Darren Williams
Encyclopedia
Darren Williams is an English
footballer who is player-manager of Whitby Town
.
Williams began his career at York City
, but made his name at Sunderland
, for whom he signed in 1996. He moved to Cardiff City
in 2004, then on Hartlepool United
in 2005. He was released by Hartlepool in 2007, and played for Bradford City
during the 2007–08 season.
, Williams played for Cleveland and North Yorkshire Boys and Marton Boys before joining the York City
youth system
in July 1993, scoring 16 goals for the Intermediate side in the 1993–94 season. He made his first team debut as a substitute in a 4–0 victory over Blackpool
on 26 December 1994, which was his only appearance of the 1994–95 season. Due to an injury to Steve Bushell he started the 1995–96 season as a first team regular, before being dropped and finishing the season with 27 appearances in all competitions, before handing in a transfer request. He played when they beat Manchester United
3–0 at Old Trafford in the League Cup
in 1995.
for a fee
of £50,000 in October 1996, and made over 250 appearances for the team, 108 of which were in the FA Premier League.
The highlight of his career so far was probably when he scored the winning goal for Sunderland at Middlesbrough
, his hometown club, in 1997, effectively relegating the Teessiders. The versatility of the Middlesbrough-born player was a big attraction for Pools when signing him, as he is able to operate anywhere across the back four or in midfield.
on a month-long loan in September 2004, with a view to a permanent move if he impressed. He played in all five of Cardiff's games during his initial loan period and his stay was extended for another two months. After he was told by Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy
his contract would not be extended, Williams made his move to Ninian Park
permanent in December 2004 on a free transfer.
, but when he was replaced by Dave Jones, the offer was withdrawn. Instead he returned to the north east to join League One
side Hartlepool United
. While at Hartlepool, Williams played the majority of the first team's games due to the injury of captain Micky Barron
, but when Barron returned he was moved to the bench. The team was relegated
in his first season at Hartlepool, but helped them earn instant promotion back to League One in 2006–07 as they missed out on the title on the last day of the season.
in July 2007. He was one of six new players who made their debut for City on the opening day of the 2007–08 in a 1–1 draw with Macclesfield Town
. Williams lost his place at right back to loan signing Ben Starosta
, who replaced Williams at half-time in a game against Wrexham
in January 2008. Williams missed seven games until he won his place back against Stockport County
when Starosta fell ill. On 29 April 2008, Williams was deemed to be surplus to requirements at Valley Parade and was released by manager Stuart McCall
along with 13 other Bradford players.
side Dundee
, where his former Sunderland teammate Alex Rae was manager, on trial in July 2008 and played for them in their opening game of the 2008–09
season as they defeated Ross County
2–1. Following another one-goal victory, Williams signed a one-year contract with Dundee. At the end of the 2008–09 season he was told he was free to look for another club by manager Jocky Scott
.
team Gateshead
on 28 August 2009, but the deal was called off as he still had hopes of a return to the professional ranks and would have been unable to do so until January, even if joining Gateshead on a non-contract basis. He has since joined the Conference National outfit, penning a deal on 26 September 2009. Williams made his debut the same day in the 1-0 home defeat against Oxford United
. Williams was released by Gateshead on 16 February 2010.
team Gainsborough Trinity
on a contract until the end of the 2009–10
season on 12 March. Williams was released in the summer of 2010, only to be re-signed in September. He eventually departed the club for a second time in May 2011.
in August 2011. He made his first appearance for the club on 13 August which the club drew 1-1 with Chasetown F.C.
.
On 26th October 2011 he was appointed player manager of Whitby Town F.C.
and B
level.
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 is player-manager of Whitby Town
Whitby Town F.C.
Whitby Town Football Club is an English football club based in Whitby, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Northern Premier League, the seventh tier of English football...
.
Williams began his career at York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
, but made his name at Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, for whom he signed in 1996. He moved to Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in 2004, then on Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
in 2005. He was released by Hartlepool in 2007, and played for Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
during the 2007–08 season.
York City
Born in MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, Williams played for Cleveland and North Yorkshire Boys and Marton Boys before joining the York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
youth system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
in July 1993, scoring 16 goals for the Intermediate side in the 1993–94 season. He made his first team debut as a substitute in a 4–0 victory over Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on 26 December 1994, which was his only appearance of the 1994–95 season. Due to an injury to Steve Bushell he started the 1995–96 season as a first team regular, before being dropped and finishing the season with 27 appearances in all competitions, before handing in a transfer request. He played when they beat 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...
3–0 at Old Trafford in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
in 1995.
Sunderland
He joined SunderlandSunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
for a fee
Fee
A fee is the price one pays as remuneration for services. Fees usually allow for overhead, wages, costs, and markup.Traditionally, professionals in Great Britain received a fee in contradistinction to a payment, salary, or wage, and would often use guineas rather than pounds as units of account...
of £50,000 in October 1996, and made over 250 appearances for the team, 108 of which were in the FA Premier League.
