Shaun Williams (footballer)

Shaun Williams (born 19 October 1986) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for English League Two club Gillingham, whom he also captains. He has previously played for Drogheda United, Finn Harps, Sporting Fingal, MK Dons, Millwall and Portsmouth.

Shaun Williams
Williams playing for Milton Keynes Dons in 2013
Personal information
Full name Shaun Williams[1]
Date of birth (1986-10-19) 19 October 1986[2]
Place of birth Portmarnock, Dublin, Ireland[3]
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Gillingham
Number 6
Youth career
2005–2006 Drogheda United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Drogheda United 4 (0)
2007 → Dundalk (loan) 25 (8)
2008 → Finn Harps (loan) 14 (2)
2009–2010 Sporting Fingal 45 (13)
2011–2014 Milton Keynes Dons 108 (19)
2014–2021 Millwall 252 (18)
2021–2022 Portsmouth 31 (0)
2022– Gillingham 43 (4)
International career‡
2007 Republic of Ireland U21 1 (1)
2010 Republic of Ireland U23 1 (1)
2010 League of Ireland XI 1 (0)
2018 Republic of Ireland 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:47, 10 September 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 29 March 2021 (UTC)

Career

Drogheda United

Raised in Portmarnock in North Dublin, Williams signed for nearby League of Ireland club Drogheda United from schoolboy club Home Farm FC at the start of the 2005 season and played with the club's under 21 side for the year. After impressing for the under 21 side, Williams was offered a full-time professional contract with the club which he signed ahead of the 2006 season. Struggling to make his first team breakthrough that year, Drogheda looked to loan him out for the following year for experience.[3]

Dundalk loan

Williams spent the 2007 League of Ireland First Division season on loan at Drogheda United's County Louth rivals Dundalk. He made 25 appearances, scoring 8 goals as Dundalk finished in 3rd place.[4]

Finn Harps loan

He spent the opening half of the 2008 season on loan from Drogheda United at Finn Harps following their promotion to the League of Ireland Premier Division in 2007 via the playoffs. He made 14 appearances, scoring two goals.[4] His first goal came in the opening match of the season as Harps beat fellow Premier Division newcomers Cobh Ramblers 2–1 in Finn Park.[5] He followed that up with his second in three games as Harps beat U.C.D. 1–0.[6] Failing to score in the rest of his appearances for Harps, his loan ended in Summer 2008 as he returned to Drogheda United for the remainder of the season.[4]

Return from loans

He made his first team debut for the club on 20 July 2008, coming off the bench at halftime for Sami Ristilä in a 1–0 win over Cork City.[7] He went on to make a further 3 appearances before the end of the season.[4]

Sporting Fingal

Williams signed for League of Ireland First Division side Sporting Fingal and made his debut away to Waterford United on 7 March 2009.[8] He scored 10 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions as his side finished 3rd in the league, beating Bray Wanderers 4–2 on aggregate in the Promotion/relegation play-off final.[9] They also beat Sligo Rovers to win the 2009 FAI Cup with Williams playing the full 90 minutes of the Final at Tallaght Stadium.[10] He was voted into the PFAI First Division Team of the Year at the end of the season.[11] The 2010 season was Fingal's first ever season in the League of Ireland Premier Division but they and Williams took to it well, finishing in 4th place and earning a UEFA Europa League place for the following season.[12] Williams made his first appearances in European competition in July 2010 when he captain his side at home and away to C.S. Marítimo of Portugal as they lost both legs 3–2.[13][14] Williams was selected in the League of Ireland XI to play a friendly against Manchester United in the first ever match at the Aviva Stadium.[15] At the end of the season, Williams won the 2010 PFAI Young Player of the Year award as voted by his fellow players at the end of the season.[16] Just weeks before the 2011 season, Sporting Fingal went out of existence due to financial difficulties leaving Williams a free agent.[17]

Milton Keynes Dons

On 16 March 2011, Williams signed for MK Dons. Despite making his name as a midfielder, he primarily as a centre-half for the club due to injuries and a small squad. At the end of the 2012–13 campaign, Williams was crowned the MK Dons Player of the Year and the Players' Player of the Year.[18]

Millwall
Williams in action for Millwall against Swindon Town in 2015

On 27 January 2014, Williams signed for Millwall on a 2+1⁄2-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[19] During his time at Millwall he accumulated 290 appearances in all competitions, scoring 22 goals.

