Gavin Williams (footballer)

Gavin Williams
Personal information
Full name Gavin John Williams
Date of birth (1980-07-20) 20 July 1980
Place of birth Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Merthyr Town (Player-manager)
Number 16
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2002 Hereford United 168 (30)
2002–2004 Yeovil Town 93 (17)
2004–2006 West Ham United 10 (1)
2005–2006 → Ipswich Town (loan) 9 (1)
2006–2008 Ipswich Town 45 (2)
2008–2011 Bristol City 52 (3)
2010 → Yeovil Town (loan) 8 (5)
2010 → Yeovil Town (loan) 12 (1)
2011 Bristol Rovers 19 (2)
2011–2013 Yeovil Town 52 (7)
2013 Woking 16 (5)
2013– Merthyr Town (2)
National team‡
2002 Wales Semi-Pro 3 (0)
2005 Wales 2 (0)
Teams managed
2014–2016 Merthyr Town (assistant)
2016– Merthyr Town

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:28, 30 December 2013 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13:18, 30 October 2008 (UTC)

Gavin John Williams (born 20 July 1980 in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan) is a Welsh international footballer who is player-manager for Merthyr Town. Williams' younger brother Lewis is a winger with Pontypridd RFC.

Career

Hereford United

Williams started his career as a YTS player at Hereford United having previously trained with Cardiff City. He made his first team debut at the age of 17, as a substitute in the 3–0 FA Cup victory over Sittingbourne. He made twelve more appearances that season and scored his first goal against Dover Athletic in the Conference. By the 1998–99 season he was a first team regular playing in a variety of positions in midfield and up front. He was to spend five seasons at Edgar Street, notably scoring a wonder strike against Swindon Town in the 2001–02 FA Cup Second Round.

Yeovil Town

At the age of 21 he moved to Hereford's rivals Yeovil Town for the 2002–03 season, having rejected a new contract offer at Edgar Street. Hereford received a £22,500 fee for their leading goalscorer plus a 25% next sale clause, which earned the Bulls a further £62,500 in 2004.

At Huish Park he was an integral part in the squad which in that season gained promotion to the football league for the first time, scoring six goals, the same season in which his team reached the sixth round of the FA Trophy. He also won the Player of the Year award for his club, an ever present rock in the midfield.

West Ham

It wasn't long before West Ham United decided to swoop for him, purchasing him in December 2004 for £250,000. But his last act in his last game for Yeovil was to be sent off.

He made his West Ham debut on Boxing Day 2004, coming on as a substitute against Nottingham Forest in a 3–2 win. He made a further nine appearances in the West Ham team, as they gained promotion to the Premiership, scoring his first goal against Leeds United. By November 2005 he had been loaned out to Ipswich Town after struggling to gain a first-team place at West Ham. The loan spell was a success and the deal was made permanent in January 2006 for a fee of £300,000.

Bristol City and Yeovil loan

On 27 June 2008, he joined Bristol City on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[1]

Williams returned to Yeovil on a one-month loan, on 11 March 2010 from Bristol City. In his first game on 13 March, he scored a free kick, created one goal and got sent off all in just over an hour.[2] His loan was extended until the end of the season and he scored five times and got four assists in eight games.

On 9 September 2010, Williams returned to Yeovil for a three-month loan.[3]

Bristol Rovers

On 31 January 2011 he was released by Bristol City and signed for arch rivals Bristol Rovers. He scored his first goal for Bristol Rovers in a west country derby win over Yeovil Town. He was one of seventeen players released by the team in May 2011.[4]

Yeovil Town

On 15 June 2011 it was confirmed that Williams would be returning to Yeovil Town for the new season and scored his first goal of the season against Walsall. He also scored in two consecutive games against MK Dons and Oldham Athletic, with Yeovil winning both. On 8 May 2012, Williams signed a new one-year contract with the Glovers. On 19 May 2013, Williams was an unused substitute in the 2013 League One play-off Final, although he was cautioned for time wasting, as Yeovil won promotion to the Championship for the first time in the club's history.[5] Williams was released by Yeovil at the end of the season having not been offered a new contract.[6]

Woking FC

On the 22 July 2013, Williams signed for Woking for the forthcoming season.[7] However due to family issues his contract was terminated on 20 December 2013 and left the club with full respect of the manager and supporters.

Merthyr Town FC

On the 30 December 2013, Williams signed for his home town club Merthyr Town and made his debut for the Martyrs on the 4 January 2014 in a 3-2 win against North Leigh. On the 23 May 2014, Williams was appointed player/assistant manager at Merthyr alongside current Merthyr player Steve Williams and both would serve under newly appointed Merthyr manager Steve Jenkins.

On 27 May 2016, after the resignation of Jenkins, Williams was appointed manager of Merthyr Town.[8]

Honours

Yeovil Town
West Ham United
Merthyr Town

References

  1. ↑ "Williams makes Bristol City move". BBC Sport. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
  2. ↑ "Yeovil 4–0 Hartlepool". BBC Sport. 13 March 2010.
  3. ↑ "Williams makes Glovers return". Sky Sports. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  4. ↑ "Midfielder Jeff Hughes heads Bristol Rovers exodus". BBC Sport. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  5. ↑ "Brentford 1–2 Yeovil". BBC Sport. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  6. ↑ "Yeovil Town: Gavin Williams among three to leave Glovers". BBC Sport. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Woking: Gavin Williams signs as Gavin McCullum pens new deal". BBC Sport. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Former Wales defender Steve Jenkins leaves Merthyr Town after two seasons". BBC Sport. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
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