stanlthecreator
JF-Expert Member
- Jan 9, 2014
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Former Wolves and England goalkeeper Bert
Williams has died, aged 93.
Williams joined Wolves from Walsall after the
Second World War and went on to make 420
appearances for the club.
He won the FA Cup in 1949 and the Division One
title in 1954 during a 14-season spell at Molineux.
Williams won 24 caps for England and was in goal
for the 1-0 defeat by the United States at the
1950 World Cup. He was the oldest living England
international prior to his death.
He received an MBE for services to football and
charity in the Queen's Birthday honours list in
June 2010.
Williams was involved in several fundraising
campaigns for the Alzheimer's Society after his
wife Evelyn died from the illness in 2002.
Wolves chairman Steve Morgan described
Williams as "a fantastic footballer" and "a true
gentleman who loved Wolves".
"As a young football fan who used to read about
the achievements of that all-conquering Wolves
team of the 1950s, it was an honour and a
privilege to have been able to meet Bert on so
many occasions since I arrived at the club in
2007," Morgan told the club website.
"His footballing ability speaks for itself, but there
was so much more to Bert than just his career
alone.
"He remained heavily involved with Wolves and
the community after his retirement, and the
fundraising he has carried out since losing his
wife was incredible when you consider his
advancing years.
"Legend is a word which may be overused these
days, but in the case of Bert Williams it simply
doesn't do him justice. He will be sadly missed at
Molineux, but will never, ever be forgotten."
Williams made 381 league appearances for
Wolves and also featured in many of the
pioneering floodlit games at Molineux against top
European club sides in the 1950s.
He was part of the England side which lost 1-0 to
the United States in the 1950 World Cup,
arguably the national side's biggest shock defeat.
In 2010, Williams said the hurt of the defeat "will
never go away". His death means that Sir Tom
Finney and Roy Bentley are the only survivors
from the side that lost at Belo Horizonte in Brazil.
England goalkeeping great Gordon Banks
described Williams as his hero in an interview with
BBC Late Kick Off Midlands last year.
"I first saw Bert playing for Wolves in the cup final
- and then when he was playing for England,"
Banks said.
"I used to admire this guy so much. He was so
athletic, so agile; he used to get to the ball in the
top corner - such fabulous agility.
"By watching goalkeepers at that time, especially
the great ones like Bert, it taught me things. He
was fantastic, a great, great guy."
Wolves are set to announce a tribute to Williams
in due course
Williams has died, aged 93.
Williams joined Wolves from Walsall after the
Second World War and went on to make 420
appearances for the club.
He won the FA Cup in 1949 and the Division One
title in 1954 during a 14-season spell at Molineux.
Williams won 24 caps for England and was in goal
for the 1-0 defeat by the United States at the
1950 World Cup. He was the oldest living England
international prior to his death.
He received an MBE for services to football and
charity in the Queen's Birthday honours list in
June 2010.
Williams was involved in several fundraising
campaigns for the Alzheimer's Society after his
wife Evelyn died from the illness in 2002.
Wolves chairman Steve Morgan described
Williams as "a fantastic footballer" and "a true
gentleman who loved Wolves".
"As a young football fan who used to read about
the achievements of that all-conquering Wolves
team of the 1950s, it was an honour and a
privilege to have been able to meet Bert on so
many occasions since I arrived at the club in
2007," Morgan told the club website.
"His footballing ability speaks for itself, but there
was so much more to Bert than just his career
alone.
"He remained heavily involved with Wolves and
the community after his retirement, and the
fundraising he has carried out since losing his
wife was incredible when you consider his
advancing years.
"Legend is a word which may be overused these
days, but in the case of Bert Williams it simply
doesn't do him justice. He will be sadly missed at
Molineux, but will never, ever be forgotten."
Williams made 381 league appearances for
Wolves and also featured in many of the
pioneering floodlit games at Molineux against top
European club sides in the 1950s.
He was part of the England side which lost 1-0 to
the United States in the 1950 World Cup,
arguably the national side's biggest shock defeat.
In 2010, Williams said the hurt of the defeat "will
never go away". His death means that Sir Tom
Finney and Roy Bentley are the only survivors
from the side that lost at Belo Horizonte in Brazil.
England goalkeeping great Gordon Banks
described Williams as his hero in an interview with
BBC Late Kick Off Midlands last year.
"I first saw Bert playing for Wolves in the cup final
- and then when he was playing for England,"
Banks said.
"I used to admire this guy so much. He was so
athletic, so agile; he used to get to the ball in the
top corner - such fabulous agility.
"By watching goalkeepers at that time, especially
the great ones like Bert, it taught me things. He
was fantastic, a great, great guy."
Wolves are set to announce a tribute to Williams
in due course
