By Terry Phillips
EIFION WILIAMS, the Welsh striker who grabbed a hat-trick on his Natiowide League debut for Torquay United, has been nicknamed Roy by new boss Wes Saunders.
Williams led Torquay to a 3-0 win against relegation threatened Hartlepool and Saunders said: "He's a real life Roy of the Rovers - he's proved dreams do come true."
Veteran Welsh international, Neville Southall, though, reckons Williams has caused a problem down on the south coast.
"How the heck do you say his name," said Southall. "The Torquay lads were calling him Affion, Avon, Eeffon - anything but what it should be. But who cares? From now on he'll be known as Willo by the players.
"It was a fabulous debut, he was head and shoulders above anybody else on the pitch. It looked as if he's stepped down a couple of divisions and when you consider it was his debut the performance was unbelievable.
"He won't be at Torquay too long. With his talent bigger clubs will come in for him and I wouldn't rule anything out - he could even make the Premiership."
Torquay spent a club-record �70,000 on 23 year-old Williams, who had scored almost 200 goals in four League of Wales seasons with Caernarfon and Barry Town.
They outbid Cardiff City, who had an offer made earlier in the week turned down by Barry.
And Williams responded to Torquay's 'gamble' by scoring three goals from four chances - and he was fouled as he sped into the other opening.
"I've proved my doubters wrong in my first game," said Williams. "Some people think Torquay have gambled, but I have confidence in my own ability.
"Torquay have bought me to score goals and that is what I am going to do."
Williams had a shock just before his debut when he discovered his parents, Alwyn and Gwyn, had travelled from their Anglesey home for the game.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the South Wales Echo, 29.03.1999
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