Steve Williams (midfielder)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Steve Williams


fullname = Steven Charles Williams
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1958|7|12|df=y
cityofbirth = Romford
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height = height|ft=5|in=11
nickname =
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Midfielder
youthyears = 1974-1976
youthclubs = Southampton
years = 1976-1984
1984-1988
1988-1991
1991-1993
1993
clubs = Southampton
Arsenal
Luton Town
Exeter City
Derry City
caps(goals) = 277 (18)
095 0(4)
040 0(1)
048 0(0)

manageryears =
managerclubs =
nationalyears = 1983-1984
nationalteam = England
nationalcaps(goals) = 006 0(0)
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Stephen Charles "Steve" Williams (born 12 July 1958 in Romford, England) is an English former football midfielder.

Playing career

outhampton

Williams started out as an apprentice with Southampton, having been a product of the Saints’ London Selection Centre and joining the club straight from school.

He turned professional in 1975 and made his debut, in a 1-0 victory away to local rivals, Portsmouth aged 17 on 6 April 1976, replacing Peter Osgood, who had been dropped for disciplinary reasons. (This result helped condemn Portsmouth to relegation to Division 2.)

He went on to establish himself as a talented midfielder, particularly with his passing ability and composure on the ball. In his first full season, 1976-77, he was voted “player of the year” and earned recognition for England at under-21 level.

In the 1978-79 season, he was an ever-present in Saints’ run to the 1979 League Cup final (which they lost 3-2 to Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest).

He succeeded Alan Ball as team captain and led The Saints to an F.A. Cup semi-final and to runners-up position in the 1983-84 First Division.

Unfortunately, the following season, manager Lawrie McMenemy was becoming disillusioned with Southampton, feeling that he had taken the club as far as he could. This disillusionment spread to several key players including Williams, leading to a transfer request. In December 1984 he was transferred to Arsenal for a club record £550,000.

In all, he played 349 times for Southampton, scoring 27 goals.

England

He also won six caps for England, his debut coming against Australia on June 12, 1983. He also won four caps for the England 'B' team.

Arsenal

In December 1984 Williams moved to Arsenal (the club he supported as a boy) for £550,000. After making his debut in a North London derby match against Tottenham Hotspur on January 1 1985, Williams was a regular for the rest of the season, playing another seventeen matches and showing the same promising form he had shown at Southampton. However, his next season, 1985-86, he suffered toe and hamstring injuries which limited his appearances in the side.

By the time he had recovered, George Graham had taken over as Arsenal manager, and initially Williams thrived, playing on the right hand side of midfield, alongside a young David Rocastle. In Graham's first season, Arsenal reached and won the League Cup final, beating Liverpool, meaning Williams picked up his first winner's medal. Williams continued to play through the next season, but after Arsenal lost to Manchester United in January 1988, Williams was dropped to allow Michael Thomas to push forward into midfield, with new signing Lee Dixon taking over his place at right back. Unable to reclaim his place in the side, Williams fell out with Graham, and in July 1988 he moved to Luton Town. In all he played 121 games for Arsenal, scoring five goals.

Luton, Exeter and Derry City

Williams spent three seasons at Luton, before finishing his career at Alan Ball's Exeter City, where he was also assistant manager. His spell in management was not a happy experience and he retired in 1993, after a brief playing spell at Derry City in Northern Ireland.

After football

After retiring from football, he went into the magazine publising business in Exeter. This turned out to be a very successful venture and he eventually sold out to a partner.

In 2003, he was involved in property development in Devon.

Honours

As a player

Southampton

* 1979 League Cup finalist
*Football League Division 1 Runners-up: 1983-84

Arsenal

* 1987 League Cup winner