Andy Williams (footballer, born 1962)

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Not to be confused with Andy Williams (footballer, born 1986).

Andy Williams
Personal information
Full name Andrew Williams[1]
Date of birth (1962-07-29) 29 July 1962 (age 59)[2]
Place of birth Birmingham, England[2]
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Dudley Town
Solihull Borough
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1986 Coventry City 9 (0)
1986–1988 Rotherham United 87 (13)
1988–1992 Leeds United 46 (3)
1991–1992 → Port Vale (loan) 5 (0)
1992–1993 Notts County 39 (2)
1993 → Huddersfield Town (loan) 6 (0)
1993–1995 Rotherham United 51 (2)
1995–1996 Hull City 34 (0)
1996 Scarborough 1 (0)
Total 278 (20)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Andrew Williams (born 29 July 1962) is a former footballer, who played for 278 league games in an eleven-year professional career in the Football League. He turned out for Coventry City, Rotherham United, Leeds United, Port Vale, Notts County, Huddersfield Town, Hull City and Scarborough. He also played for non-league sides Dudley Town, Solihull Borough, Guiseley, Gainsborough Trinity, and Matlock Town. He was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the Third Division in 1987–88, and helped Leeds to the Second Division title in 1989–90.

Playing career[]

Williams started in non-league with Dudley Town and Solihull Borough, before he was signed by First Division side Coventry City in 1985 for a fee of £20,000, at the age of 23.[3] He played ten games for the club, before he was allowed to sign with Rotherham United of the Third Division in October 1986. The "Millers" were relegated at the end of the 1987–88 season after losing to Swansea City at the semi-final stage of the Fourth Division play-offs. Despite this, Williams was still chosen in the PFA Team of the Year for his strong performances throughout the season. His performances also won him a £175,000 move to Leeds United in November 1988, then a Second Division side.[4] He went on to make nineteen appearances in 1988–89, eleven of which were as a substitute.[4] He was the first signing of manager Howard Wilkinson.[3]

Leeds won promotion back to the top-flight after topping the Second Division table at the end of the 1989–90 season; Williams made thirteen league starts, scoring two goals (against Watford and Barnsley).[3][4] His first team appearances were limited by a groin injury.[3] After spending five months out with his groin problem he then suffered a fractured cheekbone after teammate Vinnie Jones accidentally hit him in the face with a cricket bat.[3] United then went on to power to a fourth-place finish in the top-flight in 1990–91, with Williams making five starts and seven substitute appearances.[4] Restricted to the odd appearance by the form of the Leeds midfield, in December 1991 he was loaned out to Second Division side Port Vale.[4] He played five games for the "Valiants", who would finish the season in last place; in contrast Williams returned to Elland Road, where manager Howard Wilkinson was in the process of bringing Leeds the First Division title. Williams would be gone before the end of the season however, and in February 1992 he was sold on to Notts County for a £115,000 fee.[3] County were struggling in the First Division, and lost their top-flight status at the end of the 1991–92 season.

After a mid-table finish in 1992–93, County loaned Williams out to Second Division Huddersfield Town at the start of the 1993–94 campaign.[5] He played six games for the "Terriers", before he was allowed to re-sign with former club Rotherham United in October 1993. He struggled with a knee injury,[6] and at the end of the 1994–95 season he moved on to league rivals Hull City – who had tried to sign him in 1988 but lost out to Leeds.[3] Hull finished bottom of the league in 1995–96, and so were relegated into the Third Division. Williams left Hull but remained in the fourth tier, signing non-contract terms with Scarborough. He made his debut in a goalless home draw with Cardiff City on 17 August, and also played in a League Cup draw at former club Hull three days later. This was to be his last professional game, though he did later turn out for non-league clubs Guiseley, Gainsborough Trinity, and Matlock Town.[3]

Style of play[]

The Rotherham United website states that Williams was a "tall midfielder with a deceptive turn of speed."[6]

Post-retirement[]

Williams now works as a performance manager for a company attached to Rotherham Council.[3] He also plays Masters Football.[3] He is a West Bromwich Albion supporter.[3]

Statistics[]

Source:[7][8]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Coventry City First Division 8 0 0 0 1 0 9 0
1986–87 First Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 9 0 0 0 1 0 10 0
Rotherham United Third Division 36 4 3 0 2 0 41 4
Third Division 36 6 3 0 7 2 46 8
Fourth Division 15 3 0 0 4 0 19 3
Total 87 13 6 0 13 2 106 15
Leeds United Second Division 18 1 1 0 0 0 19 1
Second Division 16 2 0 0 4 1 20 3
First Division 12 0 0 0 7 1 19 1
First Division 0 0 1 0 2 0 3 0
Total 46 3 2 0 13 2 61 5
Port Vale (loan) 1991–92 Second Division 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Notts County 1991–92 First Division 15 1 0 0 0 0 15 1
1992–93 First Division 22 1 1 0 1 0 24 1
1993–94 First Division 2 0 0 0 2 0 4 0
Total 39 2 1 0 3 0 43 2
Huddersfield Town (loan) 1993–94 Second Division 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
Rotherham United Second Division 34 0 1 0 2 0 37 0
Second Division 17 0 2 0 4 0 23 0
Total 51 0 3 0 6 0 60 0
Hull City Second Division 34 0 1 0 4 0 39 0
Scarborough Third Division 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
Career total 278 20 13 0 40 4 331 24

Honours[]

Individual
Leeds United

References[]

  1. ^ "Andy Williams". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Andy Williams at Soccerbase
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k "Leeds United: Andy Williams looks back on Whites career". Yorkshire Evening Post. 27 January 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Andy Williams". leeds-fans.org.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  5. ^ 99 Years & Counting – Stats & Stories – Huddersfield Town History
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Past Players". themillers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 August 2000. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
  7. ^ Andy Williams at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  8. ^ Andy Williams at Soccerbase Edit this at Wikidata
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