Oshor Williams

Oshor Joseph Williams (born 21 April 1958) is an English former footballer in the English football league who now works for the PFA as a union learning representative. During his playing days he played both in midfielder and in attack. During his career he took part in two successful Fourth Division promotion campaigns.

He started his career as a youth team player at Middlesbrough, before joining Manchester United in 1976. Failing to make the first team, he joined non-league Billingham Synthonia and then Gateshead, before returning to the professional game with Southampton in 1978. A year later he signed for Stockport County, where his career really took off. Five years he spent with Stockport, making close to 200 league appearances. He then spent two years at Port Vale and then Preston North End. In 1989 he left the professional game permanently, joining non-league Lancaster City. He signed with Winsford United in 1993 and then Hyde United a year later. He retired as a player in 1995.

Playing career

Early career

Born and raised in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, Williams joined his local league club Middlesbrough as a schoolboy in 1972, signing apprentice forms with the club once he had turned fifteen. However, when "Boro" decided not to offer Williams a professional contract in 1976, he was immediately offered a second chance by Manchester United. Williams spent twelve months at Old Trafford before they in turn decided to release him.^[1]

Upon his release from United, Williams returned to the North East and had spells with both Billingham Synthonia and Gateshead before he was spotted by a scout from Southampton, who offered him a trial with the club in March 1978.^[1]

Southampton

After impressing manager Lawrie McMenemy, Williams signed professional forms with the Dell club. After just a handful of reserve team outings, he was loaned out to basement club Exeter City for the start of the 1978–79 season. In his month at St James Park, Williams made two appearances, scoring once, before returning to the "Saints". He made his debut on 3 March 1979, taking Terry Curran's place at outside left at home to Arsenal.^[2] Despite showing plenty of natural ball control, his final touch was lacking,^[3] and he made only three further starts, plus two substitute appearances, before he was given a free transfer to Stockport County in September 1979.

Stockport County

It was at County that Williams found his feet, becoming a favourite with the Stockport fans. A quick winger with an eye for goal, Williams was at his most dangerous with the ball at his feet attacking the opposition full back. He acted as the captain whenever skipper Tommy Sword was unavailable.^[1] In four-and-a-half seasons at Edgeley Park, Williams played 216 games in all competitions, scoring 31 goals, before being surprisingly sold to Port Vale for £7,000 in November 1984.^[4] Under Jimmy McGuigan's stewardship, the "Hatters" struggled in the lower half of the Fourth Division table in 1979–80, 1980–81, and 1981–82. Their form improved slightly under new boss Eric Webster in the 1982–83 and 1983–84 campaigns.

Port Vale

His first season at Vale Park saw him make 22 appearances, scoring two goals.^[4] He cracked his left kneecap in a training accident in February 1985, but recovered his first team place on his recovery two months later.^[4]

His second season with the club saw Williams win his first promotion, when John Rudge's "Valiants" were promoted to the Third Division in 1986. Soon, though, after 62 games and seven goals for Vale, troubled Preston North End came calling, and after agreeing a bargain £2,000 fee,^[1] Williams was on his way to Deepdale for the start of the 1986–87 season. Having recently refused new terms with the Vale, the move came as little surprise to observers of the game.^[4]

Preston

Immediately installed as captain, John McGrath really got the best out of Williams. Preston stormed to promotion with Williams who scored 10 league goals in 29 games, being a big influence both on and off the pitch. The next two seasons, however, were almost a washout, with injury restricting Williams to just a handful of games. His influence off the pitch and in the dressing room, though, was still apparent, with Williams even lending a hand on the training pitch. At the end of the 1988–89 season, Williams decided to call it a day from playing full-time and started work behind the scenes at Deepdale, both as a coach and in the commercial department.^[1] Nevertheless, Williams still turned out part-time for Lancaster City in the Northern Premier League, where his ability was still there for all to see.

Later career

Upon leaving Lancaster at the end of the 1990–91 season, Williams moved onto Winsford United. It was while at Winsford that he was offered the chance to join the coaching staff at Aberdeen in February 1992, but after just 18 months he was sacked along with fellow coaches Steve Paterson and Neale Cooper. Williams immediately dusted off his boots, though, and signed for Hyde United for the 1994–95 season, where he played 29 games and scored once.

Post-retirement

It was after leaving Hyde that Williams studied at the University of Salford^[5] for his BA in politics and history. He later worked as a Sports studies lecturer at Trafford College.^[6] Williams now works for the PFA education service, where he is on hand to offer help and advice to footballers past and present in their efforts to gain qualifications for life after football.^[1] Williams also works as a coach at Wigan Athletic, where he coaches the under-16s at the Latics Centre of Excellence.^[7]

Statistics

• Sourced from Oshor Williams profile at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

Honours

Preston North End

• Football League Fourth Division runners-up: 1986–87

Port Vale

• Football League Fourth Division fourth-place promotion: 1985–86^[8]

References