Bert Williams (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Bert Frederick Williams MBE
(born 31 January 1920) is a former English international
football goalkeeper. Nicknamed The Cat, he spent the majority of his playing career at Wolverhampton Wanderers
where he won the League Championship and FA Cup.
's reserves, whilst playing for Thompson's FC, the works team of the local factory he was employed at. He was taken on permanently and turned professional in April 1937. He made his league debut for the Division 3 club on 16 October 1937 against Bristol City
.
The outbreak of World War II
halted his progress, after two seasons of playing, as he joined the RAF and also acted as a Physical Training instructor. He found time in between his duties to turn out as a guest for both Nottingham Forest
and Chelsea
in friendlies.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
in September 1945 for £3,500. He immediately became first choice at the Molineux
club, making his official debut when league football resumed on 31 August 1946 in a 6-1 win over , a game the was also the Wolves début of Johnny Hancocks
.
He gained his first honour in 1949 as the team lifted the FA Cup
after defeating . His part in winning this prize saw him rewarded with an England
call-up later that month, as he made his international debut on 22 May 1949 in a 3-1 friendly win in France
. He held onto the goalkeeper's jersey through the 1950 FIFA World Cup
, and at that tournament played in England's surprise defeat to the USA. However, he got injured in November 1951 and Gil Merrick
established himself in the meantime, and he did not get another chance until December 1954.
Although his international career stalled, he won the league title with Wolves
in 1953–54, the club's first championship. He played on for three more seasons after this triumph as the club made a string of top 6 finishes, before retiring in May 1957. In total, he made 420 appearances for the Midlanders.
and a sporting centre. As of 2011 he lives near Shifnal
in Shropshire
.
Williams is the oldest living English international to have played in a World Cup
.
Williams was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours for services to football and to charity.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 31 January 1920) is a former English international
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
football goalkeeper. Nicknamed The Cat, he spent the majority of his playing career at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
where he won the League Championship and FA Cup.
Early career
Williams started playing competitive football as a young man when he was a member of the 19th Wolverhampton Company of The Boys' Brigade (Bradley Methodist Church). He was then offered the chance to play for WalsallWalsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
's reserves, whilst playing for Thompson's FC, the works team of the local factory he was employed at. He was taken on permanently and turned professional in April 1937. He made his league debut for the Division 3 club on 16 October 1937 against Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
.
The outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
halted his progress, after two seasons of playing, as he joined the RAF and also acted as a Physical Training instructor. He found time in between his duties to turn out as a guest for both Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
and Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in friendlies.
Wolves and England
With the conflict over, Williams resumed his career by signing for First DivisionFootball League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in September 1945 for £3,500. He immediately became first choice at the Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
club, making his official debut when league football resumed on 31 August 1946 in a 6-1 win over , a game the was also the Wolves début of Johnny Hancocks
Johnny Hancocks
Johnny Hancocks was an English footballer, most associated with Wolverhampton Wanderers.-Career:A diminutive figure, standing just 5' 4" with size 3 boots, Hancocks played in the Wrekin Schools team before making his debut for hometown club Oakengates Town in the Birmingham League, aged just 15...
.
He gained his first honour in 1949 as the team lifted the FA Cup
1949 FA Cup Final
The 1949 FA Cup Final was contested by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium. Wolves finished 6th in the First Division during that season, and boasted several England internationals among their ranks, while Leicester City had struggled to avoid relegation in the Second...
after defeating . His part in winning this prize saw him rewarded with an England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
call-up later that month, as he made his international debut on 22 May 1949 in a 3-1 friendly win in France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
. He held onto the goalkeeper's jersey through the 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
, and at that tournament played in England's surprise defeat to the USA. However, he got injured in November 1951 and Gil Merrick
Gil Merrick
Gilbert Harold "Gil" Merrick , was an English footballer and football manager. Considered one of the best goalkeepers in the UK during the mid-1950s, Merrick was one in a long line of great Birmingham City keepers which included the likes of Johnny Schofield and Harry Hibbs...
established himself in the meantime, and he did not get another chance until December 1954.
Although his international career stalled, he won the league title with Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in 1953–54, the club's first championship. He played on for three more seasons after this triumph as the club made a string of top 6 finishes, before retiring in May 1957. In total, he made 420 appearances for the Midlanders.
After football
After ending his football career, he later ran a sports shop in BilstonBilston
Bilston is a town in the English county of West Midlands, situated in the southeastern corner of the City of Wolverhampton. Three wards of Wolverhampton City Council cover the town: Bilston East and Bilston North, which almost entirely comprise parts of the historic Borough of Bilston, and...
and a sporting centre. As of 2011 he lives near Shifnal
Shifnal
Shifnal is a small market town in Shropshire, England. It forms part of The Wrekin constituency, and is about east of Telford. It has a railway station on the Shrewsbury-Wolverhampton Line and is near to the M54 motorway.-Early medieval time:...
in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
.
Williams is the oldest living English international to have played in a World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
.
Williams was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours for services to football and to charity.
Honours
- Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
: 1953–54 - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
: 19491949 FA Cup FinalThe 1949 FA Cup Final was contested by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium. Wolves finished 6th in the First Division during that season, and boasted several England internationals among their ranks, while Leicester City had struggled to avoid relegation in the Second...