Jay Williams (footballer)
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Jay Williams
| image = Jay Williams Vs Cheltenham.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Williams in March 2019
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|10|4|df=y}}
| birth_place = Northampton, England
| position = Centre-back,Defensive Midfielder
| currentclub = Milton Keynes Dons
| clubnumber = 42
| youthyears1 = 2013–2018
| youthclubs1 = Northampton Town
| years1 = 2018–2020
| clubs1 = Northampton Town
| caps1 = 10
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2020
| clubs2 = Kettering Town
| caps2 = 12
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2021
| clubs3 = Harrogate Town
| caps3 = 7
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2021
| clubs4 = AFC Rushden & Diamonds
| caps4 = 7
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2021–2023
| clubs5 = Banbury United
| caps5 = 63
| goals5 = 8
| years6 = 2023
| clubs6 = Brackley Town
| caps6 = 0
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2023–2025
| clubs7 = Crawley Town
| caps7 = 52
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2025–
| clubs8 = Milton Keynes Dons
| caps8 = 0
| goals8 = 0
| club-update = 18:05, 9 January 2025 (UTC)
}}
Jay Williams (born 4 October 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back and defensive midfielder for {{English football updater|MiltonKD}} club Milton Keynes Dons.
Club career
Williams joined Northampton Town at the age of 13.{{Cite news |title=Jay Williams - Defender |url=https://www.ntfc.co.uk/teams/first-team/defender/jay-williams/ |publisher=Northampton Town |accessdate=6 September 2018 |archive-date=6 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906195421/https://www.ntfc.co.uk/teams/first-team/defender/jay-williams/ |url-status=live }} He made his first-team debut in their EFL Trophy tie against Wycombe Wanderers, featuring for the entire 90 minutes.{{Cite news |title=Northampton Town vs. Wycombe Wanderers |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/09/04/england/football-league-trophy/northampton-town-fc/wycombe-wanderers-fc/2890759/ |publisher=Soccerway |date=4 September 2018 |accessdate=6 September 2018 |archive-date=6 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906195358/https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/09/04/england/football-league-trophy/northampton-town-fc/wycombe-wanderers-fc/2890759/ |url-status=live }}
He made his league debut in a 5–0 away win to Macclesfield Town{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45872099|title=Macclesfield Town 0-5 Northampton Town|date=2018-10-23|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2018-10-25|language=en-GB|archive-date=12 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112174357/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45872099|url-status=live}} coming off of the bench to replace Sam Foley in the 73rd minute. He went on to play a vital part in the rest of that season racking up 14 appearances in total.
In November 2020, Williams signed for National League North club Kettering Town.{{cite web|url=https://www.ketteringtownfc.com/news/jay-Williams-0|title=Jay Williams|date=24 November 2020|work=Kettering Town FC|accessdate=24 November 2020|language=en-GB}}
On 7 January 2021, Williams signed for League Two side Harrogate Town.{{Cite web |url=https://www.harrogatetownafc.com/news-media/promising-defender-williams-arrives-at-town/ |title=Promising defender Williams arrives at Town |publisher=Harrogate Town FC |date=7 January 2021 |access-date=7 January 2021 |archive-date=9 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109210534/https://www.harrogatetownafc.com/news-media/promising-defender-williams-arrives-at-town/ |url-status=live }}
Following on from his release from Harrogate, he dropped down three divisions to sign for Southern Football League Premier Division Central side AFC Rushden & Diamonds.{{Cite news|url=https://www.banburyunitedfc.co.uk/news/jack-stevens-and-jay-williams-put-pen-to-paper-2671614.html|title=JACK STEVENS AND JAY WILLIAMS PUT PEN TO PAPER|date=24 December 2021|work=Banbury United FC|access-date=4 March 2022|language=en-GB|archive-date=4 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304221912/https://www.banburyunitedfc.co.uk/news/jack-stevens-and-jay-williams-put-pen-to-paper-2671614.html|url-status=live}} He made the switch to divisional rivals Banbury United in October 2021 and extended his stay in December when he signed a contract until the end of the season. He was part of the team that were crowned champions in the 2021–22 season. {{cite web|url=https://southern-football-league.co.uk/news/131338/Its-Championship-Success-For-Banbury/|title=It's Championship Success For Banbury!|website=southern-football-league.co.uk|date=2 April 2022|accessdate=13 June 2023}}
