Mike Williams (footballer, born 1986)

Mike Williams
Personal information
Full name Michael Paul John Williams[1]
Date of birth (1986-10-27) 27 October 1986 (age 38)[1]
Place of birth Colwyn Bay, Wales
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Penmaenmawr Phoenix
Youth career
?–2005 Wrexham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2010 Wrexham 117 (6)
2010–2013 Kidderminster Harriers 80 (4)
2013–2014 Altrincham 7 (0)
2015–2018 Llandudno 87 (7)
2018 Flint Town United
2018–2019 Bangor City
2019–2021 Colwyn Bay 15 (0)
2022–2023 Llandudno 23 (1)
2023– Penmaenmawr Phoenix 0 (0)
International career
2004–2005 Wales U19 7 (1)
2006–2008 Wales U21 13 (2)
2009– Wales Semi-Pro 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 06:42, 1 May 2018 (UTC)

Michael Paul John Williams (born 27 October 1986) is a Welsh footballer who plays for Penmaenmawr Phoenix.

Club career

Williams, who is the older brother of fellow footballer Marc Williams, began his career as a trainee at Wrexham and signed professional terms in July 2005, when he was described by manager Denis Smith as "...quick, strong and has a good left foot."[2] He made his first-team debut as a half-time substitute in a 4–1 defeat by Wycombe Wanderers in September 2005[3] and became an established player in the Wrexham back four, making 60 league appearances in three seasons[4] and playing in the cup upsets at Sheffield Wednesday in August 2006[5] and Scunthorpe United in December 2006.[6] In November 2006, Williams agreed a new contract keeping him at Wrexham until 2009.[7] At the end of the 2009–10 season, Williams was released by Wrexham.

Williams is the third post-war player called Mike Williams to play for Wrexham. The first came through the youth system in the 1970s, with the second joining from Chester City in 1984.[8]

In July 2010 he joined fellow Conference Premier outfit Kidderminster Harriers on trial and was handed a permanent one-year contract with the Aggborough Stadium club on 20 July.[9] On 30 May 2012, he signed a new one-year contract.[10]

He joined Conference North side Altrincham in 2013, securing promotion to the Conference with them via the play-offs in 2013–14. He was forced to retire in November 2014, at the age of 28, after being diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both hips.[11] Williams came out of retirement in August 2015 after a successful pre-season with Welsh Premier League side Llandudno,[12] playing alongside his brother Marc again.

He left Llandudno in the summer of 2018 and signed for Flint Town United.[13] In October 2018, he signed for Bangor City.[14]

International career

Williams made his debut for Wales U21 against Northern Ireland U21 in February 2006[15] and scored the winner on his second cap against Cyprus U21 in May 2006.[16] He went on to make 13 appearances for Wales U21 in total, scoring two goals.[17]

On 8 September 2009, he made his debut for the Wales semi-professional side during a 2–1 defeat to Poland.[18]

Personal life

After leaving full-time football, Williams worked as a delivery driver. He later found work as a financial advisor.[19]

Career statistics

As of 25 April 2010.
Club statistics
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals App Goals
Wrexham 2005–06 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0
2006–07 31 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 37 0
2007–08 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0
2008–09 27 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 31 2
2009–10 30 4 3 0 0 0 1 0 34 4
Total 118 6 6 0 2 0 6 0 132 6

References

  1. ^ a b c Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream Publishing. p. 440. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  2. ^ "Wrexham put their faith in youth". BBC Sport. 16 July 2005. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  3. ^ "Wycombe 4–1 Wrexham". BBC Sport. 27 September 2005. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  4. ^ "Mike Williams". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  5. ^ "Sheffield Wed 1–4 Wrexham". BBC Sport. 23 August 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  6. ^ "Scunthorpe 0–2 Wrexham". BBC Sport. 2 December 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  7. ^ "Wrexham trio agree new contracts". BBC Sport. 7 November 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  8. ^ Barry Hugman (2005). The PFA Premier and Football League Players' Records, 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. pp. 662–663. ISBN 1-85291-665-6.
  9. ^ "Williams and Morris joins Harriers". Kidderminster Shuttle. 21 July 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  10. ^ "Mike Williams signs new Harriers deal « Express & Star". Archived from the original on 27 July 2014.
  11. ^ "Former Wrexham FC player Mike Williams forced to call time on career". Daily Post. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  12. ^ "Morgs delighted to lure Williams out of retirement". Welsh-Premier. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  13. ^ "Mike Williams – 1ST TEAM – Flint Town United Football Club". Archived from the original on 25 July 2018.
  14. ^ Purcell, Luke. "Experienced defender joins the Citizens". Bangor City F.C. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  15. ^ "Wales U21 0–1 N Ireland U21". BBC Sport. 28 February 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  16. ^ "Wales U21 1–0 Cyprus U21". BBC Sport. 16 May 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  17. ^ "Men – Under 21 – Mike Williams". Football Association of Wales. Archived from the original on 8 September 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  18. ^ "Wales 1–2 Poland". faw.org.uk. 8 September 2009. Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  19. ^ "Devastating diagnosis saw footballer who played with Gareth Bale lose career in 'one conversation'". 24 February 2021.