John Williams (footballer, born 1968) explained

John Williams
Fullname:John Nelson Williams
Birth Date:11 May 1968
Birth Place:Birmingham, England
Position:Forward
Years1:1990–1991
Clubs1:Cradley Town
Years2:1991–1992
Clubs2:Swansea City
Caps2:39
Goals2:11
Years3:1992–1995
Clubs3:Coventry City
Caps3:80
Goals3:11
Years4:1994
Clubs4:Notts County (loan)
Caps4:5
Goals4:2
Years5:1994
Clubs5:Stoke City (loan)
Caps5:4
Goals5:0
Years6:1995
Clubs6:Swansea City (loan)
Caps6:7
Goals6:2
Years7:1995–1997
Clubs7:Wycombe Wanderers
Caps7:48
Goals7:9
Years8:1997
Clubs8:Hereford United
Caps8:11
Goals8:3
Years9:1997
Clubs9:Walsall
Caps9:1
Goals9:0
Years10:1997–1998
Clubs10:Exeter City
Caps10:36
Goals10:4
Years11:1998–1999
Clubs11:Cardiff City
Caps11:43
Goals11:12
Years12:1999–2000
Clubs12:York City
Caps12:42
Goals12:3
Years13:2000–2001
Clubs13:Darlington
Caps13:24
Goals13:5
Years14:2001–2003
Clubs14:Swansea City
Caps14:68
Goals14:5
Years15:2003–2004
Caps15:44
Goals15:4
Years16:2005
Clubs16:Bath City
Years17:2005
Clubs17:Redditch United
Years18:2005
Clubs18:Evesham United
Years19:2006
Years20:2007
Clubs20:Stourbridge
Years21:2007–2008
Clubs21:Willenhall Town
Years22:2008
Totalcaps:452
Totalgoals:71

John Nelson Williams (born 11 May 1968)[1] is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward from 1990 until 2009.

He notably played in the Premier League for Coventry City. He played in the Football League for Swansea City, Notts County, Stoke City, Wycombe Wanderers, Hereford United, Walsall, Exeter City, Cardiff City, York City, Darlington and Kidderminster Harriers, as well as in Non-league for Cradley Town, Bath City, Redditch United, Evesham United, Weston-super-Mare, Stourbridge, Willenhall Town and Boldmere St. Michaels.

Playing career

Williams started his footballing career at his local club Cradley Town in 1990. After impressing in the lower leagues he attracted the attention of Football League sides and joined Welsh side Swansea City in 1991. After having a decent season with Swansea he move on up to Coventry City the following season. He spent three years with Coventry making 80 league appearances, the most he would acquire in his career. Williams' early goal against Middlesbrough on 15 August 1992 was only the second goal ever scored in the newly formed FA Premiership (the goal came in the ninth minute of the game which was approximately four minutes after Brian Deane's goal against Manchester United on the opening day of the new season). Whilst at Coventry Williams had loan spells at Notts County, Stoke City and at his old club Swansea City. He left Coventry in 1995 and joined new league side Wycombe Wanderers to start a somewhat nomadic career. After two years with Wycombe he moved on to unsuccessful spells at Hereford United and Walsall. Williams then went on to have a new club every season starting with Exeter City in the 1997–98 season. He went on to play for Cardiff City, York City, Darlington, two seasons with Swansea City, his third spell at the club and his final Football League side Kidderminster Harriers. Known as the "flying postman" due to his speed and career before football, when playing for Kidderminster he famously scored against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup 3rd round only for his goal to be equalised in the final minutes.[2]

Following the end of his professional career Williams has gone on to have a similar nomadic career in non-league football. These clubs are Bath City, Redditch United, Evesham United, Weston-super-Mare, Stourbridge, Willenhall Town and most recently Boldmere St. Michaels. This has taken his total number of clubs to 22.

He joined Willenhall Town managed by Mel Eves, in September 2007.[3] In August 2008, Williams, now aged 40 scored a hat-trick for Boldmere St. Michaels against Shifnal Town.[4]

Personal life

Williams has since worked as a youth and community worker in Birmingham whilst keeping links with the game as an agent with a sports management company. His company 'Flying Postman productions' also produces football themed evening entertainments.

At the 1992 Football League Cup final at Wembley Stadium he claimed the £10,000 first prize when he won the Rumbelows Sprint Contest in a time of 11.49 seconds beating amongst others Leigh Jenkinson and Efan Ekoku.[5]

Career statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Swansea City1991–92Third Division39113030104611
Coventry City1992–93Premier League418102000448
1993–94Premier League323102000353
1994–95Premier League7000000070
Total80112040008611
Notts County (loan)1994–95First Division5200000052
Stoke City (loan)1994–95First Division4000000040
Swansea City (loan)1994–95Second Division7200000072
Wycombe Wanderers1995–96Second Division298102020348
1996–97Second Division191443200257
Total4895432205915
Hereford United1996–97Third Division113000000113
Walsall1997–98Second Division1000000010
Exeter City1997–98Third Division364000000364
Cardiff City1998–99Third Division43125321105116
York City1999–2000Third Division363101010393
2000–01Third Division6000100070
Total423102010463
Darlington2000–01Third Division245000010255
Swansea City2001–02Third Division414211010455
2002–03Third Division271101000291
Total685312010746
Kidderminster Harriers2003–04Third Division444411010505
Career total452712391938050283

A.  The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Barry J. . Hugman . The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004 . 2003 . Queen Anne Press . 1-85291-651-6 . 454 .
    • Lowe, Simon: "Stoke City The Modern Era – A Complete Record" (Desert Island Books,).
  2. News: Willenhall to take cup chance. Express & Star. 25 September 2007. 6 February 2009. 7 January 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090107122234/http://www.expressandstar.com/2007/09/25/willenhall-to-take-cup-chance/. dead.
  3. News: Flying postman John Williams is still a handful. Birmingham Mail. 15 August 2008. 6 February 2009. 29 February 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120229062327/http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-non-league-football/2008/08/15/flying-postman-john-williams-is-still-a-handful-97319-21541734/. dead.
  4. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: rumbelows cup final sports challenge top footballers 100 metres final . YouTube.