Eifion Williams
Encyclopedia
Eifion Wyn Williams is a Welsh
footballer who plays for Jarrow Roofing
as a midfielder/striker after coming out of retirement. He has recently retired whilst playing for Wrexham . He has represented Wales
at B- level.
in North Wales
and began his career as a Wolverhampton Wanderers
apprentice. However, things did not work out and he moved back to Anglesey
and joined League of Wales
side Caernarfon Town
, while working on a building site. Williams scored freely for Caernarfon and this attracted the attention of bigger clubs. On the eve of the 1997-98 season, Williams left Caernarfon for Barry Town
, then the only professional side in the League of Wales
, breaking their transfer fee in the process at a cost of £25,000. He immediately began scoring regularly, including one against Dynamo Kiev in the UEFA Champions League
Williams also helped Barry Town record their highest win when he contributed 4 goals to help Barry Town beat Conwy United 9-0. Williams’ performances and goal scoring record attracted scouts from English football league clubs.
On March 25, 1999, after over 200 League of Wales goals in four seasons, Torquay United
paid £70,000 (breaking their transfer record) to sign Williams, beating off competition from a number of clubs, possibly helped by his Barry teammates Lee Barrow
and Paul Mitchell
, both former Torquay players, passing on happy memories of Plainmoor
. He made his league debut against Hartlepool United
and made an instant impact as he became only the second Torquay player to score a hat-trick on his debut (the first being Peter Laraman
in the 6-2 defeat of Barnsley
in September, 1961). Unfortunately this led to massive expectations being placed on Williams' shoulders, for example, Neville Southall
, in goal for Torquay that day, predicted, "He can go all the way to the Premiership."
Injuries later affected his form, causing him to play with a broken toe for part of 2000-01, although he still managed nine goals in a dismal season. He was placed on the transfer list on November 2, 2001 by mutual consent after finding himself playing mainly as a substitute in Roy McFarland
's side and left to join Hartlepool United on March 5, 2002 for a fee of £30,000.
Williams spent his first weeks with Hartlepool playing for the reserves in order to gain match fitness. However it was not long before Williams made his Hartlepool debut against Bristol Rovers
after coming on as a substitute, replacing Gordon Watson
. As the season reached its climax, Williams notched 5 goals in 10 appearances to help Pools make the play-offs.
The following season saw Williams play in 45 of Hartlepool’s 46 league matches. Due to the injury of Gordon Watson he became Hartlepool’s first choice striker and finished as Hartlepool’s top scorer, scoring 15 goals in 45 games and helped Hartlepool get automatic promotion.
William’s first season in League 1 saw him repeat the success of the previous season as he participated in 41 games and scored 13 goals despite playing right wing for a large majority of the season. His performances earned him a call up to Mark Hughes
’ Welsh national side. However the season would end bitterly for Williams as he picked up an injury during Hartlepool’s play-off defeat to Bristol City and missed out on the opportunity to play for his country.
Williams’ spent the majority of the 2004/05 season on the right wing with manager Neale Cooper preferring the partnership of Adam Boyd
and Joel Porter
up front. This reduced his goal scoring record as he only managed to notch 5 goals in 41 appearances. However he did manage to equalise for Hartlepool in their play-off final against Sheffield Wednesday
.
The 2005/2006 season saw Williams once again playing up front due to the injuries of Adam Boyd
, Joel Porter
and James Brown. During this season he managed to score 8 goals.
Williams was released from his Hartlepool United contract at the end of the 2006-07
season.
Williams was signed by League Two side Wrexham on a two-year contract on 11 June 2007. He scored 2 goals on his debut in a 3-2 home defeat friendly to Liverpool
. Liverpool were 3-0 up at half-time.
Eifion retired during the 2007/08 football season and is returning to the north-east of England
to be with his family.
However, Eifion came out of retirement to sign for North-East Northern League Division One club Jarrow Roofing
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
footballer who plays for Jarrow Roofing
Jarrow Roofing Boldon Community Association F.C.
Jarrow Roofing Boldon Community Association F.C. is a football club based in Boldon Colliery, near Sunderland, England. They were established in 1987 and joined the Wearside Football League Division Two in 1991. They were FA Vase semi-finalists in 2005...
as a midfielder/striker after coming out of retirement. He has recently retired whilst playing for Wrexham . He has represented Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
at B- level.
Football career
Williams was born in BangorBangor, Gwynedd
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
in North Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and began his career as a 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...
apprentice. However, things did not work out and he moved back to 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...
and joined League of Wales
League of Wales
The Welsh Premier League is the national football league for Wales. It has both Professional and Semi-Professional status clubs and is at the top of the Welsh football league system. Prior to 2002, the league was known as the League of Wales, but changed its name as part of a sponsorship deal...
side Caernarfon Town
Caernarfon Town F.C.
Caernarfon Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the Cymru Alliance. The club ia nicknamed The Canaries because of its yellow and green strip. Caernarfon Town plays at The Oval, Caernarfon, Gwynedd.-History:...
, while working on a building site. Williams scored freely for Caernarfon and this attracted the attention of bigger clubs. On the eve of the 1997-98 season, Williams left Caernarfon for Barry Town
Barry Town F.C.
Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...
, then the only professional side in the League of Wales
League of Wales
The Welsh Premier League is the national football league for Wales. It has both Professional and Semi-Professional status clubs and is at the top of the Welsh football league system. Prior to 2002, the league was known as the League of Wales, but changed its name as part of a sponsorship deal...
