James Williams (footballer)

James Williams

Williams, circa 1910, possibly pictured in Crystal Palace colours of the time, claret and blue
Personal information
Full name James William Williams[lower-alpha 1]
Place of birth Buckley, Wales
Date of death (aged 30)[5]
Place of death France
Playing position Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1904–1907 Bury 0 (0)
1907–1908 Accrington Stanley
1908–1909 Birmingham 12 (3)
1909 Accrington Stanley
1909–1914 Crystal Palace 142 (56)
1914–1915 Millwall
National team
1912 Wales 2 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


James William Williams (1880s[lower-alpha 2] – 5 June 1916), also known as John William Williams[lower-alpha 1] and referred to as Ginger Williams, was a Welsh professional footballer who won two caps for the Wales national football team and played in the Football League for Birmingham.[6] He died on active service during the First World War.

Playing career

Club career

Williams was born in Buckley, Flintshire. A prolific scorer in junior football, he played for Bury, though not in the Football League, and for Accrington Stanley before impressing on trial with Second Division club Birmingham. Williams signed for them in August 1908,[1] and made his debut on 7 September 1908, playing at inside left in a 3–1 win at home to Bradford. He was given a decent run of games in the starting eleven,[7] but failed to impress, and returned to Accrington Stanley in February 1909.

In the 1909 close season, he moved to Crystal Palace of the Southern League.[1] With Palace his best position was centre forward or inside right, though he was capable of playing in any forward role. Described as "an eager, neat and busy little footballer who possessed a snappy tackle and plenty of enthusiasm and determination", he scored 58 goals from 149 appearances in all competitions, including scoring five in one match against Southend United in September 1909.[2] Williams remained with the club for nearly five seasons, during which time he won two caps for Wales.[8] In February 1914 he joined Millwall, also playing in the Southern League,[1] and remained with the club for about a year.[4]

International career

Williams made his international debut for Wales in the 1912 British Home Championship against Scotland national football team at Tynecastle on 2 March 1912. Wales lost 1–0.[3] His second cap came in a 3–2 defeat at Ninian Park against Ireland in the same competition.[9]

Personal life

Williams was born in Buckley, Flintshire,[1] and was married to Sarah.[5] He enlisted in the 17th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment – the Footballers' Battalion – and served in northern France during the First World War. Reported missing presumed dead on 5 June 1916,[4] he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial[5] and at Millwall F.C.'s ground.[10] His death in action was reported in The New York Times.[11]

Notes

  1. 1 2 As a footballer, the player's first given name is generally recorded as James.[1][2][3] However, confusion has arisen about his first name,[4] and it seems possible that his birth was registered under the name John, hence that name appearing on his military service record.[5]</ref>Date of birth <ref name='DOB' group='lower-alpha'>Matthews gives his date of birth as 1888,[1] while Joyce[6] and Crystal Palace F.C.[2] give May 1884. Neither is compatible with his age at death being 30 as indicated on his military service record.[5]
  2. ↑

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 134–35. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  2. 1 2 3 "James 'Ginger' Williams". Crystal Palace F.C. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Welsh International Matches 2 March 1912". Welsh Football Data Archive. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 Article from Palace Echo by Alan Russell about Crystal Palace F.C. players killed during the First World War, reproduced by the author as a forum posting.
    "Palace players in WW1". CPFC BBS. cpfc.org. 18 November 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Casualty details". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  6. 1 2 Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 282. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  7. ↑ Matthews, p. 155.
  8. ↑ "Palace Internationals". Crystal Palace F.C. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "Welsh International Matches 13 April 1912". Welsh Football Data Archive. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  10. ↑ "New Cross, Millwall FC WW1 War Memorial". Lewisham War Memorials. Local History and Archives Centre, Lewisham. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  11. ↑ "Noted Soccer Player Killed in Action" (PDF). The New York Times. 9 July 1916. p. E9. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
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