William’s, who spent two years away at Sacramento Republic, looked backed positively at his time away and wanted to kick on once he came back.
Ex-Gloucester City striker Harry Williams reflects on his time playing overseas and the struggles faced when coming back to England to play football. Williams, 27, who played most of his football in Gloucestershire made his move from being at Cheltenham Town to California.
Williams grew up playing for Cheltenham Town since he was eight years old making it through the academy and earning a scholarship with the club. He consistently went out on loan to multiple different clubs in lower leagues; Bishop’s Cleeve, Farnborough (2), Evesham United and Gloucester City.
“I was meant to sign for a few clubs, for whatever reason that didn’t happen, and that’s when I did end up back in Gloucester and then your part time and I was approaching mid-twenties”.
Williams looked to sign for a professional side but was unable to, due to not being able to agree a deal with any clubs.
“It was definitely eye opening. In Sacramento, football isn’t in the number one sport and in America but in Sacramento it’s definitely up there.”
“We were getting 12,000 fans every home game it was definitely big where it was, we would travel to away games and there wouldn’t be as many fans”.
Sacramento Republic FC were founded in 2012 and play in the USL Championship. The season that Williams Joined he made 41 appearances for the club scoring five goals helping towards the side finishing top of the USL championship- Western Conference.
“You turn the TV on and you see NBA and the NFL, there always on the TV, but it is definitely getting bigger now with all the superstars that went over like David Beckham.”
Since Williams left Sacramento, multiple big-name players have come to the MLS with the likes of Lionel Messi joining Inter Miami co-owned by David Beckham
“Standard wise it’s of a good level, they sort of all just play out from the back and I was shocked at the standard, and I did really enjoy my time.”
The striker then went on to play for Gloucester City for the third time in his career after coming back from the USA playing 22 times scoring only four times.
Williams had an ambition to play professional but has been has been unable to fulfil that dream.
“ I ended up back in Gloucester and then your part time and I was approaching my mid-twenties and you’re having to get another job at that point and that’s when your ambitions change.”
Williams has since joined Salisbury FC who currently sit top of the league in the Southern League Premier Division
