Former Bristol Rovers defender Christian Edwards leads Cardiff Met to another Cup final

Former Bristol Rovers defender Christian Edwards has led his Cardiff Met team to another Cup final as he continues to be a success in management.

The 46-year-old has been in charge of the university side for over a decade and has now taken them to a sixth major final.

His side beat Barry Town United 3-2 in the semi-final of the League Cup on Saturday, to reach the final for the third time.

They initially trailed the match but former AFC Wimbledon striker Adam Roscrow equalised, before goals from Emlyn Lewis and Eliot Evans put them on their way to victory.

Cardiff Met will play the Connah’s Quay Nomads, who are defending their trophy after the curtailment of the competition in 20/21.

His other previous finals included winning the League Cup in 2019, as well as, remarkably, qualifying for the Europa League qualifiers with the University team in the same year, becoming just the second academic team to qualify.

He is in his last season in charge of the Welsh club after deciding to stand down at the end of the current season.

Despite it being 15-years since he left the Mem, the one-time Wales international still has a good working relationship with his former club.

Last season, academy duo Harry Warwick and Ollie Hulbert spent time out on loan at Cyncoed Campus, as the pair sought first-team football to aid their development.

Warwick is no longer at the club, but Hulbert is now excelling for Gloucester City in the National League North under another former Rovers player Lee Mansell.

When it comes to his playing career, Edwards spent three years with the Gas after being brought to the club by Ray Graydon from Nottingham Forest.

He started off his career at Rovers partnering Adam Barrett before playing with the likes of Steve Elliott and Aaron Lescott and went on to make just under 100 appearances.

After Paul Trollope decided not to renew his contract at Rovers, Edwards initially called time on his career at just 30-years-old but dropped to the non-league with Forest Green Rovers.

His stay with the Gloucestershire club would be short though as he would make just nine appearances.

He joined Welsh side Aberystwyth Town in January 2007, making more than 100 appearances before making the smooth transition into management, first as caretaker at Aberystwyth before working as an assistant.

After leaving the Mid Wales team, he began his studies and eventually earned a PhD which has given him a doctorate in sociology, covering issues mainly in football.