Adrian Williams

Infobox Football biography
playername = Adrian Williams


fullname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1971|8|16|df=yes
cityofbirth = Reading
countryofbirth = England
height = 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
position = Defender
currentclub = Retired
clubnumber =
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1989–1996
1996–2000
2000
2000–2004
2004–2006
2005
2006-2008;
clubs = Reading
Wolverhampton Wanderers
→ Reading (loan)
Reading
Coventry City
→ Millwall (loan)
Swindon Town
caps(goals) = 196 (14)
028 0(0)
015 0(1)
122 0(3)
035 0(2)
012 0(1)
028 0(0)
nationalyears = 1995–2003
nationalteam = Wales
nationalcaps(goals) = 013 0(0)
manageryears = 1994–1995
2006
managerclubs = Reading (joint caretaker)
Swindon Town (caretaker)
pcupdate = 13:38, 20 January 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 12:47, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

Adrian "Ady" Williams (born 16 August 1971, Reading, England) is a retired footballer and former Wales international footballer.

Club career

Reading

Williams started his career with Reading, making his first appearance in the 1991–92 season. This first spell at Reading saw him established as a firm fans favourite. His talent and youth saw him play in every position for The Royals, from centre-forward to emergency goalkeeper, wearing every shirt number from 1-11 in the process. He was a regular in the side that missed out on promotion to the Premier League, eventually losing to Bolton Wanderers in the 1994–95 First Division Play-off Final at Wembley.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

In 1996 he was signed by Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he remained until the 1999–2000 season. His time at Molineux was largely interrupted by injury; he made just 36 appearances in over three seasons.

Return to Reading

He returned to Reading during the 1999–2000 season and played a crucial part in their rejuvenation under Alan Pardew and their promotion to back to the First Division in 2001–02. In a vote to compile the Royals' best-ever eleven, Williams was voted the best centre back with 59.9% of the vote [http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10306~702820,00.html] . [cite news | date=2005-05-26 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~683981,00.html | title=Adie named best ever centre-back | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-29] [cite news | date=2005-08-23 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~702820,00.html | title=The Royals' best-ever XI as voted for by fans | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-29]

Coventry City

Despite being a firm favourite at the Madejski Stadium he chose to move to Championship rivals Coventry City on a free transfer in Autumn 2004, having been refused the contract he wanted with Reading. Signed by Peter Reid to replace Calum Davenport and Muhamed Konjić, Williams went on to make 23 appearances in League and Cup, scoring goals in a 2-1 win at Millmoor against Rotherham United, and in a 2-1 home defeat by Queens Park Rangers.

He started the 2005–06 season out of the Sky Blues side and joined struggling Millwall on loan for three months. Following the end of this loan spell, Williams returned to the Coventry side for the home game against his old club Wolves on 2 January 2006, playing a key defensive role in a 2-0 home win. This performance, and other similar performances put him right back in the first team picture at the Ricoh Arena.

windon Town

Williams joined Swindon Town in the summer of 2006, and following the resignation of Dave Tuttle as caretaker manager, Williams briefly held that position himself until the appointment of Paul Sturrock on 7 November 2006.

In November 2007, Williams joined youth team coach David Byrne in joint caretaker management. Due to stalling takeover talks, Williams and Byrne will continue in the role until Andrew Fitton has taken control of Swindon Town, and then a new manager will be appointed. Williams said if offered he would be likely to accept the job as Swindon manager, but as he is enjoying playing he has said managing and playing do not go well together and would subsequently have to choose one or the other.On the 3rd of May 2008 he decided that the Swindon Town vs Millawall game would be his last, ending his 19-year career span. Susbsequently he did not play although he was promised a start and is now a first team coach at the Country Ground.Fact|date=December 2007

International career

Williams was born in Reading but qualified to play for Wales through his father. He made seven international appearances during his first spell with Reading, including one at home to Moldova in 1995 alongside fellow Reading player Lee Nogan. Five more caps followed whilst at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and in November 2002 he received his first international call-up for three years when he was selected for a squad to take on Azerbaijan. [cite news | date=2004-10-27 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10306~9415,00.html | title=Player Profile: Adie Williams | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-29] On 26 May 2003 Williams played the full 90 minutes as Wales lost 2-0 against the USA in an international friendly at the Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California, his first international start for four years. [cite news | date=2004-11-17 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~386510,00.html | title=Adie makes first international start for four years| work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-29] He was an unused substitute for a number of matches including an away defeat to Italy in the San Siro, while he missed the play-off with Russia through injury.

References

External links

* [http://www.swindontownfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Squad/SeniorSquadDetail/0,,10341~9415,00.html Adrian Williams profile] at swindontownfc.co.uk
*soccerbase|8529|Adrian Williams

Persondata
NAME=Williams, Adrian
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Williams, Ady
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=16 August 1971
PLACE OF BIRTH=Reading, Berkshire, England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=