Gary Williams (footballer, born 1954)

Gary S. Peter Williams (born 8 March 1954)[1][2] is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League for Preston, Brighton and Crystal Palace as a defender.

Gary Williams
Personal information
Full name Gary S. Peter Williams[1]
Date of birth (1954-03-08) 8 March 1954
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Playing position(s) Defender
Youth career
Marine
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1977 Preston North End 112 (2)
1977–1982 Brighton and Hove Albion 158 (8)
1982–1983 Crystal Palace 10 (0)
1983–1984 Whitehawk
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Williams began his youth career at Marine and in 1971, signed for Preston North End. He made 112 League appearances for Preston, scoring twice, before signing for Brighton in 1977, for whom he made 158 League appearances scoring eight times.[3] Williams is remembered for an 86th-minute winner and goal of the season contender for the club against Champions Nottingham Forest at the Goldstone on 29 March 1980.[4]

In July 1982, Williams signed for Crystal Palace and made his debut in the first match of the 1982–3 season in a home 1–1 draw against Barnsley.[5] He went on to make 10 consecutive appearances plus a further three in the League Cup before sustaining an injury which ultimately ended his professional career in 1983.[1][6]

Williams then returned to Brighton for a further season in the Sussex County League with Whitehawk, representing Sussex and being part of the Hawks Championship winning team in 1984.[7]

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References
  1. Purkiss, Mike; Sands, Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. The Breedon Books Publishing Company. p. 332. ISBN 0907969542.
  2. "Gary Williams". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  3. "Gary Williams". neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  4. "THE GREAT GOAL: WILLIAMS V FOREST". brightonandhovealbion.com. 11 April 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  5. Purkiss, Mike; Sands, Nigel. Crystal Palace: A Complete Record 1905–1989. The Breedon Books Publishing Company. pp. 258–9. ISBN 0907969542.
  6. "Trading places: Gary Williams and Neil Smillie". 20 December 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  7. Score, Suusex County League Review, Summer 1984


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