William Williams (footballer)
Encyclopedia
William Williams was a Welsh amateur footballer who played most of his football career with the Druids
club of Ruabon
. Generally playing at half back
, he made eleven appearances for Wales
between 1876 and 1883.
, Denbighshire
and was trained as a chimney top maker, working for one of the clay works at Afongoch.
He joined the Druids
club in 1874 and in his time with the club, he appeared in eight finals of the Welsh Cup
, winning the trophy five times.
In February 1876, he took part in trials organized by the Druids' founder, Llewelyn Kenrick
, to select Welsh players to represent their country in a match against Scotland
. The match
was played at Hamilton Crescent
, Partick
, the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club on 25 March 1876, with Williams playing at left-half in a 2–2–6 formation. The Welsh were well defeated, conceding four goals without reply.
Williams was not selected for the return match against Scotland in 1877 and his second international appearance came on 23 March 1878, in a 6–0 defeat by Scotland at the original Hampden Park.
A week later, on 30 March 1878, Druids played in the final of the inaugural Welsh Cup
tournament, losing 1–0 to local rivals Wrexham.
Known as "little Billy", Williams became a stalwart of the Druids side, who "could run all day" and "had endless reserves of stamina", although "never a subtle player"; his strong points were his "perfect tackling" and his "vigorous support" of the forwards. In a report on one match, it was said that "he puts a stop to many a dangerous run, he is a most effective player though not one of the fastest. He outlasted all of his contemporaries, continuing to play for the Druids until 1890. He spent the 1878–79 season at Oswestry, when Druids were temporarily without a ground and also made occasional appearances for Bootle
, where R A Lythgoe, the former Druids official, was now club secretary.
At international level, he missed only four of the first 15 Welsh international matches and reserved his best performances for matches against Scotland
, earning him the nickname of "Scotty".
Druids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
club of Ruabon
Ruabon
Ruabon is a village and community in the county borough of Wrexham in Wales.More than 80% of the population of 2,400 were born in Wales with 13.6% speaking Welsh....
. Generally playing at half back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, he made eleven appearances 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...
between 1876 and 1883.
Football career
Williams was born in RuabonRuabon
Ruabon is a village and community in the county borough of Wrexham in Wales.More than 80% of the population of 2,400 were born in Wales with 13.6% speaking Welsh....
, Denbighshire
Denbighshire (historic)
Historic Denbighshire is one of thirteen traditional counties in Wales, a vice-county and a former administrative county, which covers an area in north east Wales...
and was trained as a chimney top maker, working for one of the clay works at Afongoch.
He joined the Druids
Druids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
club in 1874 and in his time with the club, he appeared in eight finals of the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
, winning the trophy five times.
In February 1876, he took part in trials organized by the Druids' founder, Llewelyn Kenrick
Llewelyn Kenrick
Samuel Llewelyn Kenrick was a Welsh solicitor who became the founder of the Football Association of Wales and organised the first Welsh international football match against Scotland in 1876...
, to select Welsh players to represent their country in a match against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. The match
Scotland v Wales (1876)
The first international match for the Wales national football team came on 25 March 1876 when they played Scotland at Hamilton Crescent, Partick, the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club, with the Scots claiming an emphatic 4–0 victory...
was played at Hamilton Crescent
Hamilton Crescent
Hamilton Crescent is a cricket ground located in the Partick area of Glasgow, Scotland. It is the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club.Hamilton Crescent is famous for holding the first ever international football match, played between Scotland and England...
, Partick
Partick
Partick is an area of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde, just across from Govan. To the west lies Whiteinch. Partick was a Police burgh from 1852 until 1912 when it was incorporated into the city.-History:...
, the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club on 25 March 1876, with Williams playing at left-half in a 2–2–6 formation. The Welsh were well defeated, conceding four goals without reply.
Williams was not selected for the return match against Scotland in 1877 and his second international appearance came on 23 March 1878, in a 6–0 defeat by Scotland at the original Hampden Park.
A week later, on 30 March 1878, Druids played in the final of the inaugural Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
tournament, losing 1–0 to local rivals Wrexham.
Known as "little Billy", Williams became a stalwart of the Druids side, who "could run all day" and "had endless reserves of stamina", although "never a subtle player"; his strong points were his "perfect tackling" and his "vigorous support" of the forwards. In a report on one match, it was said that "he puts a stop to many a dangerous run, he is a most effective player though not one of the fastest. He outlasted all of his contemporaries, continuing to play for the Druids until 1890. He spent the 1878–79 season at Oswestry, when Druids were temporarily without a ground and also made occasional appearances for Bootle
Bootle F.C.
Bootle Football Club is an English football club based in Bootle, Merseyside. The club are currently members of the North West Counties League Premier Division and play at New Bucks Park.-Previous clubs in Bootle:...
, where R A Lythgoe, the former Druids official, was now club secretary.
At international level, he missed only four of the first 15 Welsh international matches and reserved his best performances for matches against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, earning him the nickname of "Scotty".
International appearances
Williams made eleven appearances for Wales in official international matches, as follows:| Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Goals | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 March 1876 | West of Scotland Cricket Ground Hamilton Crescent Hamilton Crescent is a cricket ground located in the Partick area of Glasgow, Scotland. It is the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club.Hamilton Crescent is famous for holding the first ever international football match, played between Scotland and England... , Partick Partick Partick is an area of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde, just across from Govan. To the west lies Whiteinch. Partick was a Police burgh from 1852 until 1912 when it was incorporated into the city.-History:... |
0–4 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 23 March 1878 | Hampden Park, Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... |
0–9 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 18 January 1879 | Kennington Oval, London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
1–2 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 17 April 1879 | Racecourse Ground Racecourse Ground The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League... , Wrexham Wrexham Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England... |
0–3 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 15 March 1880 | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | 2–3 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 26 February 1881 | Alexander Meadows East Lancashire Cricket Club East Lancashire Cricket Club is a cricket club in the Lancashire League, which plays its home games at Alexandra Meadows in Blackburn. For the 2011 season its captain will be Mark Bolton and its professional will be Ockert Erasmus... , Blackburn |
1–0 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 14 March 1881 | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | 1–5 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 25 February 1882 | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | 7–1 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 13 March 1882 | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | 5–3 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 25 March 1882 | Hampden Park, Glasgow | 0–5 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 17 March 1883 | Ulster Cricket Ground, Ballynafeigh | 1–1 | 0 | Friendly | |
Honours
DruidsDruids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
- Welsh CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
winners: 1880Welsh Cup 1879–80-First round:-Replay:-Second Replay:Oswestry receive a bye to the next roundMold scratch to Druids23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers scratch to Rhyl-Second round:-Replay:-Second Replay:-Third round:...
, 1881Welsh Cup 1880–81-First round:Chirk receive a bye to the next round.First match was potested by Newtown WS regarding referee eligibility. Shrewsbury Engineers had won the first match 1-0.One goal for Wrexham was disputed-Second round:...
, 1882Welsh Cup 1881–82The 1882-83 Football Association of Wales Challenge Cup was the 6th season of the competition.-Group One:Aberystwyth receive a bye to the next round.-Group Two:-Group Three:-Group A:...
, 1885 & 1886 - Welsh CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
runners-up: 1878Welsh Cup 1877–78-First round:-Replay:-Second Replay:Rhosllanerchrugog receive a bye to the next round* Believing that it was a Rugby Union competition Swansea RFC scratched to Aberystwyth when officials learned that it was one for football.-Second round:-Replay:-Third round:-Replay:-Second Replay:Bangor receive bye...
, 1883 & 1884