David Edgar, right, is expected to anchor Canada's defence at the under-20 World Cup this summer. (Ermindo Armino/Associated Press)
Soccer
Canadian teen David Edgar kicks it up a notch for Newcastle
Defender follows in his father's soccer footsteps
Last Updated Weds., Jan. 10, 2007
By John F. Molinaro, CBC Sports
While many 19-year-olds spent New Year's Day recovering from a night of partying and drinking, David Edgar was busy scoring against one of the biggest soccer clubs in the world.
Edgar, from Kitchener, Ont., was the centre of attention on Jan. 1 in a game between Premiership leader Manchester United and hometown Newcastle United before a sellout crowd of 52,000 at St. James' Park.
With Newcastle trailing 2-1 late in the second half, Edgar unleashed a curling shot from 30 yards out that took a deflection and breezed beyond the reach of a diving Edwin Van der Sar, Manchester's goalkeeper, before nestling just inside the far post.
Edgar, in only his second game for Newcastle, was immediately mobbed by his teammates after his amazing goal in the 74th minute that sent spectators screaming.
Buoyed by the young Canadian, Newcastle went on to earn an improbable but well-deserved draw, and kept the Premiership title chase close by preventing Manchester from taking a nine-point lead over second-place Chelsea.
"It was unbelievable. Just playing at St. James' Park was good enough, but to score in my home debut and for it to be the equalizer against Manchester United was pretty special," Edgar told CBC Sports Online on the phone from England.
Making the occasion even more special for Edgar was the fact his father Eddie, who played one game for Newcastle United as a goalkeeper in the mid-1970s, was among those cheering him on in the stands.
Has a flair for flashy goals
For a defender, Edgar has an incredible flair for scoring highlight-reel goals.
On his 19th birthday last May, Edgar celebrated by scoring on a spectacular volley to help Canada's under-20 team upset Brazil 2-1 in an exhibition game in Edmonton. It was the first time a Canadian men's team had beaten the South American powerhouse at any age level.
"That was one of my better goals," recalled Edgar about his strike against Brazil. "I don't score many goals, but when I do, they seem to come at the right time."
Although the final roster hasn't been announced yet, expect to see Edgar anchoring Canada's defence at the under-20 World Cup this summer. As one of the team's key players, Edgar will have to be at the top of his game if Canada hopes to go far in the tournament, which is on Canadian soil for the first time in its 30-year history.
"I think we have a great chance of doing well. In 2003, when Canada lost in the quarter-finals in Spain, that was a big deal. They had a great squad but I think we've got a great squad, if not better," said Edgar.
"We have a lot of players playing in Europe, everybody's getting good experience and we've had some good results lately against Brazil and the Czech Republic. I think we can compete quite well."
Manager tells Edgar to keep grounded
On New Year's Day, Manchester manager Sir Alex Ferguson rotated his attackers on the wings throughout the contest, but neither speedy Portuguese trickster Cristiano Ronaldo nor Welsh veteran Ryan Giggs could get the better of Edgar.
Edgar's performance was all the more amazing because the six-foot-three central defender was playing at left-back. An ability to play anywhere on the back-line appears to be among his major assets: in a 2-1 loss to Bolton the previous week, Edgar played at right-back in his Premiership debut.
"It wasn't too bad. I was a bit nervous before the game when I found out Ronaldo was playing against me, but I coped with him quite well. It wasn't too awkward," said Edgar of playing out of position.
Edgar has made steady progress in Newcastle's reserve team since joining the club's youth academy at age 14. With several of Newcastle's regular defenders injured, Edgar was finally called up by manager Glenn Roeder to make his senior team debut on Boxing Day against Bolton.
Five days later, he was again in the starting lineup and made the most of the chance, impressing the manager with his solid defensive skills and by scoring that stunning goal. After the game, Roeder congratulated the young Canadian but told him to stay focused.
"He said he was proud of me … but he didn't want to over-hype the situation because he knew I would be getting a lot of media attention. He just told me to keep my feet on the ground, and that you're only as good as your last game," Edgar said.
Newcastle still has injury problems, and although Roeder has not made any promises to Edgar, the Canadian is anxious to prove to the manager that he deserves a shot at staying up with the senior team.
"Obviously, my debut came through injuries, but hopefully I've done enough to prove that I can play at that level and try to force my way into the lineup sooner rather than later," he said.
More on David Edgar
- Name: David Edgar
Date of birth: May 19, 1987
Place of birth: Kitchener, Ont.
Club: Newcastle United (England)
Position: Central defender
Canadian Under-20 team debut: Oct. 15, 2003 vs. Panama
Caps/Goals: 19/1
