Brian Williams (footballer, born 1955)
Brian Williams (born 5 November 1955) is a former professional footballer who played in a total of 591 games for six different clubs in The Football League during an eighteen-year career spanning the period from 1973 to 1991.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Brian Williams[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 5 November 1955[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Salford,[1] England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1973–1977 | Bury | 159 | (19) |
| 1977–1978 | Queens Park Rangers | 19 | (0) |
| 1978–1981 | Swindon Town | 99 | (8) |
| 1981–1985 | Bristol Rovers | 172 | (21) |
| 1985–1987 | Bristol City | 77 | (3) |
| 1987–1991 | Shrewsbury Town | 65 | (1) |
| 1991–???? | Alvechurch | ||
| Total | 591 | (52) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Williams, who was originally from Salford, started his career as an apprentice with one of his local sides, Bury, turning professional with them in 1973. He went on to make 159 league appearances with the Lancashire club, and scored 19 goals before leaving to join Queens Park Rangers for a single season in 1977. He began a nine-year spell in the West Country in 1978, spending three years with Swindon Town, four years with Bristol Rovers, and two with Bristol City, becoming one of the few players to represent both sides in Bristol derbies in the process. His transfer from Swindon to Bristol Rovers was a swap deal, with midfielder Gary Emmanuel moving in the opposite direction. Whilst at Swindon Brian was fondly known as "Animal".
His final League club was Shrewsbury Town, who he represented between 1987 and 1991. He then joined non-League side Alvechurch, just two years before they folded in 1993.
Following his playing retirement, Williams worked as a "Football in the Community" officer, first for Hereford United and then his former club Shrewsbury Town until is final retirement in December 2015.[3]
References
- "Brian Williams". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
- Simon Wilderspin (30 December 2015). "Farewell Brian Williams". Shrewsbury Town Official Website. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- Jay, Mike; Byrne, Stephen (1994). Pirates in Profile: A Who's Who of Bristol Rovers Players. Bristol: Potten, Baber & Murray. pp. 292–293. ISBN 0-9524835-0-5.
- Byrne, Stephen; Jay, Mike (2003). Bristol Rovers Football Club - The Definitive History 1883-2003. Stroud: Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-2717-2.
- "Brian Williams". Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database. Retrieved 25 January 2010.