FC Halifax Town: “Everyone is in it together, we all want to do really well” says Williams ahead of new season

Williams joined The Shaymen shortly before the start of the 2019-20 season as a left-winger who had played 11 games over the previous two campaigns.

But he heads into his second season at The Shay on the back of making 29 appearances in all competitions last term, and predominantly as a left wing back.

The 32-year-old, who has recovered from a left quad injury sustained during pre-season, said: “I can play a few positions but the way the gaffer wants to go is with a five (in midfield) so that suits me down to the ground.

“I know he’s brought other lads in pushing me and Jeff (King, right wing back), which is really good for the squad.

“I like playing there, I enjoyed it last year when we changed and hopefully I can get some games in this year as well.

“There’s more defensive responsibilities but I enjoy that, I like the defensive side of it.

“I think it did us well last year when we changed it, we got quite a few clean sheets and stopped the goals going in.

“But it can be quite attacking as well. I think we’re going to look this year to be a bit more attacking in that sense.

“It was new for us last year but now we’re going into our second year playing that shape, maybe, I don’t know.

“But it’s good for me, I like it.

“When I was at Accrington I didn’t get as much game time as I’d have liked, but then coming here, I think I played quite a few games considering I picked up some injuries as well along the way.

“It was really good, we had a good squad. We have a good squad this season as well.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Williams accepts expectations are bound to rise after last season’s unexpected play-off finish.

“I think you’re always going to get that with supporters, they’re always going to want us to do better,” he said.

“Of course, we want to improve, that’s why we train every day the way we do.

“We’ve just got to take each game as it comes, the old cliche. We’re just going to give our best performances every time and see where that takes us.”

Could it take Town into the play-off places for a second successive season?

“Why not? Expectations are like last season, we want to do well, we want to get into those sorts of positions, and why not?

“I think we’ve got the squad to do it, and we’re all going to work hard.

“We all have our goals that we’ve set ourselves and we want to try and stick to them, but we’ve got to aim high.”

Williams is expected to be in direct competition with new signing Jack Senior for the left wing back berth this season, who is one of several new faces at the club.

“I think we’ve recruited well, we’ve got different strikers who can play in different ways, and with the wing-back situation, there’s competition for places,” Williams said.

“Everyone’s working hard in training and it gives the gaffer decisions to make. That’s good, that’s healthy.

“Good teams have competition all over the pitch, it’s just part and parcel of football.

“Jack’s a good player from what I’ve seen of him so far.

“But what we have to take away from it is that everyone is in it together, we all want to do really well and that’s what it’s got to be.

“It’s got to be a good team spirit. If he plays and I don’t, which obviously players don’t like, I’d want him to do the best for the team.

“That’s the way it’s got to be.”

Williams signed a new one-year deal at the club this summer, and says he feels trusted by Town boss Pete Wild as a player.

“I think all the lads feel that, we trust each other, the players trust them, they trust us to do the job and we work hard all week to try and play the way the management want us to play,” he said.

“I think there has to be that. There’s just a great trust and a great togetherness in the squad.

“Even now, it’s early days but you can tell that everyone’s together in what we want to do.

“We’ve all just got to work hard again, like we did last year.

“We worked really hard, every single day, not just what the fans saw on the pitch, but in training intensity’s high and it’s got to be the same again, if not better.

“We’ve got to push ourselves and improve every single day.”

Williams is aiming to be Town’s regular starter at left wing back this season, and add more goals and assists to his game.

“I think I only scored one last year, and I want to contribute to the team more going forward,” he said.

”And defensively, I can always improve. I know I’m 32 but I still want to improve as a player.”

Despite his age, the hunger to play has not diminished for the former Inverness and Dundee man, who says he loves playing as much as he ever has.

“Definitely, if not more. With the Accrington situation, I didn’t play many games, but I came here last season and played, and I kind of got that buzz from it again,” he said.

“I’m going to carry that into this year, I really want to do well for myself and as a team.”

When asked if Town fans have seen the best of him yet, Williams said: “No I don’t think they have. I was nursing quite a few injuries last year and it did hold me back.

“But I’m hoping this year, touch wood, that that doesn’t hold me back this year and the fans will see a completely different player.”