Goalkeeping Railwayman Williams Changes Tracks

New Blue Ben Williams

Following the departure of Keiren Westwood to Coventry last week Carlisle have moved swiftly to bring in some competition for Chris Howarth. 25-year old Williams moving on from Crewe, where he had received a fresh contract offer, to come to Brunton Park and help the Blues in their quest for promotion.

Manchester-born Williams started his career on home turf with the Red Devils as a trainee, although he never made a first-team appearance at Old Trafford. He was loaned out on four occasions though between 2002 and 2004, those spells coming at Coventry (no starts), Altrincham (six starts), Chesterfield (14 starts) and Crewe (ten starts).

Those performances late in the 2003-04 season persuaded then Alex' boss Dario Gradi to snap up Williams on a two-year contract in June 2004. A bout of viral meningitis cut short his 2005-06 campaign in early December, that illness ending his season until he made a full recovery ready for the following campaign.

Willams signed a further two-year deal that summer to remain at Gresty Road and the expiry of that 24-month contract brings us to where we are now with the 25-year old choosing Carlisle over Crewe, on a Bosman free transfer, after four and a half years with the Railwaymen where he made 147 starts and one substitute appearance.


First Team Transfers 2008-09 : Click here