Andy Williams (footballer, born 1962) explained

Andy Williams
Fullname:Andrew Williams
Birth Date:29 July 1962
Birth Place:Birmingham, England
Position:Midfielder
Youthclubs1:Dudley Town
Youthclubs2:Solihull Borough
Years1:1985–1986
Clubs1:Coventry City
Caps1:9
Goals1:0
Years2:1986–1988
Clubs2:Rotherham United
Caps2:87
Goals2:13
Years3:1988–1992
Clubs3:Leeds United
Caps3:46
Goals3:3
Years4:1991–1992
Clubs4:Port Vale (loan)
Caps4:5
Goals4:0
Years5:1992–1993
Clubs5:Notts County
Caps5:39
Goals5:2
Years6:1993
Clubs6:Huddersfield Town (loan)
Caps6:6
Goals6:0
Years7:1993–1995
Clubs7:Rotherham United
Caps7:51
Goals7:2
Years8:1995–1996
Clubs8:Hull City
Caps8:34
Goals8:0
Years9:1996
Clubs9:Scarborough
Caps9:1
Goals9:0
Totalcaps:278
Totalgoals:20

Andrew Williams (born 29 July 1962) is an English former footballer, who played for 278 league games in an eleven-year professional career in the Football League. He turned out for Coventry City, Rotherham United, Leeds United, Port Vale, Notts County, Huddersfield Town, Hull City and Scarborough. He also played for non-League sides Dudley Town, Solihull Borough, Guiseley, Gainsborough Trinity, and Matlock Town. He was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the Third Division in 1987–88, and helped Leeds to the Second Division title in 1989–90.

Career

Williams started in non-League with Dudley Town and Solihull Borough, before he was signed by First Division side Coventry City on 24 July 1985 for a fee of £20,000, at the age of 23. He played ten games for the club, before he was allowed to sign with Rotherham United of the Third Division in October 1986. The "Millers" were relegated at the end of the 1987–88 season after losing to Swansea City at the semi-final stage of the Fourth Division play-offs. Despite this, Williams was still chosen in the PFA Team of the Year for his strong performances throughout the season. His performances also won him a £175,000 move to Leeds United in November 1988, then a Second Division side.[1] He went on to make nineteen appearances in 1988–89, eleven of which were as a substitute. He was the first signing of manager Howard Wilkinson.[2]

Leeds won promotion back to the top flight after topping the Second Division table at the end of the 1989–90 season; Williams made thirteen league starts, scoring two goals (against Watford and Barnsley). His first-team appearances were limited by a groin injury. After spending five months out with his groin problem, he then suffered a fractured cheekbone after teammate Vinnie Jones accidentally hit him in the face with a cricket bat. United then went on to power to a fourth-place finish in the top-flight in 1990–91, with Williams making five starts and seven substitute appearances. Restricted to the odd appearance by the form of the Leeds midfield, in December 1991 he was loaned out to Second Division side Port Vale. He played five games for the "Valiants", who would finish the season in last place; in contrast Williams returned to Elland Road, where manager Howard Wilkinson was in the process of bringing Leeds the First Division title. Williams would be gone before the end of the season, however. In February 1992, he was sold on to Notts County for a £115,000 fee. County were struggling in the First Division and lost their top-flight status at the end of the 1991–92 season.

After a mid-table finish in 1992–93, County loaned Williams out to Second Division Huddersfield Town at the start of the 1993–94 campaign.[3] He played six games for the "Terriers" before he was allowed to re-sign with former club Rotherham United in October 1993. He struggled with a knee injury, and at the end of the 1994–95 season, he moved on to league rivals Hull City – who had tried to sign him in 1988 but lost out to Leeds. Hull finished bottom of the league in 1995–96, and so were relegated to the Third Division. Williams left Hull but remained in the fourth tier, signing non-contract terms with Scarborough. He made his debut in a goalless home draw with Cardiff City on 17 August and also played in a League Cup draw at former club Hull three days later. This was to be his last professional game, though he did later turn out for non-League clubs Guiseley, Gainsborough Trinity, and Matlock Town.

Style of play

The Rotherham United website states that Williams was a "tall midfielder with a deceptive turn of speed."[4]

Post-retirement

Williams now works as a performance manager for a company attached to Rotherham Council. He also plays Masters Football. He is a West Bromwich Albion supporter.

Career statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Coventry City1985–86First Division80001090
1986–87First Division10000010
Total900010100
Rotherham United1986–87Third Division3643020414
1987–88Third Division3663072468
1988–89Fourth Division1530040193
Total87136013210615
Leeds United1988–89Second Division1811000191
1989–90Second Division1620041203
1990–91First Division1200071191
1991–92First Division00102030
Total46320132615
Port Vale (loan)1991–92Second Division50000050
Notts County1991–92First Division1510000151
1992–93First Division2211010241
1993–94First Division20002040
Total3921030432
Huddersfield Town (loan)1993–94Second Division60000060
Rotherham United1993–94Second Division3401020370
1994–95Second Division1702040230
Total5103060600
Hull City1995–96Second Division3401040390
Scarborough1995–96Third Division10001020
Career total2782013040433124

Honours

Leeds United

1989–90

Individual

1987–88 Third Division[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Andy Williams. leeds-fans.org.uk. 14 October 2011.
  2. Web site: Leeds United: Andy Williams looks back on Whites career . 27 January 2010. Yorkshire Evening Post. 14 October 2011.
  3. 99 Years & Counting – Stats & Stories – Huddersfield Town History
  4. Web site: Past Players . themillers.co.uk . 14 October 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20000802203608/http://www.themillers.co.uk/staticFiles/87/1b/0%2C%2C10360~7047%2C00.doc . 2 August 2000 .
  5. Book: Lynch . The Official P.F.A. Footballers Heroes . 147.