George Williams (footballer, born 1993)

George Benjamin Williams (born 14 April 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for League One club Bristol Rovers.

George Williams

Personal information
Full name	George Benjamin Williams[1]
Date of birth	14 April 1993
Place of birth	Hillingdon, England
Position(s)	Defender
Club information
Current team	Bristol Rovers
Number	43
Youth career
2010–2012	Milton Keynes Dons
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Loughborough University
2013–2014	Worcester City	55	(2)
2014–2016	Barnsley	23	(1)
2015	→ Barrow (loan)	15	(0)
2016–2021	Milton Keynes Dons	142	(4)
2021–	Bristol Rovers	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:00, 9 January 2021 (UTC)

Club career

Worcester City

Williams began his career as an academy scholar with Milton Keynes Dons before leaving to play for Midland Football League side Loughborough University, where he was studying. He joined Worcester City in the Conference North in August 2013, and on 9 November 2014 was a member of the team that infamously defeated League One side Coventry City 2–1 in an FA Cup first round tie.[2]

Barnsley

Williams joined Barnsley on 22 December 2014.[3][4] He made his professional debut on 26 December 2014 in a 1–0 defeat to Preston North End.[5] On 29 May 2016, Williams featured in Barnsley's 3–1 League One play-off Final victory over Millwall, achieving promotion to the EFL Championship.[6] However, on 15 June 2016, Williams was released by the club.[7]

Milton Keynes Dons

On 28 June 2016, Williams returned to Milton Keynes Dons on a two-year deal having previously played for the club's academy side.[8] He made his debut for the club on 6 August 2016 away to Shrewsbury Town, coming on as a 90th-minute substitute,[9] and on 18 October 2016 scored his first goal for the club with a 23rd-minute header in a 3–3 home draw with Bristol Rovers.[10] At the end of his first season back at the club, Williams was awarded both the club's 2016–17 Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year awards,[11] and in July 2017 signed a new long-term deal keeping him at the club until June 2020.[12]

Bristol Rovers

On 21 January 2021 with just six months remaining on his contract, Williams joined Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee.[13] He made his debut that weekend in a 2–0 away defeat to Oxford United, coming off of the bench to replace Abu Ogogo in the 67' minute.[14]

Career statistics

As of match played 23 January 2021.

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Worcester City	2013–14[15]	Conference North	38	1	0	0	—		3[lower-alpha 1]	0	41	1
	2014–15[15]	Conference North	17	1	4	0	—		0	0	21	1
	Total		55	2	4	0	—		3	0	62	2
Barnsley	2014–15[16]	League One	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	2015–16[17]	League One	19	1	0	0	0	0	4[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3]	0	24	1
	Total		23	1	0	0	0	0	4	0	28	1
Barrow (loan)	2015–16[17]	National League	15	0	0	0	—		—		15	0
Milton Keynes Dons	2016–17[18]	League One	33	2	3	0	2	0	4[lower-alpha 2]	0	42	2
	2017–18[19]	League One	43	1	4	0	1	0	4[lower-alpha 2]	0	52	1
	2018–19[20]	League Two	30	0	1	0	2	0	1[lower-alpha 2]	0	34	0
	2019–20[21]	League One	28	1	0	0	2	0	4[lower-alpha 2]	0	34	1
	2020–21[22]	League One	8	0	2	0	0	0	2[lower-alpha 2]	0	12	0
	Total		142	4	10	0	7	0	15	0	174	4
Bristol Rovers	2020–21[22]	League One	1	0	—		—		0	0	1	0
Career total			236	7	14	0	7	0	16	0	280	7

1. Appearances in FA Trophy.
2. Appearances in Football League Trophy.
3. 3 appearances in Football League One play-offs.

Honours

Barnsley

• Football League Trophy: 2015–16[23]
• Football League One play-offs: 2016[24]

Milton Keynes Dons

• EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2018–19[25]

Individual

• Milton Keynes Dons Player of the Year: 2016–17[11]
• Milton Keynes Dons Players' Player of the Year: 2016–17[11]

References

1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Milton Keynes Dons" (PDF). English Football League. p. 43. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
2. "Coventry 1-2 Worcester". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
3. "Barnsley Sign Worcester City's George Williams". Barnsley F.C. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
4. "George Williams: Barnsley sign Worcester City defender". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
5. "Preston 1-0 Barnsley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
6. "Barnsley 3-1 Millwall". BBC Sport. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
7. "Defensive Duo Depart". www.barnsleyfc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
8. "Defender re-joins the Dons". Milton Keynes Dons Official Site. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
9. "Report: Shrewsbury Town 0–1 MK Dons". Milton Keynes Dons Official Site. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
10. "Report: MK Dons 3-3 Bristol Rovers". Milton Keynes Dons Official Site. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
11. "Williams named Player of the Year". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
12. "Player of the Year pens long-term deal". Milton Keynes Dons. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
13. "George Williams Signs!". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 21 January 2021.
14. "Oxford United 2–0 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
15. "G. Williams". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
16. "Games played by George B Williams in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
17. "Games played by George B Williams in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
18. "Games played by George B Williams in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
19. "Games played by George B Williams in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
20. "Games played by George B Williams in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
21. "Games played by George B Williams in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
22. "Games played by George B Williams in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
23. Cartwright, Phil (3 April 2016). "Barnsley 3–2 Oxford United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
24. Stevens, Rob (29 May 2016). "Barnsley 3–1 Millwall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
25. "League Two: 2018/19: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
    "MK Dons: Squad details: 2018/19". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2019.

External links

• George Williams at Soccerbase
• George Williams at Soccerway