Oshor Williams
Encyclopedia
Oshor Joseph Williams is a former footballer in the English football league
who now works for the PFA
as a union learning representative. During his playing days he played both in midfielder
and in attack. During his career he took part two successful Fourth Division
promotion campaigns.
He started his career as a youth team player at Middlesbrough
, before joining Manchester United
in 1976. Failing to make the first team, he joined non-league Billingham Synthonia
and then Gateshead
, before returning to the professional game with Southampton
in 1978. A year later he signed for Stockport County
, where his career really took off. Five years he spent with Stockport, making close to 200 league appearances. He then spent two years at Port Vale
and then Preston North End
. In 1989 he left the professional game permanently, joining non-league Lancaster City
. He signed with Winsford United
in 1993 and then Hyde United a year later. He retired as a player in 1995.
, County Durham
, Williams joined his local league club Middlesbrough
as a schoolboy in 1972, signing apprentice forms with the club once he had turned fifteen. However, when Boro decided not to offer Williams a professional contract in 1976, he was immediately offered a second chance by Manchester United
. Williams spent twelve months at Old Trafford
before they in turn decided to release him.
Upon his release from United, Williams returned to the North East
and had spells with both Billingham Synthonia
and Gateshead
before he was spotted by a scout from Southampton
who offered him a trial with the club in March 1978.
, Williams signed professional forms with the Dell club. After just a handful of reserve team outings, he was loaned out to basement club Exeter City
for the start of the 1978-79 season. In his month at Exeter, Williams made two appearances, scoring once, before returning to the "Saints". He made his debut on 3 March 1979, taking Terry Curran
's place at outside left
at home to Arsenal
. Despite showing plenty of natural ball control, his final touch was lacking, and he made only three further starts, plus two substitute appearances, before he was given a free transfer to Stockport County
in September 1979.
, Williams played 216 first XI games, scoring 31 goals before being surprisingly sold to Port Vale
for £7,000 in November 1984.
at Vale Park
saw him make 22 appearances, scoring two goals. He cracked his left kneecap in a training accident in February 1985, but recovered his first team place on his recovery two months later.
His second season
with the club saw Williams win his first promotion
, when the Valiants were promoted to the Third Division
in 1986. Soon, though, after 62 games and seven goals for Vale, troubled Preston North End
came calling, and after agreeing a bargain £2,000 fee, Williams was on his way to Deepdale
for the start of the 1986-87 season
. Having recently refused new terms with the Vale, the move came as little surprised to observers of the game.
, both as a coach and in the commercial department. Nevertheless, Williams still turned out part-time for Lancaster City
in the Northern Premier League
, where his ability was still there for all to see.
. It was while at Winsford that he was offered the chance to join the coaching staff at Aberdeen
in February 2002, but after just 18 months he was sacked along with fellow coaches Steve Paterson and Neale Cooper. Williams immediately dusted off his boots, though, and signed for Hyde United for the 1994-95 season, where he played 29 games and scored once.
for his BA
in politics
and history
. Williams now works for the PFA
education service, where he is on hand to offer help and advice to footballers past and present in their efforts to gain qualifications for life after football. Williams also works as a coach at Wigan Athletic
where he coaches the under-16s at the Latics Centre of Excellence.
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
who now works for the PFA
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
as a union learning representative. During his playing days he played both in midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and in attack. During his career he took part two successful Fourth Division
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...
promotion campaigns.
He started his career as a youth team player at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, before joining Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
in 1976. Failing to make the first team, he joined non-league Billingham Synthonia
Billingham Synthonia F.C.
Billingham Synthonia F.C. is a football club based in Billingham, England. They were established in 1923, playing first in the Teesside League, and joining the Northern League in 1945. In the 1993–94 season, they reached the Quarter-Finals of the FA Trophy, in a run which included victories over...
and then Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
, before returning to the professional game with Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in 1978. A year later he signed for Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, where his career really took off. Five years he spent with Stockport, making close to 200 league appearances. He then spent two years at Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
and then Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
. In 1989 he left the professional game permanently, joining non-league Lancaster City
Lancaster City F.C.
Lancaster City F.C. is an English football club based in Lancaster, Lancashire. The club are currently members of Northern Premier League Division One North and play at Giant Axe.-History:...
. He signed with Winsford United
Winsford United F.C.
Winsford United Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Winsford, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1883 and is nicknamed The Blues...
in 1993 and then Hyde United a year later. He retired as a player in 1995.
Early career
Born and raised in Stockton-on-TeesStockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, Williams joined his local league club Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
as a schoolboy in 1972, signing apprentice forms with the club once he had turned fifteen. However, when Boro decided not to offer Williams a professional contract in 1976, he was immediately offered a second chance by Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. Williams spent twelve months at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
before they in turn decided to release him.
Upon his release from United, Williams returned to the North East
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
and had spells with both Billingham Synthonia
Billingham Synthonia F.C.
Billingham Synthonia F.C. is a football club based in Billingham, England. They were established in 1923, playing first in the Teesside League, and joining the Northern League in 1945. In the 1993–94 season, they reached the Quarter-Finals of the FA Trophy, in a run which included victories over...
and Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
before he was spotted by a scout from Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
who offered him a trial with the club in March 1978.
