Stuart Williams (footballer) facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stuart Grenville Williams | ||
| Date of birth | 9 July 1930 | ||
| Place of birth | Wrexham, Wales | ||
| Date of death | 5 November 2013 (aged 83) | ||
| Place of death | Southampton, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Playing position | Full back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Grove Park Grammar School | |||
| Victoria Youth Club | |||
| 1948–1949 | Wrexham | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1949–1950 | Wrexham | 5 | (0) |
| 1950–1962 | West Bromwich Albion | 226 | (0) |
| 1962–1966 | Southampton | 150 | (3) |
| Total | 381 | (3) | |
| National team | |||
| 1954–1965 | Wales | 43 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1970 | Paykan | ||
| 1971–1973 | Southampton (assistant) | ||
| 1974 | Viking FK | ||
|
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Stuart Grenville Williams (born 9 July 1930 – died 5 November 2013) was a Welsh football player. He was known for playing as a defender. Stuart played for the Welsh national team. He also played for several club teams, including Wrexham, West Bromwich Albion, and Southampton.
Contents
Stuart Williams' Football Journey
Early Days at Wrexham
Stuart Williams was born in Wrexham, Wales. He went to Grove Park Grammar School and played football there. He also played for the Victoria Youth Club. In August 1949, he joined Wrexham as an amateur player. His father was actually a director at the club. Stuart played five league games for Wrexham. Then, in November 1950, he moved to West Bromwich Albion.
Time with West Bromwich Albion
When Stuart first joined West Bromwich Albion, he played as a centre-forward. But he soon changed positions. First, he played as a wing-half. Then he settled into the full-back position, which is a defensive role. In 1954, Stuart helped West Bromwich Albion have a great season. They finished second in the top football league in England. He almost played in the FA Cup Final that year. However, the manager chose a more experienced player instead.
Stuart was known for being calm and having a good sense of where to be on the field. He also had a strong kick. Later, he formed a strong partnership with another defender named Don Howe. Stuart stayed at West Bromwich Albion for 12 years. He played 226 league games for them.
Playing for Southampton
In September 1962, Stuart joined Southampton. Southampton paid £15,000 for him. The team's manager, Ted Bates, wanted Stuart's experience. He hoped Stuart could help the club get promoted to the First Division. Stuart played his first game for Southampton on 19 September 1962. They won 2–1 against Chelsea.
Stuart played almost every game for Southampton for the next four years. In the 1965–66 season, he switched to playing left-back. His last game for Southampton was on 22 April 1966. That season, Southampton was promoted to the top league for the very first time!
Playing for His Country: Wales
Stuart Williams also played for his country, Wales. His first game for Wales was a friendly match against Austria on 9 May 1954. He played for Wales 43 times in total.
He was part of the Welsh team that played in the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden. Wales made it to the Quarter-finals of the tournament. There, they played against Brazil, who had the legendary player Pelé. Wales lost the game 1–0, with Pelé scoring the only goal.
Years later, Pelé wrote about that match in his book. He remembered the Welsh players well. He said it would be hard to forget the "excellent play of men like Hopkins and Bowen, Stuart Williams and Sullivan, or the truly inspired goalkeeping of Jack Kelsey."
What Happened Next?
After he stopped playing football, Stuart Williams became a coach and manager. He worked as a trainer for West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa, Morton, and Southampton. He also had short spells as a manager. He managed an Iranian club called Paykan in 1970–71. Later, he managed a Norwegian club called Viking FK in 1974.
Stuart settled down in Southampton. After leaving football, he worked as a tyre salesman. He then became a financial controller for a transport company.
Big Wins and Achievements
West Bromwich Albion
- Finished second in the Football League First Division in 1953–54
Southampton
- Finished second in the Football League Second Division in 1965–66 (which meant promotion!)
