John Williams (footballer, born 1968)

"John N. Williams" redirects here. For the English cricketer, see John Williams (cricketer, born 1878).

John Williams
Personal information
Full name John Nelson Williams
Date of birth (1968-05-11) 11 May 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1991 Cradley Town
1991–1992 Swansea City 39 (11)
1992–1995 Coventry City 80 (11)
1994 → Notts County (loan) 5 (2)
1994 → Stoke City (loan) 4 (0)
1995 → Swansea City (loan) 7 (2)
1995–1997 Wycombe Wanderers 48 (9)
1997 Hereford United 11 (3)
1997 Walsall 1 (0)
1997–1998 Exeter City 36 (4)
1998–1999 Cardiff City 43 (12)
1999–2000 York City 42 (3)
2000–2001 Darlington 24 (5)
2001–2003 Swansea City 68 (5)
2003–2004 Kidderminster Harriers 44 (4)
2005 Bath City
2005 Redditch United
2005 Evesham United
2006 Weston-super-Mare
2007 Stourbridge
2007–2008 Willenhall Town
2008 Boldmere St. Michaels
Total 452 (71)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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.[citation needed]

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:[6]

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Swansea City 1991–92 Third Division 39 11 3 0 3 0 1 0 46 11
Coventry City 1992–93 Premier League 41 8 1 0 2 0 0 0 44 8
1993–94 Premier League 32 3 1 0 2 0 0 0 35 3
1994–95 Premier League 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Total 80 11 2 0 4 0 0 0 86 11
Notts County (loan) 1994–95 First Division 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 2
Stoke City (loan) 1994–95 First Division 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Swansea City (loan) 1994–95 Second Division 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 2
Wycombe Wanderers 1995–96 Second Division 29 8 1 0 2 0 2 0 34 8
1996–97 Second Division 19 1 4 4 3 2 0 0 25 7
Total 48 9 5 4 3 2 2 0 59 15
Hereford United 1996–97 Third Division 11 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 3
Walsall 1997–98 Second Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Exeter City 1997–98 Third Division 36 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 36 4
Cardiff City 1998–99 Third Division 43 12 5 3 2 1 1 0 51 16
York City 1999–2000 Third Division 36 3 1 0 1 0 1 0 39 3
2000–01 Third Division 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 7 0
Total 42 3 1 0 2 0 1 0 46 3
Darlington 2000–01 Third Division 24 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 25 5
Swansea City 2001–02 Third Division 41 4 2 1 1 0 1 0 45 5
2002–03 Third Division 27 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 29 1
Total 68 5 3 1 2 0 1 0 74 6
Kidderminster Harriers 2003–04 Third Division 44 4 4 1 1 0 1 0 50 5
Career total 452 71 23 9 19 3 8 0 502 83
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy.

References

  1. ^ a b Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 454. ISBN 1-85291-651-6.
  2. ^ *Lowe, Simon: "Stoke City The Modern Era – A Complete Record" (Desert Island Books, ISBN 1-874287-39-2).
  3. ^ "Willenhall to take cup chance". Express & Star. 25 September 2007. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  4. ^ "Flying postman John Williams is still a handful". Birmingham Mail. 15 August 2008. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  5. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: rumbelows cup final sports challenge top footballers 100 metres final – via YouTube.
  6. ^ John Williams at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)