Tom Williams (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Andrew "Tom" Williams (born 8 July 1980) is an English
-born Cypriot
international footballer who plays primarily as a defender
, but he can also play in midfield
.
, London
. His professional career began with West Ham United
in April 2000 when he joined the club from Walton & Hersham
for a fee of £40,000. He went on loan
to Peterborough United
in March 2001, without having made his senior debut, and the move was made permanent during the summer. He stayed with the Posh for one season, before moving to Birmingham City
for a fee of £350,000.
His career stalled at St Andrew's
, playing just four games for Birmingham, and, after two loan periods at Queens Park Rangers
, he rejoined Peterborough United, initially on loan, later joining permanently. In May 2004 Williams went to Barnsley
on a free transfer.
He played a full season for the South Yorkshire
side, before moving again on a free transfer to Gillingham
in July 2005, and then signing for Swansea City
in January 2006 after the Gills suffered financial problems. He returned to the side in December 2006 after a hernia
operation in November. He was released by the club on 7 May 2007.
On 27 July 2007, he joined Wycombe Wanderers
on a two-year deal.
On 31 December 2007 Williams joined Peterborough United for the third time, initially on an emergency loan to make him available for the match on New Year's Day, for which he was an unused substitute. The loan was converted to a two-year permanent deal two days later.
On 9 November 2009, Williams rejoined Championship side Queens Park Rangers on a short term loan deal, with a possible view to sign permanently in the January transfer window. This did not happen in the end and he returned to Peterborough during January 2010.
Williams joined former boss Darren Ferguson
at Preston North End on loan for the rest of the season. Preston decided not to sign him on a permanent basis and he returned to Peterborough where he was released following his contract expiry.
After a pre-season trial, Williams joined Championship club Bristol City
on a six-month contract on 5 August 2010.
Williams joined Colchester United
on a months loan on 30 September. This was later extended twice until 31 December. Williams had his contract terminated at Bristol City on 5 January 2011.
On February 14th 2011 Williams joined league one side Walsall
on a deal until the end of the season.
through his mother, and has one international cap to date, which came in 2006.
. The couple have two sons.
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...
-born Cypriot
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
international footballer who plays primarily as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, but he can also play in midfield
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...
.
Club career
Williams was born in CarshaltonCarshalton
Carshalton is a suburban area of the London Borough of Sutton, England. It is located 10 miles south-southwest of Charing Cross, situated in the valley of the River Wandle, one of the sources of which is Carshalton Ponds in the centre of the village. The combined population of the five wards...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. His professional career began with West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in April 2000 when he joined the club from Walton & Hersham
Walton & Hersham F.C.
Walton & Hersham F.C. is an English football club located in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, currently playing in the Isthmian League Division One South. They play in a red and white home kit at Stompond Lane....
for a fee of £40,000. He went on loan
Loan (football)
In sports, a loan involves a particular player being allowed to temporarily play for a club other than the one he is currently contracted to. Loan deals may last from a few weeks to all season-long....
to Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
in March 2001, without having made his senior debut, and the move was made permanent during the summer. He stayed with the Posh for one season, before moving to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
for a fee of £350,000.
His career stalled at St Andrew's
St Andrews (stadium)
St Andrew's is an association football stadium in the Bordesley district of Birmingham, England. It has been the home ground of Birmingham City Football Club for more than a century....
, playing just four games for Birmingham, and, after two loan periods at Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, he rejoined Peterborough United, initially on loan, later joining permanently. In May 2004 Williams went to 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...
on a free transfer.
He played a full season for the South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
side, before moving again on a free transfer to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
in July 2005, and then signing for Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
in January 2006 after the Gills suffered financial problems. He returned to the side in December 2006 after a hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
operation in November. He was released by the club on 7 May 2007.
On 27 July 2007, he joined Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
on a two-year deal.
On 31 December 2007 Williams joined Peterborough United for the third time, initially on an emergency loan to make him available for the match on New Year's Day, for which he was an unused substitute. The loan was converted to a two-year permanent deal two days later.
On 9 November 2009, Williams rejoined Championship side Queens Park Rangers on a short term loan deal, with a possible view to sign permanently in the January transfer window. This did not happen in the end and he returned to Peterborough during January 2010.
Williams joined former boss Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson is a Scottish football manager and former player, currently in his second spell as the manager of Peterborough United...
at Preston North End on loan for the rest of the season. Preston decided not to sign him on a permanent basis and he returned to Peterborough where he was released following his contract expiry.
After a pre-season trial, Williams joined Championship club 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...
on a six-month contract on 5 August 2010.
Williams joined Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
on a months loan on 30 September. This was later extended twice until 31 December. Williams had his contract terminated at Bristol City on 5 January 2011.
On February 14th 2011 Williams joined league one side Walsall
Walsall 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...
on a deal until the end of the season.
International career
Williams qualifies for CyprusCyprus national football team
The Cyprus national football team represents Cyprus in association football and is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association, the governing body for football in Cyprus. Cyprus' home ground is the GSP Stadium in Nicosia and the current coach is Nikos Nioplias...
through his mother, and has one international cap to date, which came in 2006.
Personal life
Williams is married to former glamour model Nicola McLeanNicola McLean
Nicola McLean in London is an English glamour model and media personality. She finished in 6th place on the eighth season of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here!-Modelling:Before becoming a model, McLean was an Army Cadet...
. The couple have two sons.
Honours
Peterborough United- League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
runner up: 2007–08 - League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
runner up: 2008–09
External links
- Profile at UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database