Mike Williams (footballer, born 1965)

For other people named Mike Williams, see Mike Williams (disambiguation).
Mike Williams
Personal information
Full name Michael Williams
Date of birth (1965-12-31) 31 December 1965
Place of birth Mancot, Wales
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position Defender/Midfielder
Youth career
Everton
Hawarden Rangers
c.1981–1982 Chester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1982–1984 Chester 34 (4)
1984–1991 Wrexham 178 (3)
National team
Wales Youth

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Mike Williams (born February 6, 1965, Mancot) is a former Welsh professional footballer. He played in The Football League for Chester City and Wrexham as both a defender and a midfielder.

Playing career

Williams had been with Everton as a schoolboy before playing for Hawarden Rangers, where he was spotted by Chester coach Cliff Sear.[1] He made his Football League debut on May 8, 1982 in a 2–1 home defeat to Lincoln City in the number eight shirt.[2] He had spells in and out of the first–team over the next two years, in a side that contained fellow homegrown youngsters such as Paul Blackwell, Peter Bulmer and Peter Zelem.

He made his final appearance for Chester against Bristol City on May 7, 1984 before he was released by manager John McGrath.[3] During his time at Chester, Williams and team–mate John Allen had been set to join Chelsea on trial with a view to permanent transfers, but the deals collapsed after Williams was stretchered off in a match against Hartlepool United.[4]

He quickly joined Chester’s arch rivals Wrexham, where he quickly established himself in the first-team side. Over the next six years, Williams went on to make 238 first-team appearances for the North Wales club, helping them win the Welsh Cup against Kidderminster Harriers in 1985–86.[5] His final game for the club came in a European Cup Winners Cup tie against Manchester United in October 1990, with a persistent knee injury forcing him to retire from playing the following year.[6]

On April 7, 1992, a testimonial match for Williams was staged between Wrexham and Chester City. A crowd of 1,984 saw a 1–1 draw between Williams’ two former clubs.[2]

Honours

Wrexham

Notes

  1. Mike Williams testimonial matchday programme; 7/4/1992; pg. 3
  2. 1 2 Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997. Yore Publications. pp. stats section. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
  3. Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997. Yore Publications. p. 100. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
  4. Chas Sumner (1997). On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997. Yore Publications. p. 99. ISBN 1-874427-52-6.
  5. Mike Williams testimonial matchday programme; 7/4/1992; pg. 5
  6. Mike Williams testimonial matchday programme; 7/4/1992; pg. 2
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