Alvan Williams
Encyclopedia
Alvan Williams was a Welsh
former professional footballer and manager. During his career, he made over 100 appearances in The Football League
, later going on to manage Hartlepools United
, Southend United
and Wrexham.
in his early life played many sports from cricket to boxing but his passion was for football he played for a many clubs in Anglesey
as a Goal Keeper his older brother [Gavin Williams] played as center half they played together around Anglesey
as teenagers, both brothers were good players [Gavin Williams] went on to play for Stalybridge
. Alvan Williams signed up to the Army as part of his national service when he was there he got to play football for the Army as a center forward and had a fantastic scoring record. He was based in Woolwich
and was due to set sail for Korea but did not make the boat as he was recalled.
, making two league appearances for the club before moving to Division Three North
side Wrexham in 1956. After spending three years with Bradford Park Avenue
, he was forced to retire in 1961 at the age of 28 while playing for Exeter City
due to injury.
, Williams was appointed manager of Division Four
side Hartlepools United
in February 1964, remaining with the club until May 1965. He nearly returned to the club in 1966 but, after failing to agree terms, the club instead handed Brian Clough
his first job as manager. In June 1965 he became manager of Southend United
but became the first manager in the clubs history to suffer relegation and he later left the post to join Wrexham. However, he was forced to resign as Wrexham manager after being cautioned for drink-driving. This led to a falling out with the clubs chairman at the time. Williams will also be well known for his ability to spot young talented footballers. The Football Associaition of Wales awarded him a special merit award for his contribution to the game shortley before his death in 2003. After retiring from football he ran a number of pubs and clubs from Blackpool to London. In 1970s he was involved in an unsavoury incident in a bar involving a student’s death, he was charged murder his trial went to the Old Bailey but eventually due to lack of evidance was dropped to afray and he was released on bale. Williams ran the Ship Inn in Bala with wife [Elizabeth] and other Pubs in the north Wales area until his retirment.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
former professional footballer and manager. During his career, he made over 100 appearances in The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, later going on to manage Hartlepools United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
, Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
and Wrexham.
Early Life
Alvan Willams was the younger son of [William Williams] a vicar form AngleseyAnglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
in his early life played many sports from cricket to boxing but his passion was for football he played for a many clubs in Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
as a Goal Keeper his older brother [Gavin Williams] played as center half they played together around Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
as teenagers, both brothers were good players [Gavin Williams] went on to play for Stalybridge
Stalybridge
Stalybridge is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside in Greater Manchester, England, with a population of 22,568. Historically a part of Cheshire, it is east of Manchester city centre and northwest of Glossop. With the construction of a cotton mill in 1776, Stalybridge became one of...
. Alvan Williams signed up to the Army as part of his national service when he was there he got to play football for the Army as a center forward and had a fantastic scoring record. He was based in Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
and was due to set sail for Korea but did not make the boat as he was recalled.
Playing career
Williams began his career with BuryBury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
, making two league appearances for the club before moving to Division Three North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
side Wrexham in 1956. After spending three years with Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
, he was forced to retire in 1961 at the age of 28 while playing for Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
due to injury.
Managerial career
After a spell as assistant manager at Bangor CityBangor City F.C.
Bangor City Football Club are a semi-professional Welsh football club from the City of Bangor. The club compete in the Welsh Premier League, being ever present since the league was founded in 1992....
, Williams was appointed manager of Division Four
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
side Hartlepools United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
in February 1964, remaining with the club until May 1965. He nearly returned to the club in 1966 but, after failing to agree terms, the club instead handed Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
his first job as manager. In June 1965 he became manager of Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
but became the first manager in the clubs history to suffer relegation and he later left the post to join Wrexham. However, he was forced to resign as Wrexham manager after being cautioned for drink-driving. This led to a falling out with the clubs chairman at the time. Williams will also be well known for his ability to spot young talented footballers. The Football Associaition of Wales awarded him a special merit award for his contribution to the game shortley before his death in 2003. After retiring from football he ran a number of pubs and clubs from Blackpool to London. In 1970s he was involved in an unsavoury incident in a bar involving a student’s death, he was charged murder his trial went to the Old Bailey but eventually due to lack of evidance was dropped to afray and he was released on bale. Williams ran the Ship Inn in Bala with wife [Elizabeth] and other Pubs in the north Wales area until his retirment.
Managerial statistics
| Team | Country | From | To | Record | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
| Hartlepools United Hartlepool United F.C. Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season... |
 |
February 1964 | May 1965 | 63 | 20 | 17 | 26 | ||
| Southend United Southend United F.C. Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had... |
|
June 1965 | March 1967 | 89 | 38 | 12 | 39 | ||
| Wrexham |  |
April 1967 | September 1968 | 61 | 26 | 18 | 17 | ||
| Total | 213 | 84 | 47 | 82 | |||||