Bert Williams (footballer, born 1920)

Bert Frederick Williams, MBE (born 31 January 1920 in Bilston, Staffordshire; † 19 January 2014 in Wolverhampton) was an English football goalkeeper.

After Williams finished school, he began working in Great Bridge, a West Midlands town. On the side he played for Thompson's FC in the Wolverhampton Works League. There he was spotted by Andy Wilson, then coach at Walsall FC, and as a 15-year-old he moved to Walsall.

When Harry Hibbs, former England goalkeeper took over as coach of Walsall FC, he recognised the talent and Williams made his first-team debut for the club as a 16-year-old.

The Second World War initially put the brakes on the young shot-stopper's career as he was required to do his war service in the Royal Air Force. While he was going through the world in this way, he twice played for England against a Welsh and a French side respectively.

After the war Williams originally wanted to move to Chelsea FC, but Wolverhampton Wanderers offered £3,500 for him and Williams decided against the London club. For the Wolves he would play 420 games, including 381 league games. He also celebrated winning the FA Cup in 1949 and managed to win the Championship in 1954.

On 22 May 1949 Williams received his first invitation to an official international match and England beat France 3-1. In 1950 he took part in the World Cup, but England failed in the group stage. Most notable of these was a 1-0 defeat to the USA. After another defeat against the later group winner Spain, they failed as group runners-up. On 22 October 1955, after 24 caps, he retired from the national team with a 2-1 defeat to Wales.

After the end of his career Williams opened a sports shop in his hometown Bilston. He ran a soccer school for goalkeepers that produced Phil Parkes and Joe Corrigan, among others. After the death of his wife in 2002, he devoted himself to fundraising for the Alzheimer's Society. Williams passed away shortly before his 94th birthday, leaving behind three children.