For a Boro’ side adapting to life in the Football League, one of the men that Graham Westley looked to for that bit extra was Marvin Williams. After storming to the 2009-10 Blue Square Premier title, we pretty much kept faith with the same band of brothers who had earned promotion. The summer saw just five new arrivals, with just three heading out the exit door.
A stark contrast to summer 2020, eh?
But the step up was always going to be a challenge. Our return of three wins and four draws from our first nine League Two games ain’t that shabby. But the autumn was coming around and GW clearly felt we needed more. Njazi Kuqi came and went in the time it took to write a player profile. There was also Chris Holroyd; the loanee making himself known right away.
And next up to arrive was Marvin Williams.
Marvin Williams: Who Is He?
Williams was an attacking midfielder with no shortage of experience by the time he came to us. After a successful start to his football journey at Millwall, there had also been spells with Yeovil Town and Brentford. He helped the Bees in their successful 2008-9 League Two title-winning campaign – but his time there ended shortly after the 2009-10 season got started.
After one sub outing lasting six minutes, the Bees released Williams and he made a long trek to link up with Torquay United in September 2009. Yet, his time with the south-west club did not go to plan. Making only four appearances for the Gulls, the midfielder would depart on a free in December 2009. And that meant the time had come to find another new club.
When did he sign and who from?
So, we signed him from the Gulls? No. In the time between December 2009 and joining us on non-contract terms in late September 2010, Williams’s career took him to Sweden. One key reason is an FA rule that says you can’t play for more than two teams in one Football League season. Those six minutes for Brentford made all the difference.
With the choice of non-league football or going abroad, he chose to go abroad. And why not? Östersunds FK gave the midfielder a chance to play regular football up until a final outing for them in early June 2010. By now, that FA rule no longer applied and the midfielder could find a Football League club once more. It seems Barnet were keen – but nothing came of it.
Did he play often?
After a short trial with us, Williams signed non-contract terms – albeit with hopes of a long-term deal coming his way. “Things seem to be going well, they’re going well in training”, he told The Comet. “There’s a lot more I want to show the gaffer. I think, at this stage, he wants to see what I can do and I’m quite a versatile player, which I think he likes.”
On 2 October 2010, Williams made his debut; coming off the bench in the 73rd minute in a 2-0 defeat at home to Wycombe Wanderers for Stacy Long. The way the game went and the time that he had to show what he was capable probably didn’t work in his favour. The fact is, however, that 17 minutes is all we saw of the midfielder in a Boro’ shirt. Plus stoppage time.
Where is Marvin Williams now?
For reasons only he and GW will know (probably), Williams didn’t stay long with us. After leaving us after what is described as a “forgettable” fortnight here, he took time out of the game it seems; not returning to action until February 2011 with Hemel Hempstead Town.
After completing the 2010-1 season at Hemel, he stayed into the next campaign when the offer of full-time football with Salisbury City came his way. He scored twice on debut there; later scoring his first pro hattrick too. A summer 2012 move to Eastleigh didn’t really work out. His latest club released him that October, which saw Sutton United come in for him.
Williams’ rich vein of form during the rest of the 2012-3 season promised even better times in 2013-4 – but it wasn’t to be. Injury kept the midfielder out for most of that campaign. The 2014-5 season saw him embark on the comeback trail in earnest; even spending time out on loan at Tonbridge Angels to help. And he did see a fair amount of action that term.
Yet, he couldn’t shake off the effects of his achilles injury; forcing Williams to end his career long before its time in summer 2015. He since moved into coaching with Sutton.
MARVIN WILLIAMS – 1 (0) appearances, 0 goals (2010)
