 Edwards was born in Shrewsbury, educated at Shifnal Grammar School, and was a qualified solicitor, being admitted in 1871.He played from 1873 to 1880 for Shropshire Wanderers, of which he was a founder and captain, when they reached the semi-final tie of the FA Cup in 1874–75 and were defeated by the Old Etonians.He was called into the England side as a late replacement for another Shrewsbury-born player, John Wylie.