Aaron Williams (footballer)

Aaron Williams
Personal information
Full nameAaron John Williams
Date of birth21 October 1993
Place of birthWest Bromwich, England
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing positionForward
Winger
Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
Rushall Olympic
Youth career
2002–2011Walsall
200?→ Manchester United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2011–2013Walsall6(0)
2011–2012→ Redditch United (loan)3(0)
2013→ Romulus (loan)3(0)
2013→ AFC Telford United (loan)10(4)
2013–2014Worcester City39(2)
2014–Rushall Olympic39(28)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:15, 11 April 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Aaron John Williams (born 21 October 1993 in West Bromwich) is an English footballer who played as a forward in the Football League for Walsall. Following his release from the club, Williams dropped to non-league level and currently plays for Rushall Olympic of the Northern Premier League Premier Division. He has also played for non-league sides Redditch United, Romulus, AFC Telford United and Worcester City.

Career

Walsall

Early career

Williams was born in West Bromwich, in the metropolitan borough of Sandwell, West Midlands. He grew up in nearby Wednesbury and attended Wodensborough Community Technology College, supporting Birmingham City as a youngster. He joined Walsall as an eight-year-old and later trained with Manchester United (as the clubs had a partnership at the time[1]), but opted to remain with Walsall to stay close to home and get more game time. He eventually worked his way through the ranks at the Bescot Stadium, scoring 22 league goals for the youth team in the 2011–12 season.[2][3]

Redditch United loan

He joined up with Redditch United on a work experience loan deal in late 2011 and made his debut in a 1-0 loss to Stourbridge on 26 December.[4] At Redditch, Williams operated as a utility player, notably playing as a centre-back in a January 2012 game against Leamington. The side also looked to utilise his long throwing ability.[5] He played a total of three games for Redditch before signing a one-year professional contract with Walsall ahead of the 2012–13 season.[6]

2012–13 season

He was later handed the #19 shirt and made his professional debut as a second-half substitute for Nicky Featherstone on 21 August 2012 against Oldham Athletic.[7] Williams made a total of eight appearances for Walsall in 2012, six of which came in league fixtures.

Romulus and AFC Telford United loans

On 2 January 2013, Williams joined non-league side Romulus on a one-month loan deal. He played his first game for the club that day, a 1–1 draw with Sutton Coldfield Town.[8] After three appearances for Romulus, he returned to Walsall. Following Walsall's good form towards the latter stages of the 2012–13 season, Williams struggled to break into the first team and was again sent out on loan.

On 6 March 2013 he signed for AFC Telford United of the Conference National in an initial one-month loan deal, wearing the number 20 shirt. His debut came in a 0–2 home loss to Macclesfield Town on 9 March 2013.[9][10][11]

Williams scored the first professional goal of his career for Telford against Woking in a 5–2 away defeat on 16 March 2013.[12] Despite the club being relegated from the Conference National on 30 March 2013, Walsall allowed Williams to remain with Telford until the end of the season to gain valuable playing experience. On 13 April 2013 he scored a hat-trick in just 17 minutes of play in an away game against Ebbsfleet United. Williams' three goals helped the club come back from a one-goal deficit to claim a 3–1 win. This victory ended Telford's 30-game run without a league win and condemned Ebbsfleet United to relegation from the Football Conference. In total, Williams played 10 games for Telford and managed to score 4 goals in all competitions.

Williams returned to Walsall but was released at the end of the season, alongside George Bowerman, Richard Taundry, Connor Taylor and Jake Jones.

Worcester City

Following the club's relegation new Telford manager Liam Watson offered Williams the chance to rejoin the club for pre-season training in a bid to try and earn a contract, however a permanent deal never materialised. Later in the summer of 2013, Williams went on trial with another Conference North side, Worcester City. He played in friendly fixtures against Nuneaton Town, Stourport Swifts, Westfields and Loughborough University, scoring against the latter. On 31 July 2013, after impressing whilst on trial at the club, Worcester City announced that they had signed Williams for the 2013-14 season.

Williams started the season as a part of manager Carl Heeley's new-look, younger Worcester side, playing alongside the likes of former Aston Villa youth prospect Ebby Nelson-Addy and former Walsall team-mate Richard Taundry. On 26 October 2013, Williams scored his first goal for Worcester City, opening the scoring in an FA Cup Fourth Road Qualifying game against Conference National side Lincoln City. A late Andrew Boyce goal denied Worcester the victory, but Worcester earned a replay at Sincil Bank (which was ultimately lost 3–0 three days later).

