Goal ace Evo moves in record breaking £70,000 transfer deal


by Stephen Johnson

NOT for the first time, Barry supporters could bask in the warm glow of an Eifion Williams hat-trick, the difference this time was that Williams had found the back of the net long before the Town had even kicked off.

Last Wednesday Torquay United, struggling in the lower region of Division Three of the Nationwide League, had made Barry's hot-shot striker their most expensive signing ever, when the club forked out £70,000 for Williams's goal-scoring prowess.

They were not disappointed. Making his debut against fellow Division Three strugglers, Hartlepool, Eifion had a dream start, scoring all three goals as Torquay dispatched their fellow strugglers with some ease, turning Williams into an instant hero on the English Riviera.

SAD

While Town supporters are sad to see Eifion leave Jenner Park, there is also a sense of pride amongst the faithful that what they have known all this time: that Williams was good enough to play at a higher level, was vinidcated by his sensational debut hat-trick.

Williams leaves with the good wishesof all at the Town ringing in his ears and supporters can look back with fond memories on his goal scoring exploits.

Town supporters do not have to go back too far either, as Eifion had hit a hat-trick the previous weekend against Holywell.

Signed two seasons ago for £25,000 from Caernarfon - a record transfer fee between two League of Wales clubs - Williams fully justified the outlay by banging in the goals from the beginning, netting 57 in his first season, 97 goals for the club in total. At the start it was just a case of his speed and awareness in and around the penalty area, but over the past two years he has been adding more and more to his game. His linking play and movement improved and he was made aware of the importance of being the first line of defence.

INSTINCTS

Last season was his first as a professional player and a learning curve for Williams. More was expected of him this season, and he did not disappoint. Added to his goal-scoring instincts were a greater aggression and a growing ability to turn defenders, a skill showcased to perfection when he slipped the Merthyr defender, Mark Williams, to set up Richard Jones for the all-important goal in the FAW Premier Cup quarter-final. A sublime bit of skill which was worth £20,000 to the club.

If there is one note of disappointment then it's that Williams will miss the climax to the season - winning the title and taking on Inter for a place in both the Gilbert League Cup final and the FAW Premier Cup final, two competitions where his goal-scoring instincts would have been desirable.

On the credit side, the Jenner Park faithful can look back on a brief, but bright spell which included five goals against TNS, that wonder goal against Haverfordwest this season, as well as goals against Swansea, Kiev and Northern Ireland.

Town sign two new strikers

BARRY Town have signed two strikers on loan until the end of the season, following the departure of Eifion Williams to Torquay. John Jones has made 32 first team appearances for Chester, scoring twice. Jones, who comes from Wrexham, has also played for Wales on four occasions at under-18 level. Also joining the club is 19-year old Chris Sloan who at 6'5" makes him the tallest member of the Barry squad.

Links to other sites on the Web

Barry Town homepage
What the Papers Say index

This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry Gem, 01.04.1999.

This page hosted by GeoCities Get your own Free Home Page


Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1