Tony Villars
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Anthony Keith Villars | ||
| Date of birth | 24 January 1952 | ||
| Place of birth | Pontypool, Wales | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1971–1976 | Cardiff City | 73 | (4) |
| 1976–1977 | Newport County | 29 | (1) |
| National team | |||
| 1974 | Wales | 3 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Career
Tony Villars was a member of the youth set-up and groundstaff at Newport County but quit the job because the pay was so poor. Moving into the Welsh league he signed for Pontnewydd. His time at the club was short after the entire team was signed by Panteg after a number of impressive performances. He continued his climb up the ladder by moving to Cwmbran Town. It was here that he was spotted by Cardiff City who offered him a professional contract.
Villars soon established himself in the first team, makiing his debut in a 4-3 defeat to Fulham in November 1971. Often an inconsistent player, Villars also scored several crucial goals for the club, including one against Crytsal Palace to keep Cardiff in Division Two. It was during his time at Cardiff that Villars earned all of his three caps for Wales. Persistent injury problems meant that he lost his place in the side and he moved to Newport County in June 1976.
He failed to reproduce the form he showed in his days at Cardiff and just under two years into his spell at the club his contract was cancelled. Incredibly just two and a half years after winning his three caps for Wales, Villars left league football never to return at the age of just 25.
References
- Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.