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Aaron Williams (footballer)

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Aaron Williams
Personal information
Full name Aaron John Williams
Date of birth (1993-10-21) 21 October 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth West Bromwich, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Nuneaton Town (on loan from Peterborough United)
Number 10
Youth career
2002–2011 Walsall
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Walsall 6 (0)
2011–2012 → Redditch United (loan) 3 (0)
2013 → Romulus (loan) 3 (0)
2013 → AFC Telford United (loan) 10 (4)
2013–2014 Worcester City 38 (2)
2014–2015 Rushall Olympic 39 (28)
2015–2016 Nuneaton Town 26 (12)
2016– Peterborough United 10 (2)
2016– → Nuneaton Town (loan) 14 (5)
International career
2015 England C 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:40, 9 May 2016 (UTC)

Aaron John Williams (born 21 October 1993 in West Bromwich) is an English footballer who currently plays for Nuneaton Town on loan from Peterborough United of League One. He started his career with Walsall and made a handful of Football League appearances for the club before his release in 2013. An England C-team international, Williams has also played for non-league sides Redditch United, Romulus, AFC Telford United, Worcester City, Rushall Olympic and Nuneaton Town.

Club 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] In May 2015, Williams was rewarded for his efforts at Rushall Olympic's end-of-season awards ceremony. The striker was named Supporters' Player of the Season, Players' Player of the Season and Golden Boot Top Goalscorer – and also picked up the club's Goal of the Season award for his long-range strike against Nantwich Town in March 2015.[36]

Nuneaton Town

In the summer of 2015, Williams re-joined former club Walsall for pre-season training after accepting an invitation from manager Dean Smith.[37] However, on 6 July 2015, the striker signed a two-year contract with Nuneaton Town of the National League North.[38]

He scored on his full début, a 3–2 away win at Chorley.[39] He followed this up with the winning goal in a 1–0 win over Lowestoft Town, which was Nuneaton's fourth consecutive victory.[40] Williams' start to life in a Nuneaton shirt was positive, scoring 5 goals in his first 10 games in an attacking partnership alongside veteran striker Marlon Harewood.

Williams continued to impress in to the new year, and by late January 2016 had scored 16 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions for Nuneaton.[41] This good form attracted the attention of third-tier side Peterborough United, who took Williams and Nuneaton team-mate Zeus de la Paz on a week's trial.[42]

Peterborough United

2015–16 season

On 23 January 2016, Williams returned to the Football League by signing for League One club Peterborough United. He signed on the same day as Nuneaton team-mate Callum Chettle.[43]

2016–17 season: loan return to Nuneaton Town

On 4 August 2016, Williams returned to former club Nuneaton Town on loan, signing a contract until January 2017. He moved on the same day as Peterborough United team-mate Jordan Nicholson, who also joined Nuneaton on loan.[44] Two days later he scored on his full competitive return, Nuneaton's first goal in a 2–3 loss to Halifax Town.[45]

International career

Williams' goalscoring exploits at Rushall Olympic attracted the attention of England C manager Paul Fairclough at the end of the 2014–15 season. On 16 May 2015, Williams was named in the squad to take on the Republic of Ireland's under-21 team in a friendly in Galway on 1 June.[46] The striker came on as a second-half substitute in England's 2–1 win.

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 38 2 5 1 – – 5 1 48 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
2015–16 Nuneaton Town National League North 6th 26 12 2 2 – – 4 2 32 16 1 0
2015–16 Peterborough United League One 3rd 10 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 2 0 0
2016–17 Nuneaton Town Loan National League North 6th 2 1 0 0 – – 0 0 2 1 0 0
Career total – 137 50 11 4 0 0 19 12 167 64 4 0

