Gary Williams (footballer, born 1954) explained

Gary Williams
Fullname:Gary S. Peter Williams[1]
Birth Date:8 March 1954
Birth Place:Liverpool, England
Position:Defender
Youthclubs1:Marine
Years1:1971–1977
Clubs1:Preston North End
Caps1:112
Goals1:2
Years2:1977–1982
Clubs2:Brighton and Hove Albion
Caps2:158
Goals2:8
Years3:1982–1983
Clubs3:Crystal Palace
Caps3:10
Goals3:0
Years4:1983–1984
Clubs4:Whitehawk

Gary S. Peter Williams (born 8 March 1954)[1] is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League, as a defender for Preston North End, Brighton and Crystal Palace.

Career

Williams began his youth career at Marine and in 1971, signed for Preston North End. He made 112 League appearances for Preston, scoring twice, before signing for Brighton in 1977, for whom he made 158 League appearances scoring eight times.[2] Williams is remembered for an 86th-minute winner and goal of the season contender for the club against Champions Nottingham Forest at the Goldstone on 29 March 1980.[3]

In July 1982, Williams signed for Crystal Palace and made his debut in the first match of the 1982–83 season in a home 1–1 draw against Barnsley.[4] He went on to make 10 consecutive appearances plus a further 3 in the League Cup before sustaining an injury which ultimately ended his professional career in 1983.[1] [5]

Williams then returned to Brighton for a further season in the Sussex County League with Whitehawk, representing Sussex and being part of the Hawks Championship winning team in 1984.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Purkiss. Mike. Sands. Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. 1989. The Breedon Books Publishing Company. 332. 0907969542.
  2. Web site: Gary Williams. neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. 9 October 2017.
  3. Web site: THE GREAT GOAL: WILLIAMS V FOREST. brightonandhovealbion.com. 11 April 2016. 2 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044643/https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/2016/april/the-great-goal-williams-v-forest/. 6 March 2019. dead.
  4. Book: Purkiss. Mike. Sands. Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. 1989. The Breedon Books Publishing Company. 258–9. 0907969542.
  5. Web site: Trading places: Gary Williams and Neil Smillie. 20 December 2013. 2 November 2017.
  6. Score, Suusex County League Review, Summer 1984