Ben Williams
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Philip "Ben" Williams (born 27 August 1982 in Manchester
, Greater Manchester
) is an English
Footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Colchester United
. He started his career as a Manchester United
trainee, where he made a few pre-season appearances and was on the bench for a couple of games during Fabian Barthez injuries. Williams had been loaned out to several clubs, including Coventry City
; Chesterfield
and Crewe Alexandra
.
Williams signed on a permanent deal with Crewe in 2004, after his release from Manchester United. After two reasonable seasons with Crewe, Williams picked up an injury and was replaced by Ross Turnbull
, Williams' season was made even worse when he was diagnosed with meningitis
. By the end of the season, Wlliams had fully recovered and returned to the team at the start of the 2006/07 season. He moved to Carlisle United
for the 2008–09 season, before signing for Colchester.
was injured. He was loaned out to several clubs during his career, including spells at Coventry City, where he did not play a competitive game, and Chesterfield
, who were down to just one goalkeeper following the injury to Carl Muggleton
, who was out for around six weeks with a double stress fracture of the fibula. Chesterfield manager, Dave Rushbury
said that "We must be doing something right because Manchester United don't let players out on loan unless they are confident they will be properly looked after. We have had the situation in hand following Carl Muggleton's injury and are delighted to welcome Ben Williams now that he is available to come on loan to us". Manchester United agreed to allow Williams to stay with the Spireites for a second month's loan, following the news that first team goalkeeper, Carl Muggleton, was not expected to be fit for a further few weeks.
, told the Crewe website that "Ben is top drawer and I hope we can sign him for next year. He is young so he can only get better. He is a natural. He can catch the ball and also stops shots which he has no right to. He is an all-round good goalkeeper". In June 2004, Williams signed permanently for Crewe, following his release from Manchester United. In his second season with Crewe, he made 23 appearances in which he made no clean sheets. His third season with Crewe was cut short after Williams was diagnosed with Meningitis
, Crewe closed their training ground to stamp out the spread of a suspected case of viral meningitis. Williams made a full recovery a couple of months later.
His fourth season for the Railwaymen did not go according to plan, already three games into the season and Williams had conceded seven goals. However the keeper was trying to get back to his consistent form in which he impressed the majority of the Crewe faithful with his outstanding saves, and was hoping to break Clayton Ince
s clean sheet record.
His contract expired in June 2008, and he rejected the offer of a new one from the club, so looked set to leave on a Bosman free transfer. On 25 June Williams agreed terms with Carlisle United, as they looked to replace recently departed Keiren Westwood
came into the side. Once Alnwick's loan period was over, Williams hoped to regain his first team spot, but Dutch Newcastle keeper Tim Krul
came in on loan shortly after. Once Krul's loan period finished, Williams got a chance in the first team again, conceding four against Tranmere Rovers. His performances improved over the second half of the season culminating in a clean sheet against Millwall (which helped Carlisle to avoid relegation) and coming second in the fans vote for player of the season as voted for in the local newspaper.
for £60,000 on 10 July 2009. He made his debut in a 7–1 away win over Norwich City
on 8 August 2009. His first clean sheet of the 2009–10 season
came against Southampton
in a 0–0 draw on 5 September 2009. He since kept a further 16 clean sheets during his debut season and has not only established himself as Colchester United's first choice goalkeeper, but has also become a favourite with the U's faithful due to his assured, commanding performances. These solid performances led to Ben Williams to winning three Player of the Season Awards at Colchester United, including both the CUSA home and away player of the year awards as voted for by fans and also the Official Player of the Year Award.
On the 3rd September after an impressive Mark Cousins performance, Ben was dropped from the 1st keeper position in favour of Cousins. John Ward praised cousins for his ability in the 1-1 draw, saying afterwards "he kept us in the game. It was an impressive team performance but Mark kept us in it from the start."
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
. He started his career as a Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
trainee, where he made a few pre-season appearances and was on the bench for a couple of games during Fabian Barthez injuries. Williams had been loaned out to several clubs, including Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
; Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
and Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
.
Williams signed on a permanent deal with Crewe in 2004, after his release from Manchester United. After two reasonable seasons with Crewe, Williams picked up an injury and was replaced by Ross Turnbull
Ross Turnbull
Ross Turnbull is an English footballer who is currently playing his club football for Chelsea as a goalkeeper in the Barclays Premier League.-Early life:...
, Williams' season was made even worse when he was diagnosed with meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
. By the end of the season, Wlliams had fully recovered and returned to the team at the start of the 2006/07 season. He moved to Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
for the 2008–09 season, before signing for Colchester.
Manchester United
During the 2003–04 season, he was placed on the bench for the first team when Fabien BarthezFabien Barthez
Fabien Alain Barthez is a former French footballer goalkeeper who won honours with Manchester United and the French national team, with whom he won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000 and reached the final of the 2006 World Cup. He shares the record for the most World Cup finals clean sheets...
was injured. He was loaned out to several clubs during his career, including spells at Coventry City, where he did not play a competitive game, and Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, who were down to just one goalkeeper following the injury to Carl Muggleton
Carl Muggleton
Carl David Muggleton is an English professional football goalkeeper who made over 550 appearances in the Football League and Scottish Premier League for a number of clubs, most notably Leicester City, Stoke City, Celtic, Chesterfield and Mansfield Town.-Playing career:Muggleton began his career ...
