Harry Williams (soccer, born 1951) facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Harry Williams | ||
| Date of birth | 7 May 1951 | ||
| Place of birth | Sydney, Australia | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1970–1977 | St. George Budapest | ||
| 1978 | Canberra City SC | ||
| 1985–1986 | Inter Monaro | 19 | (0) |
| 1990 | Inter Monaro | 2 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 1970–1977 | Australia | 13 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 August 2007 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 August 2007 |
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Harry Williams, born on May 7, 1951, is a former soccer player from Australia. He made history as the first recognised Indigenous Australian to play for the senior Australian national soccer team, known as the Socceroos. Harry was also part of the Australian team that played in the 1974 FIFA World Cup.
Contents
Early Life and Soccer Beginnings
Harry Williams was born in 1951 in Sydney, Australia. His family background includes both Aboriginal and Welsh heritage. From the age of nine, Harry started playing junior soccer. He played for the St George Police Boys team in Sydney, which helped him develop his skills early on.
Playing Career Highlights
Club Soccer Journey
Harry Williams played for several soccer clubs during his career. From 1970 to 1977, he was a key player for St George Budapest in the New South Wales competition. In 1978, he moved to play for Canberra City SC for one year. Later, in 1985 and 1989, he made brief returns to the field with the Queanbeyan club Inter Monaro.
Representing Australia: The Socceroos
Harry was chosen to join the Australian national team, the Socceroos, when he was just 19 years old. He went on an overseas tour with the team in 1970.
Making History at the World Cup
In 1974, Harry Williams became part of Australia's first-ever team to reach the FIFA World Cup Finals. This major event took place in West Germany. Even though he had only played six matches for Australia as a senior player before the World Cup, he was ready for the challenge.
During Australia's third and final match at the tournament, against Chile, Harry came on as a substitute. He replaced Colin Curran in the 83rd minute of the game, which ended in a 0–0 draw. This was a significant moment for Australian soccer.
In total, Harry Williams played 17 matches for Australia between 1970 and 1978. This includes six World Cup matches, counting the qualifying games.
Recognition and Legacy
Harry Williams's achievements have been recognised. In 2005, a photograph of him taken by Sahlan Hayes was bought by the National Gallery of Australia. This shows his importance in Australian sports history.
Family Connections
Harry Williams has a famous cousin, Claude Williams. Claude is a basketball player and was the first and only Aboriginal basketball coach. Claude's father, Claude "Candy" Williams, was also a well-known musician.
