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Matthew Williams (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Matthew Williams is a Welsh
footballer, currently playing as a striker for Welsh Premier League side The New Saints
.
. He signed for them at just 16 years of age and continued to play for a further five years. Despite playing well and scoring plenty of goals at reserve level, he was released in March 2005.
Although he failed to make an appearance in the first team, he did train with the first team regularly in his Manchester United career. Williams was involved in the reserve team that featured players such as Luke Chadwick
, Paul McShane, Michael Stewart, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
, Kieran Richardson
, Phil Bardsley, Giuseppe Rossi
, Gerard Piqué
, Richard Eckersley
, Chris Eagles
, Ritchie Jones
and strike partner Colin Heath
; who have all also left the club since Williams' departure.
on 11 March 2004, where he spent two seasons. Although it did not take him long to become a fixture in the first-team, he failed to make a major impact in the first-team.
In total, Williams made 26 appearances (13 starts and 13 substitute appearances) and scored just one goal.
on loan on 20 January 2006 for the remainder of the 2005–06 season, Williams made a total of eight appearances and scored five goals during the loan spell, before injury put an end to his season.
Despite an impressive time on loan at Tamworth
, Williams was not offered a new contract by Notts County
and was released.
Williams decided to re-sign with Tamworth
on a one-year permanent contract for the 2006–07 season. During the season, he played as a winger and as a striker, and made a total of 31 appearances, scoring five goals.
Question marks had been raised over Williams' future following Tamworth
's relegation from the Football Conference
, although Matthew had always stated that despite the clubs relegation, he wanted to sign another contract for the 2007–08 season.
On 2 July 2007, Williams and fellow striker Justin Jackson
signed new one-year deals with Tamworth
. On the same day, Williams was also joined at Tamworth
by former Notts County
team mates Robert Ullathorne
and Jake Sheridan.
in a loan deal on 21 March 2008. He scored the winning goal away at Farsley Celtic on his debut, before netting in the defeat to Grays Athletic at home.
. Williams finished the 2009–10 season as the club's top scorer with 20 league goals.
. His first season with the club saw him score 24 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
footballer, currently playing as a striker for Welsh Premier League side The New Saints
The New Saints F.C.
The New Saints of Oswestry Town & Llansantffraid Football Club , also known as The New Saints or simply TNS is a full-time-professional British football club representing Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain in Powys, Wales and Oswestry in Shropshire, England . They play in the Welsh Premier League...
.
Manchester United
Williams began his football career in 1999 with Manchester UnitedManchester 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...
. He signed for them at just 16 years of age and continued to play for a further five years. Despite playing well and scoring plenty of goals at reserve level, he was released in March 2005.
Although he failed to make an appearance in the first team, he did train with the first team regularly in his Manchester United career. Williams was involved in the reserve team that featured players such as Luke Chadwick
Luke Chadwick
Luke Harry Chadwick is an English footballer, currently playing for MK Dons. His favoured position is on the right side of midfield, but he can also operate on the left flank or behind the front two.-Manchester United:...
, Paul McShane, Michael Stewart, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
Sylvan Agustus Ebanks-Blake is an English footballer of Jamaican descent who plays as a striker for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers....
, Kieran Richardson
Kieran Richardson
Kieran Edward Richardson is an English footballer currently playing for Sunderland. He is naturally a left winger, but has proven to a extremely versatile; having also played as a left back, right winger, central midfielder and recently as a support striker...
, Phil Bardsley, Giuseppe Rossi
Giuseppe Rossi
Giuseppe Rossi is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for Spanish club Villarreal CF and the Italian national team.- Early life :...
, Gerard Piqué
Gerard Piqué
Gerard Piqué i Bernabeu is a Spanish footballer, currently playing as a central defender for FC Barcelona.A product of Barça's cantera, he initially left the club for Manchester United in 2004, where he remained for four years, before returning to Barça under Josep Guardiola's leadership, helping...
, Richard Eckersley
Richard Eckersley (footballer)
Richard Jon Eckersley is an English footballer who plays as a full back for Canadian club Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, on loan from Burnley....
, Chris Eagles
Chris Eagles
Christopher Mark "Chris" Eagles is an English footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers...
, Ritchie Jones
Ritchie Jones
Richard Glynn "Ritchie" Jones is an English footballer. He is a midfielder, preferring to play in the centre of midfield. He now plays for Bradford City after he rejected a contract extension from Oldham Athletic, whom he joined on a free transfer from Hartlepool United in July 2010...
and strike partner Colin Heath
Colin Heath
Colin Heath is an English former footballer who played as a striker or attacking midfielder in the Football League for Cambridge United, Swindon Town, Chesterfield and Macclesfield Town and in the Belgian First Division for Royal Antwerp.-Career:Heath was born in Chesterfield, grew up in...
; who have all also left the club since Williams' departure.
Notts County
Williams joined Notts CountyNotts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
on 11 March 2004, where he spent two seasons. Although it did not take him long to become a fixture in the first-team, he failed to make a major impact in the first-team.
In total, Williams made 26 appearances (13 starts and 13 substitute appearances) and scored just one goal.
Tamworth
Williams joined TamworthTamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
on loan on 20 January 2006 for the remainder of the 2005–06 season, Williams made a total of eight appearances and scored five goals during the loan spell, before injury put an end to his season.
Despite an impressive time on loan at Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
, Williams was not offered a new contract by Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
and was released.
Williams decided to re-sign with Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
on a one-year permanent contract for the 2006–07 season. During the season, he played as a winger and as a striker, and made a total of 31 appearances, scoring five goals.
Question marks had been raised over Williams' future following Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
's relegation from the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
, although Matthew had always stated that despite the clubs relegation, he wanted to sign another contract for the 2007–08 season.
On 2 July 2007, Williams and fellow striker Justin Jackson
Justin Jackson (footballer)
Justin Jackson is a professional footballer, who last played for Southern League Premier Division side Brackley Town...
signed new one-year deals with Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
. On the same day, Williams was also joined at Tamworth
Tamworth F.C.
Tamworth Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Tamworth, Staffordshire. Nicknamed 'The Lambs', they are currently members of the Conference National, the fifth highest tier in the English league system....
by former Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
team mates Robert Ullathorne
Robert Ullathorne
Robert Ullathorne is former a professional footballer, most recently playing for Conference North side Tamworth, where he played as a defender.He played most of his professional games for Norwich City....
and Jake Sheridan.
Burton Albion
Williams joined local rivals Burton AlbionBurton Albion F.C.
Burton Albion Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club's home ground is the Pirelli Stadium, having moved from Eton Park in 2005...
in a loan deal on 21 March 2008. He scored the winning goal away at Farsley Celtic on his debut, before netting in the defeat to Grays Athletic at home.
Rhyl
On 16 July 2008, Rhyl's website announced the signing of Williams just before kick off in a friendly against Oldham AthleticOldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
. Williams finished the 2009–10 season as the club's top scorer with 20 league goals.
The New Saints
In June 2010, Williams moved to reigning Welsh Premier League champions The New SaintsThe New Saints F.C.
The New Saints of Oswestry Town & Llansantffraid Football Club , also known as The New Saints or simply TNS is a full-time-professional British football club representing Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain in Powys, Wales and Oswestry in Shropshire, England . They play in the Welsh Premier League...
. His first season with the club saw him score 24 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions.