Williams Bertie Image 1 Bristol City 1930

Description

Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan born inside forward Bertie Williams began his football career with Cyfartha Stars in 1925 before joining hometown club Merthyr Town in 1926, spending 1926-27 on their books without making a first team appearance. He joined Second Division Bristol City in 1927 and made his Football League debut at South Shields on Christmas Eve the same year in a 3-1 victory, although he didn’t establish himself as a regular in The Robins’ first team until the beginning of the 1929-30 season, when he scored 17 goals in the campaign including a hat-trick against Nottingham Forest in March 1930, top scoring as Bristol City narrowly avoided relegation.

His fine form was rewarded with international recognition when he won his only Wales cap against Ireland at Celtic Park, Belfast in February 1930, although the match finished 7-0 to Ireland with Joe Bambrick scoring a double hat-trick for the home team.

After 29 goals in 109 appearances for Bristol City, Williams joined First Division Sheffield United for £1,400 in January 1932, and was a regular in their first team for two full seasons in the First Division, which ended with their relegation in 1934. He continued to play for The Blades in the Second Division and was part of their team that got to the 1936 FA Cup Final, where they lost 1-0 to Arsenal at Wembley. He played his last match for Sheffield United in April 1937 before retiring after scoring 16 goals in 120 appearances for The Blades.