Oshor Williams

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Oshor Williams
Personal information
Full name Oshor Joseph Williams
Date of birth April 21, 1958 (1958-04-21) (age 50)
Place of birth    Stockton-on-Tees, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position Winger, Midfield, Forward
Youth clubs
1972-1975 Middlesbrough
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1976
1977
1977-1978
1978-1979
1978
1979-1984
1984-1986
1986-1989
1989-1990
1991-1993
1994-1995
Manchester United
Billingham Synthonia
Gateshead
Southampton
Exeter City
Stockport County
Port Vale
Preston North End
Lancaster City
Winsford United
Hyde United
000 0(0)
00? 0(?)
00? 0(?)
007 0(0)
002 0(1)
193 (26)
049 0(6)
039 (12)
00? 0(?)
00? 0(?)
00? 0(?)   

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of January 5, 2007.
* Appearances (Goals)

Oshor Joseph Williams (born April 4, 1958) is a former footballer in the English football league who now works for the PFA as a union learning representative.

Contents

[edit] Middlesborough and Manchester United

Born and raised in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham Oshor 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 Oshor a professional contract he was in 1976 immediately offered a second chance by Manchester United. Oshor spent just twelve month’s at Old Trafford before they in turn decided to release him.

[edit] Southampton

Upon his release from United Oshor returned to the North East and had spells with both Gateshead and Billingham Synthonia before out of the blue he was spotted by a scout from Southampton who offered him a trial with the club in March 1978. After impressing Oshor signed pro forms with the Dell club but, 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, Oshor made two appearances scoring one goal before returning to The Saints where he managed to play 7 games (0 goals) before he was given a free transfer to Stockport County at the end of the season.

[edit] Stockport County

It was while at County that Oshor really found his feet, becoming a real favourite with the Stockport fans. A quick winger with an eye for goal Oshor was at his most dangerous with the ball at his feet attacking the opposition full back. In four and a half seasons at Edgeley Park Oshor played 216 first XI games scoring 31 goals before being surprisingly sold to Port Vale for a nominal fee in November 1984.

[edit] Port Vale to Preston

It was while at Port Vale and during his second season with the club that Oshor won his first promotion when the Valiants were promoted to the Football League Third Division in 1986. Soon though after 62 games and 7 goals for Vale troubled Preston North End came calling and after agreeing a bargain £2k fee Oshor was on his way to Deepdale for the start of the 1986-87 season. Immediately installed as captain John McGrath really got the best out of Oshor. PNE stormed to promotion with Oshor 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 Oshor to just a handful of games. His influence off the pitch and in the dressing room though was still apparent with Oshor even lending a hand on the training pitch. Sadly though at the end of the 1988-89 season Oshor decided to call it a day from playing full time and started work behind the scenes at Deepdale both as a coach and in the commercial department. Oshor still though did turn out part time for Lancaster City in the Unibond League where his ability was still there for all to see.

[edit] Later career

Upon leaving Lancaster at the end of the 1990-91 season Oshor moved onto Winsford United. It was while at Winsford that he was offered the chance to join the coaching staff at Aberdeen in February 1993 but after just 18 months he was sacked along with fellow coaches Steve Paterson and Neale Cooper. Oshor immediately dusted off his boots though and signed for Hyde United for the 1994-95 season where he played 29 games and scored 1 goal. It was after leaving Hyde that Oshor studied at university for his BA in politics and history. As stated before Oshor now works for the PFA education service where he is on hand to offer help and advice to footballers past and present in there efforts to gain qualifications for life after football