Gareth Cyril Williams

Gareth Cyril Williams (born 30 October 1941 in Hendon, Middlesex) is a Welsh former professional footballer.

Playing career

Williams was playing local football in Hengoed when he was spotted by Cardiff City and signed professional terms with the club in June 1961. He settled quickly at Ninian Park winning a regular starting place the following year and was named club captain just three years after his arrival in 1964. He rarely missed a game in the next three years and his good form prompted Bolton Wanderers to pay £45,000 to sign him in October 1967.

After a promising start, Wiliams suffered a severe loss of form as well as a poor disciplinary record. Matters were made worse when he was suspended by the club in November 1969 after refusing to train with the side as he felt he was being made a scapegoat for a run of poor results the club had suffered. He never managed to fully reproduce the form he had shown at Cardiff and in October 1971 he left Bolton to sign for Bury and eventually retired from football two years later.

Despite his impressive performances at Cardiff, Williams never played for Wales due to his place of birth. His pregnant mother had travelled from her home in Wales to visit his father who was working in London during the war. She went into labour there and as such Williams was born in England meaning he did not qualify to play for Wales. Several years after he retired, the rules were changed to allow players with Welsh parents to play for the side.

Outside football

After leaving football, Williams worked in the prison service and ran a hotel in Fylde before eventually moving to Gran Canaria to run a bar.

References

• Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-462-0. 
• Shepherd, Richard (2007). The Cardiff City Miscellany. Pitch books. ISBN 1-905411-04-9.