Geraint Williams
Encyclopedia
David Geraint Williams (born 5 January 1962 in Cwmparc
) is a former professional footballer who also played for Wales
. He has also managed Colchester United
and Leyton Orient
.
, Ipswich Town
and finally Colchester United
. Geraint played in centre midfield and was considered a steady, defensive midfielder.
He began his career with Bristol Rovers, where he made his first team debut in the 1980–81 season and remained with them until he joined Derby County on 29 March 1985 for £40,000. He had played 141 league games for the Pirates, scoring eight goals.
He helped Derby County win promotion to the Second Division in 1986 and to the First Division a year later, rarely missing a game for them in his seven years there. He contributed to their fifth place league finish (their best in over a decade) in 1989 but endured the disappointment of relegation back to the Second Division two years later. After failing to get them back into the top flight in 1992, he bade farewell to the Baseball Ground after seven years, 267 league games and 10 goals, when signing for Ipswich Town on 1 July 1992 for £650,000. Ipswich had just been promoted to the new FA Premier League
as champions of the Second Division.http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=44536
Ipswich did reasonably well in 1992–93, having the longest unbeaten start in the new Premier League and being fourth as late on as February, sparking hopes that Ipswich could win the league title. However, a run of bad results dragged them down to 16th place in the final table. They only narrowly avoided relegation a year later, as the 1993–94 campaign had brought a similar pattern to the previous one – a good start followed by a slump. Ipswich were finally relegated in 1994–95, winning just seven games and conceding 92 goals (including a 9–0 demolition by Manchester United
in March 1995). Williams remained with them for three more reasons after relegation, finally departing on a free transfer in the summer of 1998 after 227 league games and three goals for the Tractor Boys.
He then signed for Division Two newcomers Colchester United, playing 39 league games for them over the next two seasons before finally hanging up his boots at the end of the 1999–2000 season
and remaining at the club as a coach.http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=44537
When he retired from playing he stayed at Layer Road
to become assistant manager in 2000. In July 2006, Geraint took charge of the U's, replacing out going manager Phil Parkinson
. He had previously managed Colchester on a four-week caretaker basis during the 2002–03 season prior to Parkinson's appointment.
Colchester were among most people's favourites to be relegated from the Football League Championship
in the 2006–07 season, as they had the smallest ground in the division – it was also their first season in the second tier of the English
league throughout their history. Despite a slow start, they entered a run of consistent good form and were in the challenge for a play-off place right up until the final game of the season. They eventually finished 10th above more favoured sides such as Crystal Palace
, Leicester City
and most notably the relegated Leeds United
.
However, following the club's success many of their most notable players were snapped up elsewhere and, following a summer in the which the club needed to rebuild their playing staff, they were unable to sustain their success and were relegated once more the following season, finishing bottom.
With the club's expectations at an all-time high following the two year stint in the higher division, a poor start to the 2008–09 season, (where the club fell to twenty-third League One) saw Geraint leave his post on 22 September 2008 after discussions with the Chairman.
Williams was appointed manager of Leyton Orient
in February 2009. He started very well and managed to help Orient to 7 wins from his first 9 games in charge, including wins over teams such as Crewe Alexandra
, Brighton & Hove Albion
and Carlisle United
. He led the relegation-threatened O's to an eventual mid-table finish of 14th place, retaining their League One
status with several games to spare. After a poor run of form in March, Williams left Orient only hours after the side's 3–1 home defeat to Hartlepool United
.
He is a life-long fan of Cardiff City
.
. They had their first child together David Rhys Williams on 5 November 1988, shortly followed by their daughter Bethan Louise Williams on 31 December 1990, both born in Derby.
Cwmparc
Cwmparc is a village and a district of the community of Treorchy, in the Rhondda Valley, Wales.- History :Early legends tell of a medieval park, or hunting preserve, in the area called Parc Cwm Brychiniog, which was subsequently made into four farms in Tudor times, one of which was called Parc...
) is a former professional footballer who also played for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
. He has also managed 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....
and Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
.
Career
Amongst the clubs he played for were Bristol Rovers, Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
and finally 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....
. Geraint played in centre midfield and was considered a steady, defensive midfielder.
