George Williams (footballer, born 1993)

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

George Williams
Williams in 2015
Personal information
Full name George Benjamin Williams[1]
Date of birth (1993-04-14) 14 April 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Hillingdon, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Mansfield Town
Number 2
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)
2015Barrow (loan) 15 (0)
2016–2021 Milton Keynes Dons 142 (4)
2021 Bristol Rovers 26 (0)
2021–2023 Cambridge United 69 (1)
2023– Mansfield Town 15 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:04, 25 February 2024 (UTC)

Career

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Worcester City

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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.[3]

Barnsley

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Williams joined Barnsley on 22 December 2014.[4][5] He made his professional debut on 26 December 2014 in a 1–0 defeat to Preston North End.[6] 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.[7] However, on 15 June 2016, Williams was released by the club.[8]

Milton Keynes Dons

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On 28 June 2016, Williams returned to Milton Keynes Dons on a two-year deal having previously played for the club's academy side.[9] He made his debut for the club on 6 August 2016 away to Shrewsbury Town, coming on as a 90th-minute substitute,[10] 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.[11] 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,[12] and in July 2017 signed a new long-term deal keeping him at the club until June 2020.[13]

Bristol Rovers

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On 21 January 2021 with just six months remaining on his contract, Williams joined Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee.[14] 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.[15]

Cambridge United

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On 25 June 2021, Williams joined League One side Cambridge United on a free transfer, returning to the division following Bristol Rovers' relegation.[16] He made his Cambridge debut against Oxford United in a 1-1 draw.

He was released at the end of the 2022–23 season.[17]

Mansfield Town

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On 17 July 2023, Williams signed for League Two club Mansfield Town on an initial one-year deal with the option for a further year.[18]

Career statistics

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As of end of 2022–23 season
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[19] Conference North 38 1 0 0 3[a] 0 41 1
2014–15[19] Conference North 17 1 4 0 0 0 21 1
Total 55 2 4 0 3 0 62 2
Barnsley 2014–15[20] League One 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2015–16[21] League One 19 1 0 0 0 0 4[b][c] 0 24 1
Total 23 1 0 0 0 0 4 0 28 1
Barrow (loan) 2015–16[21] National League 15 0 0 0 15 0
Milton Keynes Dons 2016–17[22] League One 33 2 3 0 2 0 4[d] 0 42 2
2017–18[23] League One 43 1 4 0 1 0 4[d] 0 52 1
2018–19[24] League Two 30 0 1 0 2 0 1[d] 0 34 0
2019–20[25] League One 28 1 0 0 2 0 4[d] 0 34 1
2020–21[26] League One 8 0 2 0 0 0 2[d] 0 12 0
Total 142 4 10 0 7 0 15 0 174 4
Bristol Rovers 2020–21[26] League One 26 0 0 0 26 0
Cambridge United 2021–22[27] League One 40 1 5 0 2 1 2 0 49 2
2022–23[28] League One 29 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 35 0
Total 69 1 7 0 4 1 4 0 84 2
Career total 330 8 21 0 11 1 20 0 389 9
  1. ^ Appearances in FA Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in Football League Trophy.
  3. ^ 3 appearances in Football League One play-offs.
  4. ^ a b c d e Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

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Barnsley

Milton Keynes Dons

Mansfield Town

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Milton Keynes Dons" (PDF). English Football League. p. 43. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  2. ^ "George Williams". Cambridge United F.C. Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Coventry 1-2 Worcester". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Barnsley Sign Worcester City's George Williams". Barnsley F.C. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  5. ^ "George Williams: Barnsley sign Worcester City defender". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Preston 1-0 Barnsley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Barnsley 3-1 Millwall". BBC Sport. 29 May 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Defensive Duo Depart". www.barnsleyfc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  9. ^ "Defender re-joins the Dons". Milton Keynes Dons Official Site. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  10. ^ "Report: Shrewsbury Town 0–1 MK Dons". Milton Keynes Dons Official Site. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  11. ^ "Report: MK Dons 3-3 Bristol Rovers". Milton Keynes Dons Official Site. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  12. ^ a b c "Williams named Player of the Year". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  13. ^ "Player of the Year pens long-term deal". Milton Keynes Dons. 5 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  14. ^ "George Williams Signs!". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. 21 January 2021. Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Oxford United 2–0 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Williams joins United". www.cambridge-united.co.uk. 25 June 2021.
  17. ^ "2023 Retained List published". www.cambridgeunited.com. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  18. ^ "Stags sign experienced defender". www.mansfieldtown.net. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  19. ^ a b "G. Williams". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  20. ^ "Games played by George B Williams in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  21. ^ a b "Games played by George B Williams in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  22. ^ "Games played by George B Williams in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  23. ^ "Games played by George B Williams in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  24. ^ "Games played by George B Williams in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  25. ^ "Games played by George B Williams in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  26. ^ a b "Games played by George B Williams in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  27. ^ "Games played by George B Williams in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  28. ^ "Games played by George B Williams in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  29. ^ Stevens, Rob (29 May 2016). "Barnsley 3–1 Millwall". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  30. ^ Cartwright, Phil (3 April 2016). "Barnsley 3–2 Oxford United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  31. ^ "League Two: 2018/19: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
    "MK Dons: Squad details: 2018/19". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  32. ^ "Boss: Character was central to promotion". www.mansfieldtown.net. 27 April 2024.
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