as a forward for the club. George played for Villa between 1938-39 and 1950-51 making 152 appearances and scoring 41 goals.

George was born in Great Yarmouth on 1 April 1918 and made his debut appearance for Villa on the 5 November 1938 aged 20.

Villa had signed George from Norwich City and he went on to appear for Villa three times in his debut season before the break-out of World War Two led to a suspension of league and cup football.

George came to Villa Park in June 1938 as a winger but was unable to force his way into a Villa side that contained the wing talents of Eric Houghton, Frank Broome and Albert Kerr. Luckily however George was able to play across multiple positions in the forward line.

George was no stranger to success however - aged 15 he won the Norfolk County Schoolboys’ 100 yards swimming championship at Great Yarmouth as well as developing into a useful performer with a billiards cue.

Like many players, George was drafted into war service and was only released on demobilisation in July 1945 and but for the intervention of Villa’s long term secretary - who was acting in a team management capacity ahead of the appointment of Alex Massie - that George was tried as leader of the attack which transformed his time with Villa.

As a result of the change in position,George broke into the first team with considerable force in the 1945-46 regional league - hitting 43 goals in 43 league and cup games although only 8 of those games and 4 of those goals came in the FA Cup which were the only professional fixtures of the campaign,

George’s spell as a centre forward during war-time football proved highly successful - ending 1945-46 as the League South’s most prolific scorer.

The resumption of league football proper in 1946-47 saw George’s career take off. He was a virtual ever present over the following three seasons to 1948-49.

However with the arrival of Trevor Ford as Villa’s centre forward, George returned to his original position of outside right and latterly in his career used his craft and ball control to excel in the inside forward position to support the likes of Les Smith.

Yet his goalscoring prowess continued - George scored after just 13.5 seconds in the FA Cup tie with Manchester United in the 1947-48 season and gained a strong reputation for wonderful footwork and an ability that once under way took a lot of stopping by the opposition side whilst being with skilful and brainy - a most excellent combination that helped him score many memorable goals and make many opportunities for his comrades.

Whatever position he was playing in, on his day George was a true match winner with his bewildering body swerve and tantalising dribbles helping him corkscrew shaken defences.

As a player with a deceptively rapid turn of speed who was good with his feet, capable in the air and who was a finisher par excellence, it was no surprise that plaudits for George’s contribution to Villa and football in general were widespread.

Team-mate Trevor Ford was enchanted by George’s ability whilst lamenting his lack of International recognition “George was one of the finest uncapped players I have ever seen, let alone played with.”

George was also a huge fan favourite and he was still being celebrated two decades after his retired with one fan penning a eulogy in the Sports Argus that read: “In his day, George was to soccer what Muhammad Ali has been to boxing. He was the greatest.”

Despite his commitment and contribution, George’s time at Villa wasn’t a period of great success for the club with a 6th place finish the highest league placing for the club.

George played his final game for Villa on 20 January 1951 at the age of 32 after which he moved on to Bilston United.

George played under managers Jimmy Hogan, Alex Massie and George Martin.

George passed away in Lapworth, Warwickshire on 21st January 1993 aged 74."