, breaking their transfer fee in the process at a cost of £25,000. He immediately began scoring regularly, including one against Dynamo Kiev in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
Williams also helped Barry Town record their highest win when he contributed 4 goals to help Barry Town beat Conwy United 9-0. Williams’ performances and goal scoring record attracted scouts from English football league clubs.
On March 25, 1999, after over 200 League of Wales goals in four seasons, Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
paid £70,000 (breaking their transfer record) to sign Williams, beating off competition from a number of clubs, possibly helped by his Barry teammates Lee Barrow
Lee Barrow
Lee Alexander Barrow is an English footballer, currently playing as central defender for Gresley FC.Barrow began his career as an apprentice with Notts County, turning professional in July 1991, though in August 1992 he moved to Scarborough having not yet made his league debut...
and Paul Mitchell
Paul Mitchell (footballer born 1971)
Paul Mitchell is an English football midfielder.-References:*...
, both former Torquay players, passing on happy memories of Plainmoor
Plainmoor
Plainmoor is a suburb of Torquay, Devon, but is best known as the name of the stadium in which Torquay United Football Club currently play.-History:...
. He made his league debut against Hartlepool 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...
and made an instant impact as he became only the second Torquay player to score a hat-trick on his debut (the first being Peter Laraman
Peter Laraman
Peter Kenneth Laraman , is an English footballer who played as a inside forward in the Football League.-External links:*...
in the 6-2 defeat of Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
in September, 1961). Unfortunately this led to massive expectations being placed on Williams' shoulders, for example, Neville Southall
Neville Southall
Neville Southall MBE is a former Wales international footballer, best known for his time with Everton. He has been described as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation and won the FWA Footballer of the Year award in 1985...
, in goal for Torquay that day, predicted, "He can go all the way to the Premiership."
Injuries later affected his form, causing him to play with a broken toe for part of 2000-01, although he still managed nine goals in a dismal season. He was placed on the transfer list on November 2, 2001 by mutual consent after finding himself playing mainly as a substitute in Roy McFarland
Roy McFarland
Roy Leslie McFarland is an English football manager who was also a player, notably at Derby County where he played 434 league games helping him to earn 28 caps for England.-Playing career:...
's side and left to join Hartlepool United on March 5, 2002 for a fee of £30,000.
Williams spent his first weeks with Hartlepool playing for the reserves in order to gain match fitness. However it was not long before Williams made his Hartlepool debut against Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
after coming on as a substitute, replacing Gordon Watson
Gordon Watson
Gordon William George Watson is a retired English football player whose career was almost ended when he suffered a double fracture in the right leg in a tackle with Huddersfield Town defender Kevin Gray on 1 February 1997....
. As the season reached its climax, Williams notched 5 goals in 10 appearances to help Pools make the play-offs.
The following season saw Williams play in 45 of Hartlepool’s 46 league matches. Due to the injury of Gordon Watson he became Hartlepool’s first choice striker and finished as Hartlepool’s top scorer, scoring 15 goals in 45 games and helped Hartlepool get automatic promotion.
William’s first season in League 1 saw him repeat the success of the previous season as he participated in 41 games and scored 13 goals despite playing right wing for a large majority of the season. His performances earned him a call up to Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes
Leslie Mark Hughes, OBE , is a former Welsh international footballer. As an international footballer, he made 72 appearances and scored 16 goals....
’ Welsh national side. However the season would end bitterly for Williams as he picked up an injury during Hartlepool’s play-off defeat to Bristol City and missed out on the opportunity to play for his country.
Williams’ spent the majority of the 2004/05 season on the right wing with manager Neale Cooper preferring the partnership of Adam Boyd
Adam Boyd
Adam Mark Boyd is an English footballer, who plays for Hartlepool United in the English Football League One. Boyd plays as a striker and started off playing in school while attending Grange Primary School, in his hometown of Hartlepool....
and Joel Porter
Joel Porter
Joel William Porter is an Australian football player who plays as a striker for the Hyundai A-League team Gold Coast United...
up front. This reduced his goal scoring record as he only managed to notch 5 goals in 41 appearances. However he did manage to equalise for Hartlepool in their play-off final against Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
.
The 2005/2006 season saw Williams once again playing up front due to the injuries of Adam Boyd
Adam Boyd
Adam Mark Boyd is an English footballer, who plays for Hartlepool United in the English Football League One. Boyd plays as a striker and started off playing in school while attending Grange Primary School, in his hometown of Hartlepool....
, Joel Porter
Joel Porter
Joel William Porter is an Australian football player who plays as a striker for the Hyundai A-League team Gold Coast United...
and James Brown. During this season he managed to score 8 goals.
Williams was released from his Hartlepool United contract at the end of the 2006-07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season.
Williams was signed by League Two side Wrexham on a two-year contract on 11 June 2007. He scored 2 goals on his debut in a 3-2 home defeat friendly to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. Liverpool were 3-0 up at half-time.
Eifion retired during the 2007/08 football season and is returning to the north-east of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to be with his family.
However, Eifion came out of retirement to sign for North-East Northern League Division One club Jarrow Roofing
Jarrow Roofing Boldon Community Association F.C.
Jarrow Roofing Boldon Community Association F.C. is a football club based in Boldon Colliery, near Sunderland, England. They were established in 1987 and joined the Wearside Football League Division Two in 1991. They were FA Vase semi-finalists in 2005...
.