Alvan Williams began his career with Bury, making two league appearances for the club before moving to Division Three North side Wrexham in 1956.
He made his debut for the Dragons in a Cross-border derby match with Chester City on 18 August 1956 but went on to appear just 15 more times in all competitions before leaving.
[4] In June 1965 he became manager of Southend United and would later break the club's transfer record by signing Eddie Firmani from Charlton Athletic for £10,000.
However, he later became the first manager in the club's history to suffer relegation in the Football League after finishing 21st in the Third Division and Firmani returned to Charlton two years later for just £2,000.
Brought in as a replacement for Jack Rowley, Williams took several of his Southend staff with him to the Racecourse Ground including first-team coach John Neal and players Steve Ingle, Ray Smith and Eddie May who was appointed as his Captain at the North Wales club.