Toby Edser Explained

Toby Edser
Fullname:Toby George Edser[1]
Birth Date:28 February 1999[2]
Birth Place:Guildford, England
Height:1.74m[3]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Ebbsfleet United
Clubnumber:17
Youthclubs1:Guildford Saints
Youthyears2:2007–2014
Youthclubs2:Fulham
Youthyears3:2014–2015
Youthclubs3:Charlton Athletic
Youthyears4:2015–2018
Youthclubs4:Nottingham Forest
Years1:2018–2020
Clubs1:Nottingham Forest
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2018
Clubs2:Woking (loan)
Caps2:11
Goals2:2
Years3:2019
Clubs3:Port Vale (loan)
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2019
Clubs4:Woking (loan)
Caps4:13
Goals4:1
Years5:2020–2022
Clubs5:Aldershot Town
Caps5:62
Goals5:5
Years6:2022–
Clubs6:Ebbsfleet United
Caps6:80
Goals6:12
Club-Update:17:31, 28 April 2024 (UTC)

Toby George Edser (born 28 February 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Ebbsfleet United.

Edser began his senior career at Nottingham Forest and spent time on loan at Woking and Port Vale. He never played a first-team game with Nottingham Forest and joined Aldershot Town after being released in June 2020. He joined Ebbsfleet United after two seasons with Aldershot and helped Ebbsfleet to win the National League South title at the end of the 2022–23 season.

Early and personal life

Edser is from Burpham and attended George Abbot School.

Career

Nottingham Forest

Edser was spotted by Fulham playing for the Guildford Saints as an eight-year-old and was signed to the club's Academy until his release at age 15. He was then an associated schoolboy at Charlton Athletic before he signed a two-year scholarship at Nottingham Forest in 2015.[4] He helped Forest's under-18 team to win their league and reach the fifth round of the FA Youth Cup during the 2015–16 season. He went on to captain the under-23 side the following season and was an unused substitute for the first-team in the Championship, first appearing on the bench at the City Ground in October 2016; it was reported that he was expected to have made his senior debut had Mark Warburton's side not taken until the final day of the season to secure safety from relegation.[5] [6] He went on to sign a new three-year contract,[7] but found breaking into the first-team more difficult during the 2017–18 season due to an influx of midfielders signed in the summer.[8] [9]

On 19 October 2018, he joined National League South side Woking on a one-month loan deal.[10] He made his debut for the "Cardinals" at the Kingfield Stadium the next day, helping his new team to beat Welling United 1–0 in the fourth qualification round of the FA Cup.[11] After his loan was extended he scored his first goal for the club on 24 November, in a 2–0 victory over Folkestone Invicta in the third qualification round of the FA Trophy to secure the "Cards" a place in the first round proper of the competition.[12] Woking went on to cause a cup upset in the second round proper of the FA Cup, knocking out League Two side Swindon Town at the County Ground.[13] He scored a total of four goals in 19 appearances for Alan Dowson's Woking. On 31 January 2019, he joined League Two club Port Vale on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season.[14]

He returned on loan to Woking in August 2019, who were now playing in the National League.[15] He later said he regretted leaving Woking after his first spell.[16] He was released by Nottingham Forest at the end of the 2019–20 season.[17]

Aldershot Town

On 18 September 2020, Edser signed with National League side Aldershot Town and said, "I'm really happy; it's been a bit stressful over the last few months".[18] [19] He scored four goals in 43 league appearances in the 2020–21 season and was re-signed for another year.[20] However, he missed two months of the 2021–22 campaign with injury, marking his return to fitness in January with a goal in a 1–1 draw with Maidenhead United at the Recreation Ground.[21]

Ebbsfleet United

In July 2022, he signed for National League South side Ebbsfleet United following a trial.[22] [23] He scored twelve goals from 47 appearances in the 2022–23 season, including a hat-trick in a final day 5–0 win over Hungerford Town at Stonebridge Road.[24] Ebbsfleet won the National League South title, setting a club record of 32 wins and 109 goals.[25] He then featured 39 times in the 2023–24 season.

