Charlie Williams (footballer, born 1944)

Charlie Williams (born 15 February 1944) is a Maltese former professional footballer player.

Williams learned to play football 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 European Cup and against Real Zaragoza in the 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, and then the newly formed professional football league in the United States, National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), recruited Williams. In 1967 he decided to sign a professional contract to play in the NPSL, which later became the NASL. He 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 football academy from 1993 to 2006. Charlie retired in 2010.

Foreign Cup Appearances

 * European Cup: 2 
 * 1963


 * Valletta FC 0 vs Dukla (Czech) 6 
 * 1963


 * Valletta FC 0 vs Dukla (Czech) 2 
 * 1963


 * UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 2 
 * 1964


 * Valletta FC 0 vs Saragozza (Spain) 3 
 * 1964


 * Valletta FC 1 vs Saragozza (Spain) 5 
 * 1964

Domestic Cup Appearances

 * Maltese FA Trophy: 9 
 * 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965


 * Cassar Cup: 6 
 * 1962, 1963, 1966


 * Sports Festival Shield: 1 
 * 1962


 * Olympic Cup: 2 
 * 1963


 * Douglas Cup: 2 
 * 1963, 1964


 * Charity Shield: 2 
 * 1963, 1964


 * Scicluna Cup: 2 
 * 1964, 1966


 * Independence Cup: 1 
 * 1964


 * Testaferata Cup: 1 
 * 1965


 * Christmas Cup: 3 
 * 1966, 1967

Christmas Tournament Appearances

 * Valletta FC 6 vs Ittihad (Libya) 2 *Williams scored the 4th goal
 * 1962


 * Valletta FC 1 vs FK Sarajevo (Yugoslavia) 1
 * 1962


 * Valletta FC 0 vs HNK Rijeka (Yugoslavia) 2
 * 1962


 * Valletta FC 1 vs SK Motorlet Prague (Czech Republic) 1
 * 1963


 * Valletta FC 0 vs First Vienna FC (Austria) 1
 * 1965

Sports Festival Shield

 * Valletta FC 3 vs Sliema 1
 * 1962

Friendlies Appearances Against Foreign Teams

 * Valletta FC 1 vs Ahli S.C. (Tripoli) 1
 * 1962


 * Valletta FC 4 vs S.C. Ahly (Benghazi) 1
 * 1962


 * Valletta FC 3 vs Hilal (Benghazi) 2
 * 1962


 * Valletta FC 0 vs S.C. Medina (Benghazi) 1
 * 1963


 * Valletta FC 0 vs Ittihad (Benghazi) 2
 * 1963


 * Valletta FC vs Najma (Libya)
 * 1963


 * Valletta FC 1 vs Norwich City FC (UK) 1 *Williams scored the goal
 * 1964


 * San Diego Toros 1 vs Cruz Azul (Mexico) 2 
 * 1968


 * San Diego Toros 1 vs Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Mexico) 1 
 * 1968