Graham Williams (footballer, born 1936) explained

Graham Williams
Fullname:Graham George Williams
Birth Date:31 December 1936
Birth Place:Wrexham, Wales[1]
Height:[2]
Position:Left winger
Youthclubs1:Wrexham
Youthclubs2:Oswestry Town
Years1:1955–1956
Clubs1:Bradford City
Caps1:8
Goals1:2
Years2:1956–1959
Clubs2:Everton
Caps2:31
Goals2:6
Years3:1959–1964
Clubs3:Swansea Town
Caps3:90
Goals3:18
Years4:1965–1966
Clubs4:Wrexham
Caps4:24
Goals4:6
Years5:1966
Clubs5:Wellington Town
Years6:1966–1968
Clubs6:Tranmere Rovers
Caps6:74
Goals6:12
Years7:1968–1969
Clubs7:Port Vale
Caps7:23
Goals7:1
Years8:1969–1970
Clubs8:Runcorn
Years9:1970–1975
Clubs9:Oswestry Town
Totalcaps:250
Totalgoals:45
Nationalteam1:Wales under-23s
Nationalyears2:1961
Nationalteam2:Wales
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:1

Graham George Williams (31 December 1936 – 25 November 2018) was a Welsh footballer. A left-sided winger, he scored 47 goals in 249 league games in a 14-year career in the English Football League. He also won five senior caps for Wales in 1961.

He began his career with Wrexham and Oswestry Town before moving to Everton via Bradford City in 1956. After three years on Merseyside, he returned to Wales to play for Swansea Town. He returned to his hometown club, Wrexham, in 1963 before joining Wellington Town in 1965. The next year, he returned to the Football League with Tranmere Rovers. He helped the club to win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1966–67, before he signed with Port Vale in July 1968. He joined Northern Premier League side Runcorn in May 1969 and later turned out for Oswestry Town.

Club career

Early career

Williams began his career in Welsh football with Wrexham and Oswestry Town, before he was signed by Bradford City manager Peter Jackson in August 1955.[3] His two goals in eight Third Division North games in the 1955–56 season were enough to win him a move from Valley Parade to First Division side Everton in March 1956.[3]

Everton

He made his Everton debut in a 2–1 defeat to Sunderland in March 1956.[4] The "Toffees" struggled at the lower end of the table under the stewardship of Ian Buchan in 1956–57 and 1957–58, and showed little sign of improvement in the 1958–59 season under Johnny Carey. In his three years at Goodison Park, Williams scored six goals in 31 top-flight games.

Swansea City

In February 1959, Williams joined Second Division side Swansea Town for a £5,000 fee.[3] Manager Trevor Morris said that "Some of Flicka's team-mates used to complain that they never knew what he would do with the ball. If they felt like that training with him every day, then what chance does the opposition have!"[3] The "Swans" finished 12th in 1959–60, seventh in 1960–61, 20th in 1961–62, and 15th in 1962–63. He won the Welsh Cup with Swansea in 1961 following a 3–1 win over Bangor City in the final at Ninian Park.[3] In four seasons at Vetch Field, Williams scored 20 goals in 89 league games before breaking his leg.[3]

Later career

He then made a return to Wrexham in July 1964.[3] Ken Barnes's "Dragons" were relegated out of the Third Division in 1963–64, and could only manage a 14th-place finish in the Fourth Division in 1964–65. Williams then left the Racecourse Ground for non-League side Wellington Town, who went on to finish 13th in the Premier Division of the Southern League in 1965–66. He signed with Tranmere Rovers in the summer of 1966. He helped Dave Russell's side to win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1966–67. Williams remained at Prenton Park for the 1967–68 season, as the "Superwhites" finished three points above the relegation zone. Williams joined Fourth Division club Port Vale in July 1968. He scored one goal in 25 league and cup appearances in the 1968–69 season, before he was dropped by manager Gordon Lee in January 1969. He was given a free transfer away from Vale Park in May 1969, and moved on to Northern Premier League side Runcorn. He later moved on to Oswestry Town.

International career

Williams earned five Welsh caps in 1961 after playing at the under-23 and schoolboy levels.

Personal life

He was nicknamed 'Flicka', and a racehorse, Son of Flicka, was named after him.[5] Following his football career, Williams worked as a carpenter. He was also an accomplished amateur golfer. He died suddenly on 25 November 2018, leaving behind wife Maureen.[6]

Career statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bradford City1955–56Third Division North82000082
Everton1955–56First Division20000020
1956–57First Division93000093
1957–58First Division1320000132
1958–59First Division71200091
Total3162000336
Swansea Town1958–59Second Division1510000151
1959–60Second Division1730000173
1960–61Second Division3393010379
1961–62Second Division2551020285
Total901840309718
Wrexham1964–65Fourth Division2460010256
Tranmere Rovers1966–67Fourth Division39931204410
1967–68Third Division3535220425
Total741283408615
Port Vale1968–69Fourth Division2311010251
Career total250451538027348

Honours

Tranmere Rovers

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Graham Williams Everton Football Club . evertonfc.com . en.
  2. Web site: Graham Williams Player Statistics Wrexham (Wrexham AFC Archive) . wrexhamafcarchive.co.uk . 6 May 2023 . en.
  3. Web site: Swans saddened as 'Flicka' dies Swansea City FC . swanseacity.com . 1 December 2018 . en.
  4. Web site: Graham Williams 1936-2018 Everton Football Club . evertonfc.com . 1 December 2018 . en.
  5. News: Graham Williams: Former Swansea, Everton and Wales player dies, aged 81 . 1 December 2018 . BBC Sport . 1 December 2018.
  6. News: Murphy . Scott . Tributes paid to former Wrexham AFC footballer who dies at 81 . 1 December 2018 . The Leader . 29 November 2018 . en.