In June 2023, Williams signed for National League North rivals Brackley Town.{{cite web|url=https://www.brackleytownfc.com/news/new-signing-jay-williams-signs-for-brackley-town--2785124.html|title=NEW SIGNING: JAY WILLIAMS SIGNS FOR BRACKLEY TOWN|website=www.brackleytownfc.com|date=12 June 2023|accessdate=13 June 2023}} On 18 July 2023 however, he signed for League Two club Crawley Town on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web|url=https://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/2023/july/jay-williams-joins-crawley/|title=JAY WILLIAMS JOINS CRAWLEY|website=www.crawleytownfc.com|date=18 July 2023|accessdate=18 July 2023|archive-date=18 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718143532/https://www.crawleytownfc.com/news/2023/july/jay-williams-joins-crawley/|url-status=live}}
On 27 August 2024, Williams injured Brighton midfielder Matt O'Riley with a tackle described in the media as "awful" and a "horror tackle".{{Cite web |date=28 August 2024 |title=Fabian Hurzeler fumes at Jay Williams foul that left Matt O'Riley injured |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/video/16524/13204532/fabian-hurzeler-fumes-at-jay-williams-foul-that-left-matt-oriley-injured |access-date=28 August 2024 |website=Sky Sports}}{{Cite web |date=28 August 2024 |title=I winced when I saw Jay Williams' horror tackle on Matt O'Riley, but it was refreshing to see the Crawley Town boss apologise |url=https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/football/brighton-and-hove-albion/i-winced-when-i-saw-jay-williams-horror-tackle-on-matt-oriley-but-it-was-refreshing-to-see-the-crawley-town-boss-apologise-4758800 |access-date=28 August 2024 |website=Sussex World}} The Crawley manager Scott Lindsey apologised for Williams's challenge in the post-match press conference.
On 9 January 2025, Williams signed for League Two club Milton Keynes Dons for an undisclosed fee, the move reuniting him with former Crawley Town manager Scott Lindsey, in addition to former teammates Liam Kelly and Laurence Maguire.{{cite web|url=https://www.mkdons.com/news/2025/january/09/dondeal--jay-williams-joins-mk-dons/|title=DonDeal: Jay Williams joins MK Dons|website=www.mkdons.com|date=9 January 2025|accessdate=9 January 2025}}
International career
Born in England, Williams is of Kittitian descent. In March 2024, he was called up to the Saint Kitts and Nevis national team for a set of friendlies.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/football/very-proud-moment-crawley-town-star-earns-first-international-call-up-4558667|title='Very proud moment' - Crawley Town star earns first International call-up|access-date=19 April 2024|archive-date=19 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419153152/https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/football/very-proud-moment-crawley-town-star-earns-first-international-call-up-4558667|url-status=live}}
Career statistics
{{updated|9 January 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Northampton Town
|2018–19{{soccerbase season|114844|2018|accessdate=1 Jan 2019}} |10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4{{Efn|name=FLT|Appearances in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2019–20{{soccerbase season|114844|2019|accessdate=25 July 2019}}
|League Two |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2{{Efn|name=FLT}} | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Harrogate Town
|League Two |7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |
| Banbury United
|2022–23 |35 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{Efn|name=FAT|Appearances in FA Trophy}} | 1 | 37 | 4 | |
| rowspan="3"|Crawley Town
|2023–24{{soccerbase season|114844|2023|accessdate=9 January 2024}} |League Two |40 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 44 | 3 | |
| 2024–25 {{soccerbase season|114844|2024|accessdate=9 January 2024}}
|12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!52 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 57 | 3 | |
| Milton Keynes Dons
|League Two |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!104 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 119 | 8 |
Honours
Harrogate Town
- FA Trophy: 2019–20{{cite web|first=James|last=Law|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56972515|title=FA Trophy final 2019-20: Concord Rangers 0–1 Harrogate Town|website=BBC Sport|date=3 May 2021|access-date=2 April 2022|archive-date=3 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503145516/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56972515|url-status=live}}
Crawley Town
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/jay-williams#playingcareer Profile] at Aylesbury United
- {{sports links}}
{{Milton Keynes Dons F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Jay}}
Category:Footballers from Northampton
Category:English men's footballers
Category:English people of Saint Kitts and Nevis descent
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:English Football League players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Southern Football League players
Category:Northampton Town F.C. players
Category:Kettering Town F.C. players
Category:Harrogate Town A.F.C. players
Category:AFC Rushden & Diamonds players
Category:Banbury United F.C. players
Category:Brackley Town F.C. players
Category:Crawley Town F.C. players
Category:Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players