Alex Williams (footballer, born 1961)

Alexander Williams MBE (born 13 November 1961) is an English former football goalkeeper. He won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship with England in 1984.

Alex Williams
Personal information
Full name Alexander Williams[1]
Date of birth (1961-11-13) 13 November 1961[1]
Place of birth Manchester, England[1]
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Manchester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1986 Manchester City 114 (0)
1986 → Queen of the South (loan) 5 (0)
1986–1987 Port Vale 35 (0)
Total 154 (0)
International career
England U21
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He made 125 league and cup appearances for Manchester City between 1980 and 1986, and also had brief spells with Queen of the South and Port Vale. He helped City to win promotion out of the Second Division in 1984–85. However, he was forced into early retirement in September 1987 due to a recurring back injury. He continued to work behind the scenes at Manchester City, and in 2002 received an MBE for services to young people.

Club career

A Moss Side native and product of the Manchester City youth scheme,[3] he featured in both the FA Youth Cup finals of 1979 and 1980, which ended in defeats to Millwall and Aston Villa respectively. He graduated out of the Academy alongside players such as Gary Bennett and Tommy Caton. He made his first team debut in the 1980–81 season, and impressed enough so as to permanently succeeded Joe Corrigan in the City goal.[3] Following mid-table finishes in the 1980–81 and 1981–82 seasons under manager John Bond, City were relegated out of the First Division in 1982–83 under new boss John Benson. Now under the stewardship of Billy McNeill, they finished fourth in the Second Division in 1983–84, missing out on promotion by a ten-point margin. Despite this, Williams was voted onto the PFA Team of the Year, along with teammate Mick McCarthy. Promotion was instead achieved in 1984–85, after they secured the third and final promotion place by beating fourth placed Portsmouth's goal difference tally. The "Citizens" re-established themselves in the top-flight with a 15th-place finish in 1985–86. However, he lost his first team place to Eric Nixon, and fell further down the pecking order with the arrival of Perry Suckling.[3] His last game for the club was a 3–0 home defeat to rivals Manchester United.[3] Williams played a total of 125 league games in his six years at Maine Road. He also played five games on loan at Scottish club Queen of the South in 1986.

In November 1986 he was sent out on loan to Port Vale, who needed cover for an injured Mark Grew, and was signed permanently by manager John Rudge in January 1987 for a £10,000 fee (plus 50% of any future transfer fees).[1] He settled in well at Vale Park, and made 31 Third Division appearances in 1986–87.[1] However, he featured just six times at the start of the 1987–88 campaign when he was forced into retirement in September 1987 due to a recurring back injury.[1]

International career

Williams was a member of the England Under-21 squad that won the 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[4]

Post-retirement

Williams returned to Port Vale in July 1988 as the community programme officer but departed in January 1990 to take up a similar role at Manchester City. He now works as the Executive Manager of City in the Community, Manchester City's community programme.[5] He was awarded the MBE in the 2002 New Years Honours list[6] for his services to young people.[7]

Career statistics

Source:[8]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other[A] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester City 1980–81 First Division 20000020
1981–82 First Division 30000030
1982–83 First Division 1700010180
1983–84 Second Division 4201030460
1984–85 Second Division 4201050480
1985–86 First Division 80000080
Total 114020901250
Port Vale 1986–87 Third Division 3102040370
1988–89 Third Division 40002060
Total 3502060430
Career total 1490401501680
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the League Cup, Football League Trophy, English Football League play-offs and Full Members' Cup.

Honours

England U21

Manchester City

Individual

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 310. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Dunk, Peter (1987). Rothmans football yearbook 1987-88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 294. ISBN 978-0356143545. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. "profile". football-england.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  4. "Alex WILLIAMS – Biography of his Man City career. – Manchester City FC". Sporting Heroes. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  5. "CITC staff". Manchester City. Archived from the original on 22 August 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  6. "Football's New Year Honours". The FA. 2 December 2001. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  7. "Queen honours nine in her New Year list". Stockport Express. M.E.N. Media. 31 December 2001. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  8. Alex Williams at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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