On 3 December 2013, Williams scored against his former club AFC Telford United in an FA Trophy First Round Replay at the New Bucks Head. His goal was Worcester's third in a 3–0 victory.[13] The second goal of the game was initially reported by Telford's website as an Aaron Williams goal, but Worcester later confirmed that it had been awarded to his team-mate Ellis Deeney.[14][15] Williams' first league goal of the season was Worcester's second in a 2–1 home victory against Colwyn Bay on 18 January 2014.[16] Williams came off the bench to score the winning goal for Worcester on 1 March 2014, heading in a Steven Leslie cross with ten minutes remaining in a 2–1 home victory over Stalybridge Celtic.[17] On 18 March 2014, manager Carl Heeley opted for a much-changed, youthful line-up against Williams' former club Redditch United in the Worcestershire Senior Cup. Williams was named as Worcester captain for the game, however he could not prevent a 2–0 Redditch victory.[18]

Williams played a total of 49 times for Worcester during the 2013–14 season in all competitions, scoring 4 goals. 39 appearances and 2 goals were achieved in the league.[19]

He was offered a new contract with the club in the summer of 2014, and joined up with the squad ahead of the new season. However, he did not feature in any of Worcester's opening games of the season.

Rushall Olympic

On 2 September 2014 Williams signed for Rushall Olympic, managed by former Ajax, West Bromwich Albion and Bolton Wanderers player Richard Sneekes. He went straight in to the squad for the club's away game with Barwell that day and was an unused substitute.[20] He made his début five days later in a 3–2 away win against Curzon Ashton.[21]

Williams started his Pics career in positive form, plying his trade up front alongside former Kidderminster Harriers striker Aaron Farrell. He scored in the league games against King's Lynn Town and Ilkeston and in the FA Cup against Tamworth before netting twice in a 2–1 victory over Belper Town on 7 October.[22][23][24]

Williams' next goal for the club came from the penalty spot on 1 November 2014, as Rushall overcame Cambridge City 2–0 in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy.[25] He followed this up seven days later with Rushall's third goal in a 3–0 league win over Buxton.[26] The striker's good form continued in Rushall's 5–0 victory over Stratford Town in the FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round on 15 November. Williams scored a hat-trick, claiming the match ball as well as reaching 10 goals in his first 17 appearances in all competitions for the club.[27]

Williams scored to put Rushall Olympic 1–0 up against Conference North side Guiseley in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy on 2 December 2014. Guiseley hit back with two goals, and Williams had the chance to equalise from the penalty spot but ultimately saw his effort saved by Guiseley goalkeeper Steven Drench.[28]

On 16 December, Williams came on as a second half substitute in Rushall's Birmingham Senior Cup First Round game away to Stourbridge. Rushall won 5–3 after extra time following a 2–2 draw after 90 minutes; Williams scored twice after the 120th minute to send his side through. He scored another two goals in Rushall's 3–0 Boxing Day win over Trafford[29] and further one against Stourbridge on New Year's Day.[30] Williams was provided an assist by former Birmingham City, Coventry City and Nottingham Forest striker Dele Adebola on 10 January 2015, but his tenth league goal of the season was ultimately a consolation as Rushall went down 3–1 at home to Ilkeston.[31] Williams then opened the scoring against Workington on 17 January but Rushall went on to lose 3–2.[32]

Known affectionately by the Rushall Olympic fans as 'Willo', the striker netted his 20th and 21st goals of the season on 20 January against Sutton Coldfield Town in the Birmingham Senior Cup.[33] His good scoring form continued, with his 20th league (30th overall) goal of the season coming in the form of a winning goal from 35 yards against Nantwich Town on 23 March.[34] Rushall Olympic lost 3–2 away at Witton Albion on 24 March but Williams' two goals were enough to promote him to joint-top scorer in the Northern Premier League Premier Division with 22, alongside Liam Hardy of Buxton. His goalscoring exploits continued until the end of the campaign: his goal in Rushall's 2–1 win away at Ashton United on the final day of the season was his 28th league goal of the season (and 38th overall). This crowned him the top scorer of the Northern Premier League Premier Division for 2014–15.[35]

Career statistics

As of 19 May 2013.
Season Club Loan Division Pyramid Tier League FA Cup League Cup Other Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals A yellow card A red card
2011–12 Redditch United Loan Southern League Premier Division 7th 3 0 0 0 – – – – 3 0 ? 0
2012–13 Walsall League One 3rd 6 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0
2012–13 Romulus Loan Northern Premier League Division One South 8th 3 0 0 0 – – 0 0 3 0 ? 0
2012–13 AFC Telford United Conference National 5th 10 4 0 0 – – 0 0 10 4 2 0
2013–14 Worcester City Conference North 6th 39 2 5 1 – – 5 1 49 4 1 0
2014–15 0 0 0 0 – – 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Rushall Olympic Northern Premier League Premier Division 7th 39 28 2 1 – – 10 9 51 38 ? 0
Career total – 100 34 9 2 0 0 15 10 124 46 3 0

