Bert Williams
Posted on: Wed 17 Nov 2004
Bert Williams is a man recognised by many as one of Wolves' greatest goalkeepers. He was born in Bradley, Bilston on the 31st January 1922. On leaving school he played for Wolverhampton works side, Thompson's. At that time he was working in a factory in Great Bridge but his goalkeeping talents were spotted by the Walsall manager of that time, Andy Wilson. At the age of 15, Bert joined the Fellows Park ground staff. Former Birmingham and England goalkeeper, Harry Hibbs, took over the reins at Walsall within a year of Bert's arrival and it wasn't to be a long wait for the youngster before he found himself in the Saddlers first team at just 16 years old.
Sadly, the arrival of the Second World War brought about a temporary halt to Bert's progress. He served in the RAF seeing a lot of the world, and he also found time to play for his country in two wartime internationals against Wales and France, as well as turning out as a guest player for Nottingham Forest and Chelsea.
He had decided that he would sign for Chelsea but when Wolves came in with a £3,500 offer to Walsall for his services, he decided that he and his wife Evelyn would be happier staying in their native Black Country. So, in September 1945, Bert Williams signed for the Wolves.
He made his debut on the same August day in 1946 as his former Walsall team mate, Johnny Hancocks, against an Arsenal team who were routed 6-1 by a rampant Wolves side. In his first season at Molineux, Bert only missed three games as Wolves narrowly missed out on the Championship finishing in third position after slipping up in their last game against Liverpool.
The following season saw Bert miss four games as his side finished fifth in the league and he missed the same amount of games in 1948/9 season, the year he won his first major honours in the game. After he had defied the might of Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final and replay, he was a member of the side that was victorious over Leicester City in the Wembley Final.
This was followed by a call up to the full England squad and he replaced Frank Swift to play against the French in Paris just three weeks after picking up his winners medal. In the November of that year he faced the World Cup holders Italy in front of a 71,000 crowd at White Hart Lane. His skill and daring defied the Italians and not only helped his country to a 2-0 victory, but also earned him the nickname of 'The Cat', a title bestowed upon him by the Italian press who were in raptures over his performance. Bert was an England ever-present for the next two years and he played in the unsuccessful English World Cup campaign of 1950 after just missing out on domestic honours with Wolves who finished as runners-up in the Championship.
After the World Cup disappointment Bert had a pretty miserable season with Wolves as they slumped to 14th in the league and were denied the chance of a Wembley return when they were defeated by Newcastle in an FA Cup semi-final replay at Huddersfield. Also, injury cost him his England place and he was replaced by Birmingham's Gil Merrick.
Another poor season for Wolves was followed by a healthy third place in 1952/3 and then, the next season, Bert and his team-mates collected Championship medals as Wolves pipped West Bromwich Albion to the title. He regained his England place in December, 1954, and went on to play in five of the following six games. He played a major part in the famous Molineux floodlit friendlies and the huge crowds marvelled at his goalkeeping expertise.
Bert played in the following three seasons after Wolves Championship win and the team finished second, third and sixth respectively. He retired from the game at the end of the 1956/7 season his last match for the club ending in disappointment and a 4-0 beating as Wolves slumped to Aston Villa.
On retiring from the game he opened a sports shop in Bilston and later a sports centre in the town. He now lives just outside Shifnal in Shropshire and as he always did as a player, looks remarkably fit.
WOLVES PLAYING CAREER 1945-1959
League Appearances 381
FA Cup Appearances 38
Other Appearances 1
TOTAL APPEARANCES 420
Sadly, the arrival of the Second World War brought about a temporary halt to Bert's progress. He served in the RAF seeing a lot of the world, and he also found time to play for his country in two wartime internationals against Wales and France, as well as turning out as a guest player for Nottingham Forest and Chelsea.
He had decided that he would sign for Chelsea but when Wolves came in with a £3,500 offer to Walsall for his services, he decided that he and his wife Evelyn would be happier staying in their native Black Country. So, in September 1945, Bert Williams signed for the Wolves.
He made his debut on the same August day in 1946 as his former Walsall team mate, Johnny Hancocks, against an Arsenal team who were routed 6-1 by a rampant Wolves side. In his first season at Molineux, Bert only missed three games as Wolves narrowly missed out on the Championship finishing in third position after slipping up in their last game against Liverpool.
The following season saw Bert miss four games as his side finished fifth in the league and he missed the same amount of games in 1948/9 season, the year he won his first major honours in the game. After he had defied the might of Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final and replay, he was a member of the side that was victorious over Leicester City in the Wembley Final.
This was followed by a call up to the full England squad and he replaced Frank Swift to play against the French in Paris just three weeks after picking up his winners medal. In the November of that year he faced the World Cup holders Italy in front of a 71,000 crowd at White Hart Lane. His skill and daring defied the Italians and not only helped his country to a 2-0 victory, but also earned him the nickname of 'The Cat', a title bestowed upon him by the Italian press who were in raptures over his performance. Bert was an England ever-present for the next two years and he played in the unsuccessful English World Cup campaign of 1950 after just missing out on domestic honours with Wolves who finished as runners-up in the Championship.
After the World Cup disappointment Bert had a pretty miserable season with Wolves as they slumped to 14th in the league and were denied the chance of a Wembley return when they were defeated by Newcastle in an FA Cup semi-final replay at Huddersfield. Also, injury cost him his England place and he was replaced by Birmingham's Gil Merrick.
Another poor season for Wolves was followed by a healthy third place in 1952/3 and then, the next season, Bert and his team-mates collected Championship medals as Wolves pipped West Bromwich Albion to the title. He regained his England place in December, 1954, and went on to play in five of the following six games. He played a major part in the famous Molineux floodlit friendlies and the huge crowds marvelled at his goalkeeping expertise.
Bert played in the following three seasons after Wolves Championship win and the team finished second, third and sixth respectively. He retired from the game at the end of the 1956/7 season his last match for the club ending in disappointment and a 4-0 beating as Wolves slumped to Aston Villa.
On retiring from the game he opened a sports shop in Bilston and later a sports centre in the town. He now lives just outside Shifnal in Shropshire and as he always did as a player, looks remarkably fit.
WOLVES PLAYING CAREER 1945-1959
League Appearances 381
FA Cup Appearances 38
Other Appearances 1
TOTAL APPEARANCES 420
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