Lydia Williams
Lydia Grace Yilkari Williams (born 13 May 1988) is an Australian soccer player who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Arsenal and the Australia women's national soccer team.
Williams playing for Australia at the 2017 Algarve Cup | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Lydia Grace Yilkari Williams | ||
Date of birth | 13 May 1988 | ||
Place of birth | Katanning, Australia | ||
Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) | ||
Playing position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Arsenal | ||
Number | 18 | ||
Youth career | |||
Tuggeranong | |||
Woden | |||
2004–2008 | AIS | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2008–2012 | Canberra United | 46 | (0) |
2009 | Chicago Red Stars | 0 | (0) |
2012–2013 | Piteå IF | 24 | (0) |
2013–2014 | Canberra United | 12 | (0) |
2014 | Western New York Flash | 14 | (0) |
2015–2016 | Canberra United | 10 | (0) |
2016–2017 | Houston Dash | 15 | (0) |
2016–2017 | → Melbourne City (loan) | 14 | (0) |
2017–2019 | Reign FC | 21 | (0) |
2017–2018 | → Melbourne City (loan) | 12 | (0) |
2018–2019 | → Melbourne City (loan) | 12 | (0) |
2019–2020 | Melbourne City | 14 | (0) |
2020– | Arsenal | 0 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2006–2007 | Australia U-20 | 14 | (0) |
2005– | Australia | 88 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 April 2020 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 April 2020 |
Early life
Williams was born in Katanning, Western Australia to a father of Aboriginal descent and a mother from the United States.[1][2][3]
Williams spent most of her Primary school years in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, where she attended St Josephs Primary school. Williams' family left Kalgoorlie for Canberra in 1999.
In November 2019 Williams had a children's book published. Saved!!! draws on Williams' experiences, from growing up in the desert to achieving success as an Aboriginal female football player.[4]
Club career
After playing junior football for Tuggeranong and Woden in the Australian Capital Territory, Williams joined the Australian Institute of Sport Football Program.[5] She joined Australian W-League team Canberra United in 2008.
In 2014, following a season-ending injury to Adrianna Franch, the Western New York Flash signed Williams to be their starting goalkeeper.[6][7] She started 14 games in goal for the Western New York Flash. She recorded two shutouts in 2014 prior to tearing her ACL while participating in the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup with the Australian Women's National Team, an injury that ended her NWSL season. In September 2014, Williams was waived by Flash and was selected by Washington Spirit for the 2015 season.[8] She was not on the roster for the Washington Spirit at the start of the season.[9]
In January 2016, Williams was signed by the Houston Dash.[10] On 15 October 2016, she signed a season-long loan with Melbourne City.[11] On 31 August 2017 the Houston Dash completed a trade that sent Williams to Seattle Reign FC in the NWSL, in exchange for a 2018 2nd-round draft pick.[12]
In October 2017, Williams commenced pre-season training with Melbourne City, re-signing with them for the 2017–18 W-League season.[13]
After another season with Reign FC, Williams signed with Melbourne City again for the 2019–2020 season.[14]
International career
She has represented Australia at the 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup and the 2006 FIFA World Under 20 Women's Championship.[15][16]
Honours
International
- AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2006
- Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's qualification: 2007
- FIFA Women's World Cup: 2007
- AFF Women's Championship: 2008
- AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2010
- FIFA Women's World Cup: 2011
- Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's Asian Qualifiers: 2012
- AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2014
- FIFA Women's World Cup: 2015
- AFC Olympic Qualifying Tournament: 2016
- 2016 Summer Olympics football tournament: 2016
- Algarve Cup: 2017
- Tournament of Nations: 2017
- Algarve Cup: 2018
- AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2018
- Tournament of Nations: 2018
- Cup of Nations: 2019
- FIFA Women's World Cup: 2019
- AFC Olympic Qualifying Tournament: 2020
Individual
- Deadly Award for Female Sportsperson of the Year: 2006
- PFA Women's Footballer of the Year: 2011–12, 2015–16
- W-League Goalkeeper of the Year: 2010–11, 2011–12, 2016–17
- PFA W-League Team of the Season: 2016–17
References
- Sherwood, Merryn (29 September 2008). "Williams takes walk on the wild side". Canberra United FC. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
- "Lydia Williams – Pride of the Deadlys". Deadly Vibe. Vibe Australia. October 2006. Archived from the original on 28 July 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
- "Inspirational keeper takes road less travelled". FIFA. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- Lewis, Samantha (7 November 2019). "Indigenous women continue to play key role in development of football in Australia". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- "Player Profile – Lydia Williams". Canberra United FC. Archived from the original on 11 March 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
- "Flash GK Franch tears right ACL, out for season". The Equalizer. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
- "Flash add Aussie GK Williams". Western New York Flash. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
- "Four players selected off NWSL waiver wire; Souza, Adams, Lohman and Williams all selected by new teams". NWSL. 15 September 2014. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
- "Spirit Roster". Washington Spirit. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
- "Houston Dash sign Australia National Team goalkeeper Lydia Williams". Houston Dash. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- "City signs Matildas Goalkeeper Lydia Williams". Melbourne City. 15 October 2016.
- Roepken, Corey (31 August 2017). "Dash trade goalkeeper Lydia Williams to Reign FC". Houston Chronicle.
- "City re-signs Championship winning stars". Melbourne City. 19 October 2017.
- Greco, John (30 October 2019). "Westfield Matildas keeper Williams re-signs with Melbourne City". Westfield Matildas. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- "FIFA Player Statistics: Lydia Williams". FIFA. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
- "Player Profile – Lydia Williams". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lydia Williams. |
- Lydia Williams – FIFA competition record
- Matildas player profile
- Lydia Williams at National Women's Soccer League
- Houston Dash player profile
- L. Williams at Soccerway
External video | |
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