Ernest Williams (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Ernest W. Williams was an English footballer who played at outside-left for Portsmouth
, Chelsea
and Southampton
in the 1900s and 1910s. He remained an amateur throughout his career.
on the Isle of Wight
and played for his local team
before crossing the Solent
to join Portsmouth
of the Southern League
in December 1906.
Williams remained at Portsmouth for three years, where he vied with Joe Dix for the No. 11 shirt.
In December 1909, Williams moved to London to join Chelsea
of the Football League First Division
where he made six league appearances in the 1909–10 season. He also played twice in the FA Cup
, scoring in a 2–1 victory over Hull City
on 15 January 1910. During his time at Stamford Bridge
, Williams won two England
amateur caps in 1910–11.
Williams returned to Portsmouth the following year, spending a further two seasons with the Fratton Park
club. In all he spent five years with Portsmouth, making 32 league appearances, scoring five goals, before moving to Southampton
in the summer of 1912.
He made only one appearance for the "Saints", replacing the injured Len Andrews
at Brighton
on 19 October 1912, before retiring at the end of the season.
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
, Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the 1900s and 1910s. He remained an amateur throughout his career.
Football career
Williams was born at RydeRyde
Ryde is a British seaside town, civil parish and the most populous town and urban area on the Isle of Wight, with a population of approximately 30,000. It is situated on the north-east coast. The town grew in size as a seaside resort following the joining of the villages of Upper Ryde and Lower...
on the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
and played for his local team
Ryde Sports F.C.
Ryde Sports Football Club was an English football club based in Ryde, Isle of Wight.Before its demise, Ryde Sports was for many years a successful and significant club on the Isle of Wight and in Hampshire, and an important part of the town of Ryde.-Foundation:Ryde Sports F.C. was founded in 1888...
before crossing the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
to join Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
in December 1906.
Williams remained at Portsmouth for three years, where he vied with Joe Dix for the No. 11 shirt.
In December 1909, Williams moved to London to join Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
of the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
where he made six league appearances in the 1909–10 season. He also played twice in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, scoring in a 2–1 victory over Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
on 15 January 1910. During his time at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
, Williams won two England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
amateur caps in 1910–11.
Williams returned to Portsmouth the following year, spending a further two seasons with the Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...
club. In all he spent five years with Portsmouth, making 32 league appearances, scoring five goals, before moving to Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the summer of 1912.
He made only one appearance for the "Saints", replacing the injured Len Andrews
Len Andrews
Leonard Thomas Alford "Len" Andrews was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward. During his career he had two spells with both Southampton and Reading, as well as playing for Watford....
at Brighton
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
on 19 October 1912, before retiring at the end of the season.