Portsmouth

On 25 June 2021, Williams signed for Portsmouth of League One.[20] Williams was released after one season at the club.[21]

Gillingham

On 10 June 2022, Williams signed for League Two side Gillingham on a one-year contract,[22] reuniting with his former Millwall manager Neil Harris. He made his debut for the Kent side on the opening day of the 2022–23 season in a 2–0 away defeat to AFC Wimbledon.[23] He scored his first goal for Gillingham on 5 February 2023, the only goal in a 1–0 home victory over Crawley Town.[24] On 28 April 2023 it was announced that Williams had signed a new contract with the Kent club.[25]

International career

He made his senior Republic of Ireland debut at the age of 31 in a 2-0 friendly loss against France in May 2018.[26] Williams scored his first senior international goal for Ireland on 6 September 2018, after coming off the bench against Wales in the UEFA Nations League.[27]

International goals
Scores and results list Ireland's goal tally first.
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.6 September 2018Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales Wales1–41–42018–19 UEFA Nations League B

Career statistics
As of match played 9 September 2023[28]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Drogheda United 2006 LOI Premier Division 0000000[lower-alpha 1]00[lower-alpha 2]000
2007 00————00
2008 40——0[lower-alpha 3]00[lower-alpha 2]040
Total 400000000040
Dundalk (loan) 2007 LOI First Division 2580000——258
Finn Harps (loan) 2008 LOI Premier Division 1420010——152
Sporting Fingal 2009 LOI First Division 1386130—3[lower-alpha 4]12510
2010 LOI Premier Division 32551102[lower-alpha 5]00[lower-alpha 6]0406
Total 45131124020316516
Milton Keynes Dons 2011–12 EFL League One 3984030—3[lower-alpha 7]0498
2012–13 4437330—1[lower-alpha 8]0556
2013–14 2584120—2[lower-alpha 8]13310
Total 1081915480—6113724
Millwall 2013–14 EFL Championship 171————171
2014–15 3820010——392
2015–16 EFL League One 3322010—7[lower-alpha 9]2434
2016–17 4546011—4[lower-alpha 10]0565
2017–18 3523020—0[lower-alpha 8]0402
2018–19 EFL Championship 3154021——376
2019–20 3220020——342
2020–21 2200020——240
Total 25218150112—12029022
Portsmouth 2021–22 EFL League One 3102010—10350
Gillingham 2022–23 EFL League Two 3734030—30473
2023–24 610010—0071
Total 4344040—30544
Career Total 522574762922025262569
  1. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  2. Appearances in Setanta Sports Cup
  3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. Appearances in League of Ireland promotion/relegation play-offs
  5. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. Appearances in Leinster Senior Cup
  7. 1 appearance in EFL Trophy & 2 appearances in EFL League One Playoffs
  8. Appearances in EFL Trophy
  9. 4 appearances in EFL Trophy & 3 appearances in EFL League One Playoffs
  10. 2 appearances in EFL Trophy & 3 appearances in EFL League One Playoffs

Honours

Millwall

Individual

References
  1. "Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2018: Millwall" (PDF). English Football League. p. 25. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  2. "Shaun Williams". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  3. "Extratime.com - Extratime.ie - Shaun Williams".
  4. "Shaun Williams - Soccer player profile & career statistics - Global Sports Archive".
  5. "Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2008 League of Ireland Premier Division - Finn Harps -v- Cobh Ramblers". Extratime.ie.
  6. "Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2008 League of Ireland Premier Division - Finn Harps -v- UCD". Extratime.ie.
  7. "Drogheda United 0 - 1 Cork City".
  8. "Waterford United 1 - 1 Sporting Fingal".
  9. "RT Sport: Bray Wanderers 2-2 Sporting Fingal". RTÉ.ie. Archived from the original on 19 November 2009.
  10. "RT Sport: Sligo Rovers 1-2 Sporting Fingal". RTÉ.ie. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010.
  11. "Bohemians dominate PFAI selections". RTÉ.ie. 5 November 2009.
  12. "Summary - Premier Division - Republic of Ireland - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway".
  13. "CS Maritimo 3-2 Sporting Fingal". RTÉ.ie. 15 July 2010.
  14. "Sporting Fingal 2 - 3 Maritimo".
  15. "Airtricity XI 1-7 Manchester United". RTÉ.ie. 4 August 2010.
  16. "Ryan wins PFAI Player of the Year". RTè.ie. Archived from the original on 10 November 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  17. "League in new crisis as Fingal go to wall".
  18. "Williams named Player of the Year". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. 24 April 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  19. "Williams set to sign". Millwall FC. 27 January 2014.
  20. "Blues Complete Williams Signing". www.portsmouthfc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  21. "Pompey Retained List: Summer 2022". www.portsmouthfc.co.uk. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  22. "Gills sign Shaun William". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  23. Cawdell, Luke (30 July 2022). "Report: Opening day defeat for Gillingham". Kent Online. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  24. Cawdell, Luke (4 February 2023). "Report: Captain fantastic wins it for Gillingham". Kent Online. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  25. "Shaun Williams signs new Gills contract". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  26. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "France vs. Ireland (2:0)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  27. Leahy, Ed (6 September 2018). "Cardiff nightmare for O'Neill as clinical Wales coast to victory". www.rte.ie. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  28. "Republic of Ireland – S.Williams". Ie.soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  29. Hunt, Josh (20 May 2017). "Bradford City 0–1 Millwall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  30. "Bohemians dominate PFAI selections". 5 November 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  31. "Hoops and Sligo dominate PFAI nominations". 21 October 2010. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  32. "Young Player of the Year - previous winners". PFAI. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
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