Wrexham striker retires from football

By RICHARD WILLIAMS

27 March 2008

WREXHAM striker Eifion Williams has retired from professional football.

The 32-year-old, who joined Wrexham last summer after being released by Hartlepool United, is calling it a day despite being still having more than a year left on his contract - which has now been terminated - at The Racecourse.

Williams has been struggling with a hamstring injury sustained scoring the winner in his last Wrexham appearance against Bury on December 4.

Although he has since made a couple of reserve team outings, the Bangor-born frontman feels he has not fully recovered from the hamstring tear.

Also citing travelling reasons for making the decision, Williams, who made seven league starts and six as substitute with the Reds, scoring once, hopes to return to part-time football after a planned move back to the north-east with his family.

"I have picked up one or two injuries this season and things haven't quite gone to plan," said Williams.

"It is though, one of those decisions where I have put the family first and the travelling has not helped.

"The injury has taken longer to heal than I thought, though it will come right. But with travelling three hours a day from Anglesey, it is not helping.

"I have had a chat with Brian Little and we agreed it was best for both parties that we go our separate ways. I'm 33 this year and it just didn't feel right sitting here, picking up my money and not contributing to the team.

"I won't be returning to League football. I'm looking to get a job outside the game and by returning to the north-east, I feel I know more people up there and have a better chance of finding work. My family said they liked Hartlepool, having lived there for five years."
Williams came to prominence in the League of Wales where he played for Caernarfon Town and then Barry Town.

A £70,000 move to Torquay United followed in March 1999 and Williams made an immediate impact, scoring a hat-trick on his debut.

Williams joined Hartlepool for £30,000 in March 2002 and he spent five full seasons in the north-east before joining Wrexham.