Honours

Personal

References

  1. ↑ "Walsall Deal Announced". thefootballnetwork.net. 2003-06-27. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  2. ↑ "PLAYER PROFILE - 19 AARON WILLIAMS". saddlers.co.uk. 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  3. ↑ "DREAM COME TRUE FOR AARON". saddlers.co.uk. 2012-08-23. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  4. ↑ "Monday 26th December 2011 – REDS 0 vs 1 Stourbridge". RedditchUnitedFC.co.uk. 2011-12-26. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  5. ↑ "Leamington v Redditch United". Leamington FC. 2012-01-02. Retrieved 2014-02-26.
  6. ↑ GMT (2012-06-22). "BBC Sport - Jamie Tank signs for Wolves as Walsall sign four on pro contracts". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  7. ↑ "BBC Sport - Oldham Athletic v Walsall". Bbc.co.uk. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2012-08-21.
  8. ↑ "YOUNGSTER HEADS OUT ON LOAN". saddlers.co.uk. 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
  9. ↑ "Telford United sign Aaron Williams and Marco Adaggio". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  10. ↑ "Two new strikers in". AFCTelfordUnited.co.uk. 2013-03-06. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  11. ↑ "AFC Telford 0-2 Macclesfield". Bbc.co.uk. 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  12. ↑ "Woking 5-2 Telford". Bbc.co.uk. 2013-03-16. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  13. ↑ "First-half blitz takes Worcester City into next round of FA Trophy". WorcesterNews.co.uk. 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  14. ↑ "Bucks crash out of Trophy after dire display". AFCTelfordUnited.co.uk. 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  15. ↑ "1st Team: Match Centre - AFC Telford United vs. Worcester City". WorcesterCityFC.com. 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  16. ↑ "Worcester City 2 Colwyn Bay 1". WorcesterNews.co.uk. 2014-01-18. Retrieved 2014-01-18.
  17. ↑ "Williams header seals win for City". WorcesterObserver.co.uk. 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2014-03-03.
  18. ↑ "Twitter / WorcesterCityFC". @WorcesterCityFC on Twitter. 2014-03-18. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  19. ↑ "Worcester City FC - The Team: Aaron Williams". WorcesterCityFC.co.uk. 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
  20. ↑ "NEW SIGNING NAMED IN SQUAD FOR TONIGHT'S TRIP TO BARWELL". Rushall Olympic. 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-09.
  21. ↑ "PICS BOUNCE BACK IN FINE STYLE". Rushall Olympic. 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-09.
  22. ↑ "Rushall Olympic 3, King's Lynn Town 1 - Linnets left to rue missed chances after fourth loss". EDP24. 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
  23. ↑ "Tamworth FC are through after Rushall Olympic scare". Tamworth Herald. 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
  24. ↑ "Ilkeston claim 'scruffy' win over Rushall Olympic but boss Kevin Wilson is not complaining". Derby Telegraph. 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-06.
  25. ↑ "PICS END LOSING STREAK". Rushall Olympic. 2014-11-01. Retrieved 2014-11-03.
  26. ↑ "Rushall Olympic 3-0 Buxton". Rushall Olympic. 2014-11-08. Retrieved 2014-11-09.
  27. ↑ "FA Trophy Second Round Qualifying catches the eye". The Football Association. 2014-11-15. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
  28. ↑ "Rushall Olympic 1-2 Guiseley". Rushall Olympic. 2014-12-02. Retrieved 2014-12-02.
  29. ↑ "iT'S 'WILLO' AT THE DOUBLE". Rushall Olympic. 2014-12-26. Retrieved 2014-12-28.
  30. ↑ "HEATH THE STAR AS PICS BEGIN 2015 IN STYLE". Rushall Olympic. 2015-01-01. Retrieved 2015-01-01.
  31. ↑ "Rushall Olympic 1-3 Ilkeston". Rushall Olympic. 2015-01-10. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
  32. ↑ "Workington 3-2 Rushall Olympic". Rushall Olympic. 2015-01-17. Retrieved 2015-01-20.
  33. ↑ "Sutton Coldfield Town 0-4 Rushall Olympic". Rushall Olympic. 2015-01-20. Retrieved 2015-01-21.
  34. ↑ "Nantwich Town 0-1 Rushall Olympic". Rushall Olympic. 2015-03-21. Retrieved 2015-03-22.
  35. ↑ "Ashton United 1-2 Rushall Olympic". Rushall Olympic. 2015-04-25. Retrieved 2015-04-26.