Steve Williams (footballer, born 1958)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Steven Charles Williams | ||
| Date of birth | 12 July 1958 | ||
| Place of birth | Romford, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1974–1976 | Southampton | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1976–1984 | Southampton | 279 | (18) |
| 1984–1988 | Arsenal | 95 | (4) |
| 1988–1991 | Luton Town | 40 | (1) |
| 1991–1993 | Exeter City | 48 | (0) |
| 1993 | Derry City | 2 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 1977–1980 | England U21 | 14 | (0) |
| 1983–1984 | England | 6 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Steven Charles "Steve" Williams (born 12 July 1958 in Romford, England) is an English former football midfielder who played for clubs such as Southampton, Arsenal and Luton Town.
Williams went to school at St Edwards CofE Romford and started out as an apprentice with Southampton, having been a product of the Saints’ London Selection Centre and joining the club straight from school.
He turned professional in 1975 and made his debut, in a 1–0 victory away to local rivals, Portsmouth aged 17 on 6 April 1976, replacing Peter Osgood, who had been dropped for disciplinary reasons.
He went on to establish himself as a talented midfielder, particularly with his passing ability and composure on the ball. In his first full season, 1976–77, he was voted "player of the year" and earned recognition for England at under-21 level.
In the 1978–79 season, he was an ever-present in Saints’ run to the 1979 League Cup final (which they lost 3–2 to Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest).
He succeeded Alan Ball as team captain and led The Saints to an F.A. Cup semi-final and to runners-up position in the 1983–84 First Division.
Unfortunately, the following season, manager Lawrie McMenemy was becoming disillusioned with Southampton, feeling that he had taken the club as far as he could. This disillusionment spread to several key players including Williams, leading to a transfer request. In December 1984 he was transferred to Arsenal for a club record £550,000.
In all, he played 349 times for Southampton, scoring 27 goals.
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