view Williams's match-by-match record
 
Danny WILLIAMS

A one club man as a player, Danny Williams made over 450 appearances for Rotherham, and it was there that he started his managerial career. He was appointed as manager of Swindon in July 1965, after the controversial sacking of Bert Head.

Williams' first job was to rebuild the team that had been relegated the previous season. The Town were in debt, and both Mike Summerbee and Ernie Hunt, perhaps the club's two most influential players at this time, were sold to balance the books. Nevertheless, Williams' brought in some cheaper, competant replacements, and the Town finished seventh in their first season back in Division Three.

Over the next couple of seasons, the Town's main achievements came in the cup competitions - and it has been written that at this time, Swindon were so good at beating higher league opposition that it was almost expected of them. In the 1966/67 season, the Town reached the fifth round of the FA Cup, in a run which included a famous victory over West Ham, who boasted three World Cup winners (Moore, Hurst and Peters) in their side. Though Geoff Hurst repeated his Wembley hat-trick at Upton Park, the Town won a replay, before despatching them 3-1 at the County Ground.

It was in the League Cup, however, where Williams' major achievement came. In an epic cup run in 1968/69, Swindon were to play eleven matches en route to Wembley, the club reaching the first major cup final in their history. Against all the odds, they shocked Arsenal in the final, winning 3-1. It was an amazing result, Swindon becoming only the second Third Division side to lift the trophy. Williams had signed eight of the players who made up the squad.

Despite the sapping cup exploits, the Town still managed to keep up their league form, and, at the end of the season, were promoted in second place, and thus completing a brilliant double. Unfortunately for Swindon, Williams left the club shortly before the 1969/70 season began, when he accepted the manager's position at First Division Sheffield Wednesday.

Williams returned to the club towards the end of the 1973/74 season, after Les Allen's unsuccessful managerial spell left Swindon floundering at the bottom of the table. With relegation virtually assured, all Williams could do was prepare for the following season in Division Three - and he started by releasing twelve of the first team squad. The Town just missed out on promotion at the first attempt - finishing just two points behind third-placed Charlton.

Williams remained in the manager's seat for three more seasons, before moving upstairs into a "General Manager" position in May 1978, where he stayed until 1985.

MANAGERIAL RECORD AT SWINDON:

First SPELL:

Competition P W D L Pens
Won
Pens
Lost
F A SR%
All matches 222 104 58 60 0 0 377 237 60%
League (inc. playoffs) 184 82 50 52 0 0 300 193 58%
FA Cup 18 11 3 4 0 0 41 19 69%
League Cup 20 11 5 4 0 0 36 25 68%

Second SPELL:

Competition P W D L Pens
Won
Pens
Lost
F A SR%
All matches 227 87 61 79 0 0 340 328 52%
League (inc. playoffs) 193 70 52 71 0 0 268 284 50%
FA Cup 21 10 7 4 0 0 47 24 64%
League Cup 13 7 2 4 0 0 25 20 62%

 


full name

Daniel Thomas Williams


 UNKNOWN (PROBABLY BRITISH)

date of birth
20 November 1924