He began his career with Bristol Rovers, where he made his first team debut in the 1980–81 season and remained with them until he joined Derby County on 29 March 1985 for £40,000. He had played 141 league games for the Pirates, scoring eight goals.
He helped Derby County win promotion to the Second Division in 1986 and to the First Division a year later, rarely missing a game for them in his seven years there. He contributed to their fifth place league finish (their best in over a decade) in 1989 but endured the disappointment of relegation back to the Second Division two years later. After failing to get them back into the top flight in 1992, he bade farewell to the Baseball Ground after seven years, 267 league games and 10 goals, when signing for Ipswich Town on 1 July 1992 for £650,000. Ipswich had just been promoted to the new FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
as champions of the Second Division.http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=44536
Ipswich did reasonably well in 1992–93, having the longest unbeaten start in the new Premier League and being fourth as late on as February, sparking hopes that Ipswich could win the league title. However, a run of bad results dragged them down to 16th place in the final table. They only narrowly avoided relegation a year later, as the 1993–94 campaign had brought a similar pattern to the previous one – a good start followed by a slump. Ipswich were finally relegated in 1994–95, winning just seven games and conceding 92 goals (including a 9–0 demolition by 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...
in March 1995). Williams remained with them for three more reasons after relegation, finally departing on a free transfer in the summer of 1998 after 227 league games and three goals for the Tractor Boys.
He then signed for Division Two newcomers Colchester United, playing 39 league games for them over the next two seasons before finally hanging up his boots at the end of the 1999–2000 season
1999-2000 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World...
and remaining at the club as a coach.http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=44537
When he retired from playing he stayed at Layer Road
Layer Road
Layer Road was a Football League stadium in Colchester, England. It was only used for football matches and was the home ground of Colchester United before being replaced by the Weston Homes Community Stadium. The stadium held spectators and was built in 1907, originally for use by Colchester Town...
to become assistant manager in 2000. In July 2006, Geraint took charge of the U's, replacing out going manager Phil Parkinson
Phil Parkinson
Philip John "Phil" Parkinson is an English football manager and former player who currently manages Bradford City.-Playing career:...
. He had previously managed Colchester on a four-week caretaker basis during the 2002–03 season prior to Parkinson's appointment.
Colchester were among most people's favourites to be relegated from the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
in the 2006–07 season, as they had the smallest ground in the division – it was also their first season in the second tier of the English
Football in England
Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game...
league throughout their history. Despite a slow start, they entered a run of consistent good form and were in the challenge for a play-off place right up until the final game of the season. They eventually finished 10th above more favoured sides such as Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
and most notably the relegated Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
.
However, following the club's success many of their most notable players were snapped up elsewhere and, following a summer in the which the club needed to rebuild their playing staff, they were unable to sustain their success and were relegated once more the following season, finishing bottom.
With the club's expectations at an all-time high following the two year stint in the higher division, a poor start to the 2008–09 season, (where the club fell to twenty-third League One) saw Geraint leave his post on 22 September 2008 after discussions with the Chairman.
Williams was appointed manager of Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
in February 2009. He started very well and managed to help Orient to 7 wins from his first 9 games in charge, including wins over teams such as 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...
, Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
and 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....
. He led the relegation-threatened O's to an eventual mid-table finish of 14th place, retaining their 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....
status with several games to spare. After a poor run of form in March, Williams left Orient only hours after the side's 3–1 home defeat to 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...
.
He is a life-long fan of 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...
.
Family life
He married his wife Lynne on 6 July 1985 at St David's Church, Ton PentreTon Pentre
Ton Pentre is a village in the Rhondda Valley in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. Ton Pentre, a former industrial coal mining village, is a district of the community of Pentre. The old district of Ystradyfodwg was named after the church at Ton Pentre...
. They had their first child together David Rhys Williams on 5 November 1988, shortly followed by their daughter Bethan Louise Williams on 31 December 1990, both born in Derby.
Managerial stats
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| 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.... |
 |
29 January 2003 | 25 February 2003 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 40.00 |
| 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.... |
|
28 July 2006 | 22 September 2008 | 106 | 30 | 47 | 29 | 28.30 |
| Leyton Orient Leyton Orient F.C. Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63... |
|
5 February 2009 | 3 April 2010 | 62 | 21 | 25 | 16 | 33.87 |