Southampton
After impressing manager Lawrie McMenemyLawrie McMenemy
Lawrie McMenemy MBE is a retired English football coach, best known for his spell as manager of Southampton Football Club...
, Williams signed professional forms with the Dell club. After just a handful of reserve team outings, he was loaned out to basement club 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...
for the start of the 1978-79 season. In his month at Exeter, Williams made two appearances, scoring once, before returning to the "Saints". He made his debut on 3 March 1979, taking Terry Curran
Terry Curran
Edward Terence Curran is a former English professional footballer whose career lasted from 1975 to 1988. Curran was an attacking midfielder, who could also play as a winger, he could also play as an out and out Striker...
's place at outside left
Outside forward
Outside forward is a position in association football which refers to a footballer who plays as an advanced forward on the right or left wing - as an outside right or outside left. Typically as part of a 2-3-5 formation or one of its variants...
at home to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. Despite showing plenty of natural ball control, his final touch was lacking, and he made only three further starts, plus two substitute appearances, before he was given a free transfer to Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
in September 1979.
Stockport County
It was at County that Williams found his feet, becoming a favourite with the Stockport fans. A quick winger with an eye for goal, Williams was at his most dangerous with the ball at his feet attacking the opposition full back. He acted as the captain whenever skipper Tommy Sword was unavailable. In four-and-a-half seasons at Edgeley ParkEdgeley Park
Edgeley Park is an association football and rugby union stadium in Stockport, England. The stadium was initially built for the rugby league club Stockport in 1901, but by 1902, the rugby club was defunct and in the same year, Stockport County Football Club, who were looking for a bigger ground,...
, Williams played 216 first XI games, scoring 31 goals before being surprisingly sold to Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
for £7,000 in November 1984.
Port Vale
His first season1984–85 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1984–85 season was Port Vale's seventy-third season of football in the Football League, and first back in the Fourth Division following their relegation from the Third Division. John Rudge's first full season in charge, the Vale finished in mid-table following a season of rebuilding the squad...
at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
saw him make 22 appearances, scoring two goals. He cracked his left kneecap in a training accident in February 1985, but recovered his first team place on his recovery two months later.
His second season
1985–86 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1985–86 season was Port Vale's seventy-fourth season of football in the Football League, and second successive season in the Fourth Division. John Rudge achieved his first success as manager, leading Vale to promotion into the Third Division with a fourth place finish...
with the club saw Williams win his first promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
, when the Valiants were promoted to the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
in 1986. Soon, though, after 62 games and seven goals for Vale, troubled Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
came calling, and after agreeing a bargain £2,000 fee, Williams was on his way to Deepdale
Deepdale
Deepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
for the start of the 1986-87 season
1986–87 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1986–87 season was Port Vale's seventy-fifth season of football in the Football League, and first season back in the Third Division following promotion from the Fourth Division. John Rudge led to Vale to a mid-table finish, his Player of the Year signing Andy Jones scoring 37 goals in all...
. Having recently refused new terms with the Vale, the move came as little surprised to observers of the game.
Preston
Immediately installed as captain, John McGrath really got the best out of Williams. Preston stormed to promotion with Williams who scored 10 league goals in 29 games, being a big influence both on and off the pitch. The next two seasons, however, were almost a washout, with injury restricting Williams to just a handful of games. His influence off the pitch and in the dressing room, though, was still apparent, with Williams even lending a hand on the training pitch. Sadly, though, at the end of the 1988-89 season, Williams decided to call it a day from playing full time and started work behind the scenes at DeepdaleDeepdale
Deepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
, both as a coach and in the commercial department. Nevertheless, Williams still turned out part-time for Lancaster City
Lancaster City F.C.
Lancaster City F.C. is an English football club based in Lancaster, Lancashire. The club are currently members of Northern Premier League Division One North and play at Giant Axe.-History:...
in the Northern Premier League
Northern Premier League
The Northern Premier League, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the Midlands. Originally just one...
, where his ability was still there for all to see.
Later career
Upon leaving Lancaster at the end of the 1990-91 season, Williams moved onto Winsford UnitedWinsford United F.C.
Winsford United Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Winsford, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1883 and is nicknamed The Blues...
. It was while at Winsford that he was offered the chance to join the coaching staff at Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
in February 2002, but after just 18 months he was sacked along with fellow coaches Steve Paterson and Neale Cooper. Williams immediately dusted off his boots, though, and signed for Hyde United for the 1994-95 season, where he played 29 games and scored once.
Post-retirement
It was after leaving Hyde that Williams studied at universityUniversity
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
for his BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. Williams now works for the PFA
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
education service, where he is on hand to offer help and advice to footballers past and present in their efforts to gain qualifications for life after football. Williams also works as a coach at Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
where he coaches the under-16s at the Latics Centre of Excellence.
Honours
Preston North EndPreston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
- Football League Fourth DivisionFootball League Fourth DivisionThe 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...
runners-up: 1986–87