Shrewsbury legend Dave Edwards ready to re-ignite love with football after fairytale return

The former Wales midfielder penned a two-and-a-half year Shrewsbury deal after leaving his previous club Reading.

The Pontesbury boy, 32, had a difficult couple of years with the Royals.

Edwards, who always said he wanted to return and play for the club he supports before retiring, said: “I’m absolutely buzzing. You can’t take the smile off my face at the moment.

“My wife and my children are absolutely delighted, you haven’t been able to take the smiles off their faces.

“When I was living down in Luton they stayed in Shropshire, my kids are in school in Pontesbury, I didn’t feel it was right to move them down.

“After a couple of frustrating years at Reading my love for football started to deteriorate and I felt this was the only place I could come and have that passion and desire to push my career forward again. To start enjoying football again.

“It means a lot more when there’s a bit more pressure on you. I feel I’ll have a bit of pressure here being a supporter on the pitch.

“I feel the pressure of the fans and the will to do well, I need that at this stage of my career.

“And still only 32, I think I have lots of offer, I don’t feel I’ve lost any of my physical capabilities. Hopefully I can get a few weeks training, some minutes under the belt and really push on.”

The Welshman has not played any competitive football this season after overcoming a medial knee ligament injury.

Edwards is reunited with close friend Sam Ricketts, Town’s boss. The duo are former team-mates from their time at Wolves and with Wales.

The midfielder said of his new boss: “There is obviously going to have to be a divide.

“We’ve been really good mates but in a way that can’t continue on that same level, he’s my manager and there has to be that divide.”

The Shrewsbury academy graduate, who could make his second Town debut at Port Vale tonight, admitted he watched on with envy as Shrews almost reached the Championship last season.

He added: “I really think the building blocks are there to get into the Championship. It’s something you’ll get into folklore for.

“Last year they nearly did it. If I can be part of a squad that gets into the Championship it would mean everything to me.”