John Williams (footballer, born 1960)

John Williams
Personal information
Full name William John Williams
Date of birth (1960-10-03) 3 October 1960
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position Centre-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1985 Tranmere Rovers 173 (13)
1985–1986 Port Vale 50 (3)
1986–1991 Bournemouth 117 (9)
1991Strømsgodset (loan) 1 (0)
1991Wigan Athletic (loan) 4 (0)
1991–1993 Cardiff City 6 (0)
Total 351 (25)
Managerial career
1994 Bournemouth (caretaker)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

William John Williams (born 3 October 1960) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He made 415 league and cup appearances in a 15-year career in the English Football League, scoring 27 goals.

He began his career at Tranmere Rovers, playing 201 games in all competitions between 1978 and July 1985, when he made a £12,000 move to Port Vale. He helped the "Valiants" to promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1985–86, before being sold on to Bournemouth for £30,000 in December 1986. He helped the "Cherries" to the Third Division championship in 1986–87 before moving on to Cardiff City in 1991, following a loan spell at Wigan Athletic. Cardiff won the Third Division title in 1992–93, after which he returned to Bournemouth as a coach. He served the club as caretaker manager in August 1994.