, who was out for around six weeks with a double stress fracture of the fibula. Chesterfield manager, Dave Rushbury
Dave Rushbury
David Graham Rushbury is an English former footballer and manager. Rushbury made over 400 Football League appearances for eight different clubs.-Early playing career:...
said that "We must be doing something right because Manchester United don't let players out on loan unless they are confident they will be properly looked after. We have had the situation in hand following Carl Muggleton's injury and are delighted to welcome Ben Williams now that he is available to come on loan to us". Manchester United agreed to allow Williams to stay with the Spireites for a second month's loan, following the news that first team goalkeeper, Carl Muggleton, was not expected to be fit for a further few weeks.
Crewe Alexandra
In 2004, Williams was loaned out to Crewe Alexandra. Williams made 10 appearances for Crewe, conceding 14 goals and keeping 2 clean sheets during his loan spell. Williams' teammate, David WrightDavid Wright (footballer)
David Wright is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Crystal Palace. During his professional career, he has also played for Crewe Alexandra, Wigan Athletic and Ipswich Town, and had a loan spell at Norwich City....
, told the Crewe website that "Ben is top drawer and I hope we can sign him for next year. He is young so he can only get better. He is a natural. He can catch the ball and also stops shots which he has no right to. He is an all-round good goalkeeper". In June 2004, Williams signed permanently for Crewe, following his release from Manchester United. In his second season with Crewe, he made 23 appearances in which he made no clean sheets. His third season with Crewe was cut short after Williams was diagnosed with Meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
, Crewe closed their training ground to stamp out the spread of a suspected case of viral meningitis. Williams made a full recovery a couple of months later.
His fourth season for the Railwaymen did not go according to plan, already three games into the season and Williams had conceded seven goals. However the keeper was trying to get back to his consistent form in which he impressed the majority of the Crewe faithful with his outstanding saves, and was hoping to break Clayton Ince
Clayton Ince
Clayton Ince is a Trinidadian football goalkeeper who had lengthy spells in the English Football League at Crewe Alexandra and Walsall...
s clean sheet record.
His contract expired in June 2008, and he rejected the offer of a new one from the club, so looked set to leave on a Bosman free transfer. On 25 June Williams agreed terms with Carlisle United, as they looked to replace recently departed Keiren Westwood
Carlisle United
Ben Williams began his first (2008/09) season with Carlisle United as the team's first choice goalkeeper. However, after making few errors during the clubs first few games of the season, he was soon dropped the bench as the on-loan Ben AlnwickBen Alnwick
Benjamin Robert "Ben" Alnwick is an English footballer who plays for Leyton Orient on loan from Tottenham Hotspur as a goalkeeper. He has also been capped at under-16 and under-18 level for the England team.-Sunderland:...
came into the side. Once Alnwick's loan period was over, Williams hoped to regain his first team spot, but Dutch Newcastle keeper Tim Krul
Tim Krul
Timothy Michael "Tim" Krul is a Dutch footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Newcastle United and the Netherlands national team.-Newcastle United:...
came in on loan shortly after. Once Krul's loan period finished, Williams got a chance in the first team again, conceding four against Tranmere Rovers. His performances improved over the second half of the season culminating in a clean sheet against Millwall (which helped Carlisle to avoid relegation) and coming second in the fans vote for player of the season as voted for in the local newspaper.
Colchester United
Williams signed for Colchester UnitedColchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
for £60,000 on 10 July 2009. He made his debut in a 7–1 away win over Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
on 8 August 2009. His first clean sheet of the 2009–10 season
2009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...
came against Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in a 0–0 draw on 5 September 2009. He since kept a further 16 clean sheets during his debut season and has not only established himself as Colchester United's first choice goalkeeper, but has also become a favourite with the U's faithful due to his assured, commanding performances. These solid performances led to Ben Williams to winning three Player of the Season Awards at Colchester United, including both the CUSA home and away player of the year awards as voted for by fans and also the Official Player of the Year Award.
On the 3rd September after an impressive Mark Cousins performance, Ben was dropped from the 1st keeper position in favour of Cousins. John Ward praised cousins for his ability in the 1-1 draw, saying afterwards "he kept us in the game. It was an impressive team performance but Mark kept us in it from the start."
Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||||||
| Manchester United Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958... |
2002–03 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| Coventry City Coventry City F.C. Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry... (loan) |
2002–03 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Chesterfield Chesterfield F.C. Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower... (loan) |
2002–03 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |||||||||
| Manchester United Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958... |
2003–04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... (loan) |
2003–04 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |||||||||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... |
2004–05 2004–05 Football League Championship The Football League 2004–05 , was the thirteenth season under its current league division format. It began in August 2004 and concluded in May 2005, with the promotion play-off finals. This was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League... |
23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2006–07 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 4 | 0 | 45 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2007–08 2007–08 Football League One The Football League 2007–08 , was the sixteenth season under its current league division format. It began in August 2007 and concluded in May 2008, with the promotion play-off finals.... |
46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 49 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Total | 125 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | Carlisle United Carlisle United F.C. Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system.... | 2008–09 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 36 | 0 | ||
| Total | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Colchester United Colchester United F.C. Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... | 2009–10 2009–10 Football League One The Football League 2009–10 , was be the seventeenth season under its current league division format. It began in August 2009 and ended on 8 May 2010.... |
46 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 49 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 Football League One The 2010–11 Football League One is the seventh season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format... |
33 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 37 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2011–12 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Total | 89 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Career total | 269 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 296 | 0 | ||
Individual Awards
- Carlisle UnitedCarlisle United F.C.Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
- Official Player of the Year: 2008/09
- Colchester UnitedColchester United F.C.Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
- CUSA Home Player of the Year: 2009/10
- CUSA Away Player of the Year: 2009/10
- Official Player of the Year: 2009/10
External links
- Ben Williams player profile at cu-fc.com