Failing to make the first team, he joined non-League Billingham Synthonia and then Gateshead before returning to the professional game with Southampton in 1978.
He had spells with both Billingham Synthonia and Gateshead before he was spotted by a scout from Southampton, who offered him a trial with the club in March 1978.
[4] After impressing manager Lawrie McMenemy, Williams signed professional forms with the Dell club after they secured his services for a £4,000 fee.
[5] After just a handful of reserve team outings, he was loaned out to basement club Exeter City for the start of the 1978–79 season.
He made his debut on 3 March 1979, taking Terry Curran's place at outside left at home to Arsenal against England international full-back Kenny Sansom.
A quick winger with an eye for goal, Williams was at his most dangerous with the ball at his feet attacking the opposition full back.
[4] In four-and-a-half seasons at Edgeley Park, Williams played 216 games in all competitions, scoring 31 goals, before being surprisingly sold to Port Vale for £7,000 in November 1984.
Soon, though, after 62 games and seven goals for Vale, troubled Preston North End came calling after agreeing a bargain £2,000 fee in August 1986.
[4] At the end of the 1988–89 season, Williams decided to call it a day from playing full-time and started work behind the scenes at Deepdale, both as a coach and in the commercial department.
He played 29 games and scored once during his time at Ewen Fields, helping the "Tigers" to a fourth-place finish and qualification to the First Round of the FA Cup, with his goal coming as a last-minute equaliser to take the FA Cup second-round qualification match at Colwyn Bay to a replay.