Edghill reached 250 for Curzon

Curzon Ashton president Jack Crompton has presented Phil Edghill with a memento of his 250th appearance for the club.

Phil signed for Curzon just after the start of the 2004-2005 season and scored on his debut, earning Curzon a point with their goal in the 1-1 draw at Squires Gate in a North West Counties League Division One fixture on 31st August 2004. He went on to make 38 appearances, plus four as sub, scoring 10 goals in his first season.

He had a similar record the following season, starting 36 games plus two as sub, and again scoring 10 goals.

He left at the end of that 2005-2006 season but turned out for the Blues twice the following season (2006-2007), in their first leg of their FA Vase Semi Final at home to Truro and in a league game against Formby.

He re-joined Curzon in 2008-2009 and immediately re-established himself as an important member of the squad, starting 42 games with another nine as sub, and of the nine goals he scored, five were really significant.

Asked to play as a lone striker at Stocksbridge Park Steels, he responded with a match winning performance, scoring both goals in their 2-1 win over the Yorkshire side in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round.

He repeated the feat with two goals in the next round at home to neighbours Mossley in a 4-3 win – it was the year of Curzon’s famous FA Cup run and Phil had already played a significant part.

He also scored the only goal of the game against Skelmersdale United in that season’s play-off semi-final, though sadly, Curzon lost in the final to Newcastle Blue Star.

2009-2010 was almost identical to his previous season, making 43 starts and 8 as sub, but he again contributed ten goals, although none were as dramatic as his previous season’s exploits. Two goals at Leek Town in the League Cup run plus the last minute clincher at Garforth Town on the last day of the season, which confirmed third place – Curzon’s highest league position so far – stand out.

Last season he was on course for another 50 plus appearances when he suffered a fractured cheekbone in the home game against Warrington Town, a 0-2 defeat, and so he missed the run-in. However, he still managed 37 starts and another nine substitute appearances, scoring three goals.

This season he has so far started 14 games plus 11 as sub, although he has yet to find himself on the score-sheet so far this term. One of only four regular first teamers inherited by John Flanagan, he had to wait before he forced himself into the side and has been used as a more defensive player this season.

Having not started a game until Curzon’s seventh match of the season, he now seems to have become integral to John Flanagan’s plans and ‘Edgy’ has been rewarded for his patience with the Skippers Armband when club Captain has been unavailable.

A likeable character, Phil always plays the game with a smile on his face. He has been, and hopefully will continue to be, a great servant to the team and fully deserves his recognition of making 250 appearances for Curzon Ashton Football Club.