Charlie Williams (soccer)

Charlie Williams

Valletta and Malta International Soccer Player Picture taken in 1963
Personal information
Full name Charlie Williams
Date of birth (1944-02-15) 15 February 1944
Place of birth Valletta, Malta
Playing position Midfielder
Youth career
Valletta FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1961–1967 Valletta FC 65 (9)
1967 Pittsburgh Phantoms 21 (0)
1968 Dallas Tornado 3 (0)
1968-1969 Rochester Lancers 29 (0)
1970-1971 Syracuse Suns 26 (0)
1972-1975 Boston Astros 61 (0)
National team
1964 Malta 4 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (goals)

Charlie Williams was born and raised in Valletta, Malta on 15 February 1944.

Williams learned to play soccer in the streets of Valletta. At the age of ten, he started playing organized soccer for the Valletta Lilywhites in the Valletta youth league. Williams entered Stella Maris College when he was 11 years old. He represented his school's top team on a regular basis.

During his playing days at the Independence Arena, Charlie was discovered by Valletta FC officials and was asked to join Valletta FC at the age of 13 years. At 16 years old, Charlie was the captain of the Valletta FC minors team, while also playing for the under-21 team and the Valletta FC reserves team on a regular basis.

The Malta Football Association (MFA) quickly picked him to represent Malta as a youth International. Charlie Williams made his Valletta FC debut at age 17, playing a midfielder. He scored many important goals for Valletta FC, notably against Norwich City FC. Another crucial goal was against Floriana FC 3 minutes from time to give Valletta FC their 1962/63 championship.

During his stay with Valletta FC, Williams won the League Championship, Scicluna Cup, FA Trophy and the Cassar Cup. He represented Valletta FC in European competitions, playing against Dukla Prague in the UEFA Champions League (formerly the European Cup) and against Real Zaragoza in the UEFA Europa League (formerly UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup).

At the age of 18, Charlie Williams made his International debut playing for the Malta National Football Team against Italy C. He also played for the Malta National Football Team at the Liguria, Italy tournament where Malta finished in 3rd place, beating Italy and tying the Netherlands.

At the age of 23, first Norwich City FC, and then the newly formed professional soccer league in the USA, National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), were recruiting Williams. In 1967 Charlie decided to sign a professional contract to play in the NPSL, which later became the NASL. Charlie was a pioneer in North American soccer, as he was one of the first players to form the original founding teams. Among the American sides he played for were the Pittsburgh Phantoms, San Diego Toros, Dallas Tornado and Rochester Lancers. He also played for ASL sides Syracuse Scorpions, Syracuse Suns and Boston Astros.

When Williams retired from playing, he decided to take up a coaching career. In 1995 he was voted Best Coach in the State of New York. He also founded and operated his own soccer academy from 1993 to 2006.

Charlie retired from soccer activities and decided to move back to Malta in 2010, where he currently resides with his wife, two kids and grandchildren.

References

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