| Rhyl's leading scorer joins the champions |
| Monday 07 June 2010 |
 FORMER Football League and Rhyl frontman Matty Williams has left Belle Vue to sign for reigning champions The New Saints. The St Asaph-born striker, who is a Wales Under-21 international, top-scored for the Lilywhites last season with 20 goals from 28 (+5) appearances to bring his total to 29 from 46 (+11) since arriving in the Welsh Premier from Burton Albion. Williams began his career in 1999 with Manchester United, signing at the age of 16, and was a contemporary of David Beckham, Luke Chadwick and Kieran Richardson in the reserves. But he never made a first team appearance at Old Trafford and joined Notts County in March 2004, making 13 full first-team appearances over two seasons. A loan spell at Tamworth was followed by a permanent move following his release from Meadow Lane and he remained at the club despite their relegation from the Conference. Williams then joined local rivals Burton Albion on-loan in March 2008, scoring the winning goal away at Farsley Celtic on his debut. He made his debut for the Welsh Under-21s as a substitute against Poland and went on the make several more appearances. Rhyl signed him in a summer 2008 spending-spree that saw the Welsh Premier title landed at Belle Vue a year later but, following the Lillies' relegation, Williams says he is unwilling to drop into the Cymru Alliance and is delighted to be given the opportunity to return to being a full-time pro. Williams will form a potent strike partnership with Chris Sharp, who joined the Saints from Bangor City in January, and scored 23 league goals last season. Photo: Saints' boss Mike Davies with new signing Matty Williams. |