Style of play

Edser has been described by the Port Vale club website as "a talented playmaker with a strong technical ability".[26] The Nottingham Forest club website stated that "his intelligence on the ball allows him to dictate play wherever he is on the field".[27] He has described himself as "quite a leader on the pitch".[28]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Nottingham Forest2018–19Championship0000000000
Woking (loan)2018–19[29] National League South112400042194
Port Vale (loan)2018–19League Two0000000000
Woking (loan)2019–20National League131100000141
Aldershot Town2020–21National League433100031474
2021–22National League192100010212
2022–23National League0000000000
Total625200041686
Ebbsfleet United2022–23National League South43113100104712
2023–24National League371100010391
2024–25National League0000000000
Total80124100208613
Career total166201110010318630

Honours

Ebbsfleet United

2022–23[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Retained List 2016–17. English Football League. 13 June 2017.
  2. Web site: FootballSquads – Port Vale – 2018/2019 . www.footballsquads.co.uk . 1 February 2021.
  3. Web site: FootballSquads – Port Vale – 2018/2019 . www.footballsquads.co.uk . 24 June 2019.
  4. Web site: Profile. 31 January 2019. Nottingham Forest F.C..
  5. News: Taylor . Paul . Edser hoping to follow in footsteps of Worrall and Brereton at Forest . 3 February 2019 . Nottingham Post . 11 July 2017.
  6. News: Nottingham Forest 1–2 Cardiff City . 3 February 2019 . BBC Sport . 22 October 2016.
  7. Web site: Toby Edser is 'star to come' at Nottingham Forest. James. Pallatt. 11 August 2017. NottinghamshireLive.
  8. News: Cooper . Barry . Forest teenager Toby Edser open to loan move to become a 'better player' . 3 February 2019 . Nottingham Post . 30 October 2017.
  9. News: Taylor . Paul . Forest's philosophy gives Edser hope he will get a chance under Warburton . 3 February 2019 . Nottingham Post . 1 September 2017.
  10. Web site: Woking loanee ready to 'kick on' his career after Nottingham Forest switch. 19 October 2018. 31 January 2019. Clive Youlter. Get Surrey.
  11. Web site: Stobbart . Dan . Woking Football Club First Team Match Centre Woking 1 – 0 Welling United . www.wokingfc.co.uk . 3 February 2019.
  12. News: Edser stars as Woking cruise Woking News and Mail . 3 February 2019 . Woking News & Mail . 27 November 2018.
  13. News: Forest midfielder Toby Edser helps Woking spring FA Cup shock . 3 February 2019 . Nottingham Post . 2 December 2018.
  14. Web site: Port Vale: Kyle Howkins, Callum Whelan and Toby Edser join on loan. 31 January 2019. 31 January 2019. BBC Sport.
  15. Web site: Toby Edser returns. Woking FC Official Site.
  16. Web site: Toby Edser is back to loving life with Cards as he cracks winner. Stephen. Page. 29 August 2019. SurreyLive.
  17. Web site: Retained list 2020 . efl.com . 27 September 2020.
  18. News: NEW SIGNING: Shots Sign Edser! Aldershot Town FC . 27 September 2020 . 18 September 2020.
  19. News: Pallatt . James . Former Forest prospect Edser has a new club . 27 September 2020 . NottinghamshireLive . 19 September 2020.
  20. News: Searle continues to build squad to fire Shots ahead . 21 May 2022 . PressReader . 30 June 2021.
  21. News: Aldershot Town 1-1 Maidenhead United: Comeback kid Edser on hand to save Shots . 21 May 2022 . The Non-League Football Paper . 9 January 2022.
  22. Web site: Edser-prise as 'Trialist A' signs for season.
  23. Web site: 'Trialist A' lands Ebbsfleet deal . 27 July 2022 .
  24. News: Panting . Matthew . 'I saw from the first day he's an outstanding footballer' . 1 May 2023 . Kent Online . 30 April 2023 . en.
  25. News: Miller . Ed . Fleet 5-0 Hungerford Town . 1 May 2023 . Ebbsfleet United Football Club Official Website of the Fleet . 29 April 2023.
  26. Web site: McLellan . Max . Toby Edser signs on loan for the Vale . Port Vale F.C. . 3 February 2019 . en-gb.
  27. Web site: Toby Edser – Midfielder – Under 23s – Nottingham Forest . www.nottinghamforest.co.uk . 3 February 2019.
  28. News: Cooper . Barry . Forest youngster Toby Edser relishing chance to play football for Woking . 3 February 2019 . Nottingham Post . 19 October 2018.
  29. Web site: Woking Football Club First Team League Table & Stats 2018/19 . www.wokingfc.co.uk . 3 February 2019.