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Walsall Deal Announced". thefootballnetwork.net. 27 June 2003. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  2. ^ "PLAYER PROFILE - 19 AARON WILLIAMS". saddlers.co.uk. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  3. ^ "DREAM COME TRUE FOR AARON". saddlers.co.uk. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  4. ^ "Monday 26th December 2011 – REDS 0 vs 1 Stourbridge". RedditchUnitedFC.co.uk. 26 December 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  5. ^ "Leamington v Redditch United". Leamington FC. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  6. ^ GMT (22 June 2012). "BBC Sport - Jamie Tank signs for Wolves as Walsall sign four on pro contracts". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  7. ^ "BBC Sport - Oldham Athletic v Walsall". Bbc.co.uk. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  8. ^ "YOUNGSTER HEADS OUT ON LOAN". saddlers.co.uk. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  9. ^ "Telford United sign Aaron Williams and Marco Adaggio". Bbc.co.uk. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  10. ^ "Two new strikers in". AFCTelfordUnited.co.uk. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  11. ^ "AFC Telford 0-2 Macclesfield". Bbc.co.uk. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  12. ^ "Woking 5-2 Telford". Bbc.co.uk. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  13. ^ "First-half blitz takes Worcester City into next round of FA Trophy". WorcesterNews.co.uk. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  14. ^ "Bucks crash out of Trophy after dire display". AFCTelfordUnited.co.uk. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  15. ^ "1st Team: Match Centre - AFC Telford United vs. Worcester City". WorcesterCityFC.com. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  16. ^ "Worcester City 2 Colwyn Bay 1". WorcesterNews.co.uk. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  17. ^ "Williams header seals win for City". WorcesterObserver.co.uk. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  18. ^ "Twitter / WorcesterCityFC". @WorcesterCityFC on Twitter. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  19. ^ "Worcester City FC - The Team: Aaron Williams". WorcesterCityFC.co.uk. 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  20. ^ "NEW SIGNING NAMED IN SQUAD FOR TONIGHT'S TRIP TO BARWELL". Rushall Olympic. 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  21. ^ "PICS BOUNCE BACK IN FINE STYLE". Rushall Olympic. 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  22. ^ "Rushall Olympic 3, King's Lynn Town 1 - Linnets left to rue missed chances after fourth loss". EDP24. 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  23. ^ "Tamworth FC are through after Rushall Olympic scare". Tamworth Herald. 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  24. ^ "Ilkeston claim 'scruffy' win over Rushall Olympic but boss Kevin Wilson is not complaining". Derby Telegraph. 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  25. ^ "PICS END LOSING STREAK". Rushall Olympic. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  26. ^ "Rushall Olympic 3-0 Buxton". Rushall Olympic. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
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  28. ^ "Rushall Olympic 1-2 Guiseley". Rushall Olympic. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  29. ^ "iT'S 'WILLO' AT THE DOUBLE". Rushall Olympic. 26 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  30. ^ "HEATH THE STAR AS PICS BEGIN 2015 IN STYLE". Rushall Olympic. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  31. ^ "Rushall Olympic 1-3 Ilkeston". Rushall Olympic. 10 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  32. ^ "Workington 3-2 Rushall Olympic". Rushall Olympic. 17 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  33. ^ "Sutton Coldfield Town 0-4 Rushall Olympic". Rushall Olympic. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  34. ^ "Nantwich Town 0-1 Rushall Olympic". Rushall Olympic. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  35. ^ "Ashton United 1-2 Rushall Olympic". Rushall Olympic. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  36. ^ "PRESENTATION NIGHT ROUNDS OF SUCCESSFUL SEASON". Rushall Olympic. 16 May 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  37. ^ "Striker stays cool on chance of Walsall return". Walsall Advertiser. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  38. ^ "England C international Aaron Williams has joined Nuneaton Town". Nuneaton Town. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  39. ^ "Match report: Chorley 2 Nuneaton To wn 3". Nuneaton News. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  40. ^ "Nuneaton Town: 'Simply foursome'". Nuneaton News. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  41. ^ "Nuneaton Town First Team - The Team - Aston Villa". Nuneaton Town FC. 3 January 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  42. ^ "Peterborough United to trial non league pair". The 72. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  43. ^ "Non league duo sign for Posh". Peterborough Telegraph. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  44. ^ "Nuneaton Town: Boro re-sign Aaron Williams and land forward Jordan Nicholson from Peterborough". Nuneaton News. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  45. ^ "Match Report: Nuneaton Town 2 Halifax Town 3". Nuneaton News. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  46. ^ "England C squad named for Ireland Under-21s friendly". The Football Association. 16 May 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
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