Ex-Swan Moves To Conference North

Last updated : 14 June 2005 By Richard Evans
After an excellent season in the Southern League, ex-Swan and fans favourite John Williams has stepped back up a level to the Conference North, signing for Redditch United. Williams hit 19 goals in 34 appearances last season for Bath City and has lived up to his "journeyman" tag by signing terms for his 13th club.

Known as the "flying postman", John Williams once won the accolade as the fastest man in domestic professional football and originally signed for the Swans from non-league Cradley Town before his goal-scoring exploits soon caught the eye of Coventry City. After spells at a number of clubs, including Cardiff, Walsall, Hereford and Darlington, John Hollins bought Williams back to the Vetch in the summer of 2001, before the pacy frontman was eventually released by Brian Flynn two years later. After a season-long spell at Kidderminster, Williams moved to Southern League Bath City where he hoped to play out the remainder of his career with a smile on his face (as always).

However, 36-year old Williams impressed numerous non-league managers last season, as he helped push Bath City to the brink of the Southern League playoffs and finished as their top goalscorer with 19 goals. His partnership with ex-Rushden striker Scott Partridge bought Bath 35 goals and many supporters felt that the ex-Swan was the club's player of the season. Williams was originally offered a new contract to remain at the club, but will be hoping his decision to move up a tier on the non-league football pyramid proves to be the right one.