The highlight of his career so far was probably when he scored the winning goal for Sunderland at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, his hometown club, in 1997, effectively relegating the Teessiders. The versatility of the Middlesbrough-born player was a big attraction for Pools when signing him, as he is able to operate anywhere across the back four or in midfield.
Cardiff City
Williams joined Cardiff CityCardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
on a month-long loan in September 2004, with a view to a permanent move if he impressed. He played in all five of Cardiff's games during his initial loan period and his stay was extended for another two months. After he was told by Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy
Michael Joseph "Mick" McCarthy is an English-born former Irish international footballer who is currently the manager of Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he has been in charge since July 2006....
his contract would not be extended, Williams made his move to Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
permanent in December 2004 on a free transfer.
Hartlepool United
Williams was offered a new contract by Cardiff manager Lennie LawrenceLennie Lawrence
Robin Michael Lawrence, commonly known as Lennie Lawrence, is a British football manager who is assistant manager of Crystal Palace. He has managed a number of English clubs and one Welsh club in a coaching career spanning over 30 years...
, but when he was replaced by Dave Jones, the offer was withdrawn. Instead he returned to the north east to join League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
. While at Hartlepool, Williams played the majority of the first team's games due to the injury of captain Micky Barron
Michael Barron
Michael “Mickey” Barron was a professional footballer after his retirement in 2008.Micky Barron started his career at Middlesbrough. Despite spending 4 years at the club, Barron only made 3 appearances and found his chances of breaking into the first team limited...
, but when Barron returned he was moved to the bench. The team was relegated
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
in his first season at Hartlepool, but helped them earn instant promotion back to League One in 2006–07 as they missed out on the title on the last day of the season.
Bradford City
He was released by Hartlepool in May 2007 and joined Bradford CityBradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in July 2007. He was one of six new players who made their debut for City on the opening day of the 2007–08 in a 1–1 draw with Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
. Williams lost his place at right back to loan signing Ben Starosta
Ben Starosta
Ben Mark Starosta is an English-Polish footballer who is a free agent. He has previously played for Sheffield United, had a number of loan spells and represented the Polish national U-20 team.-Club career:...
, who replaced Williams at half-time in a game against Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
in January 2008. Williams missed seven games until he won his place back against Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
when Starosta fell ill. On 29 April 2008, Williams was deemed to be surplus to requirements at Valley Parade and was released by manager Stuart McCall
Stuart McCall
Andrew Stuart Murray McCall , usually known as Stuart McCall, is a former footballer who played in central midfield. He played a total of 763 league games during his career, the 13th highest of all British footballers...
along with 13 other Bradford players.
Dundee
Williams joined Scottish Football League First DivisionScottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
side Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
, where his former Sunderland teammate Alex Rae was manager, on trial in July 2008 and played for them in their opening game of the 2008–09
2008-09 in Scottish football
The 2008–09 season was the 112th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:* Hamilton Academical competed in the Scottish Premier League for the first time, their first season in the top-flight since the 1988–89 season, after being promoted as First Division champions the...
season as they defeated Ross County
Ross County F.C.
Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the...
2–1. Following another one-goal victory, Williams signed a one-year contract with Dundee. At the end of the 2008–09 season he was told he was free to look for another club by manager Jocky Scott
Jocky Scott
John Alexander Scott is a Scottish football coach and former player probably best known for his playing career, and three managerial spells with Dundee. Scott is currently the manager of Scottish Football League club Stirling Albion.- Club career :Scott played for Scotland, Dundee and Aberdeen...
.
Gateshead
Williams was to join Conference NationalConference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
team Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
on 28 August 2009, but the deal was called off as he still had hopes of a return to the professional ranks and would have been unable to do so until January, even if joining Gateshead on a non-contract basis. He has since joined the Conference National outfit, penning a deal on 26 September 2009. Williams made his debut the same day in the 1-0 home defeat against Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
. Williams was released by Gateshead on 16 February 2010.
Gainsborough Trinity
He joined Conference NorthConference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
team Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
on a contract until the end of the 2009–10
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...
season on 12 March. Williams was released in the summer of 2010, only to be re-signed in September. He eventually departed the club for a second time in May 2011.
Whitby Town
He joined Whitby Town F.C.Whitby Town F.C.
Whitby Town Football Club is an English football club based in Whitby, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Northern Premier League, the seventh tier of English football...
in August 2011. He made his first appearance for the club on 13 August which the club drew 1-1 with Chasetown F.C.
Chasetown F.C.
Chasetown Football Club is an English football club based in the Chasetown area of Burntwood, Staffordshire. The club currently plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division and is nicknamed The Scholars, having been formed by affiliates of nearby Chase Terrace High School in the Chase...
.
On 26th October 2011 he was appointed player manager of Whitby Town F.C.
Whitby Town F.C.
Whitby Town Football Club is an English football club based in Whitby, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Northern Premier League, the seventh tier of English football...
International career
He has also represented England at under-21England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
and B
England B national football team
England B is a secondary football team run occasionally as support for the England national football team. At times they have played other nations' full teams; they have also played matches against 'B' teams from other football associations...
level.