Phil Blanche
TWENTY minutes into his Football League debut, the portents did not look good for Eifion Williams.
Torquay United's record �70,000 signing had been introduced to the Plainmoor faithful as "Iffion", and had something of a communication problem on his hands.
The departure of the injured O'Neill Donaldson saw the former Barry Town goal-machine joined by fellow debutant Jean-Pierre Simb in the home attack.
Senegal-born Simb does not speak a word of English (or Welsh for that matter), and is so loose-limbed he could give Derby County's Paolo Wanchorpe lessons in ungainliness.
But this odd couple hit it off to such an extent that Williams had carved his place in Torquay history within an hour. The unorthodox Simb created two goals as Williams became only the second Gulls player to score a hat-trick on his debut.
Peter Laraman managed the feat in a 6-2 defeat of Barnsley in September, 1961, but surely he never carried the burden that Williams took into his first game.
Some 200 League of Wales goals in four seasons, 97 alone for Barry in 18 months, and FAW Premier Cup success against Swansea City and Wrexham counted for nothing.
Even a European goal against Champions' League semi-finalists Dynamo Kyiv and B international delight with his first touch against Northern Ireland were brushed aside as the question was raised over and over again.
Would Williams breach Football League defences in the same ruthless fashion as he penetrated those in the League of Wales? Only one person seemed to be in no doubt.
"I've always believed in my ability," said Anglesey product Williams, who was rejected by Wolverhampton Wanderers as a schoolboy.
"My game is about scoring goals and that's what I've always done. I look to get in the box and get on the end of crosses. If I do that I'm confident that I will score goals."
Should Williams be as prolific at Torquay as he was at Barry there will be one or two sheepish managers up and down the league.
Chester, Crewe, Portsmouth and, ironically, Saturday victims, Hartlepool all had a good look at Williams without taking a punt. But the reddest faces of all will those at Ninian Park.
Williams was on the doorstep but, despite being the subject of several Cardiff City scouting missions, he was allowed to sail off into the English Riviera sunset.
"People were probably afraid to gamble because I was playing in the League of Wales," said Williams.
"But the League of Wales is a good standard. Several players have moved into the Football League from there and done well.
"Look at Mark Delaney, who was playing at Carmarthen last season. One year on he's at a Premier League club (Aston Villa).
"It shows there are good players in the league, and, hopefully, more teams will come along and take them out.
"For me, this season was probably my last chance. I'm 24 this year and I'm lucky to have the opportunity to show what I can do.
"The fee was a lot of money for a club like Torquay but that's not going to bother me. I'm just going to enjoy it and try to score as many goals as possible.
"Who knows, if I can do that I may make some bigger clubs take notice. It's every player's dream to play in the Premiership."
Williams - who had scored a hat-trick at Holywell the previous weekend - said he had received a huge boost only a few hours before the kick-off.
His father, Wyn, and mother Alwen, joined fiancee Sian in making the long trip south to watch his debut.
"I didn't know they were coming along," said Williams. "I was at the hotel before the game and they were there at the front door.
"It was a great surprise, and I'm delighted that they were here to see the hat-trick.
"The game was a bit quicker than I've been used to, and you don't get much time on the ball.
"It was also a bit more physical than the League of Wales. But I'm sure I'll wake up this week and think I've dreamed it all."
From the moment he took Neville Southall's long-kick out of the sky and under control inside the opening 30 seconds, Williams seemed at home.
He had a shot blocked and went on a mazy run before displying his instincts in front of goal after 38 minutes.
Simb's 60-yard run and cross found the head of Brian McGorry, and Williams revealed his predator's touch with a glancing header inside the six yeard area.
Robbie Herrera's 59-th minute cross set up a header that had both power and placement, and he was stopped moments later only when Gary Strodder dragged him down 18 yards out but somehow escaped an early bath.
But Williams was not to be denied the match ball, and Simb freed him after 73 minutes for an ice-cool right footed finish past Hartlepool keeper, Martin Holland.
Two minutes later Williams, nursing a slight thigh injury, departed to a standing ovation.
By now, even Plainmoor's public address man had come to terms with his Christian name.
Southall saw Williams destroy Hartlepool with finishing of the highest order and prove wrong the doubters who thought he would not succeed in the Football League.
"That wasn't too bad a debut, was it?" said Southall after his new Torquay teammate had marked his record �70,000 switch from the League of Wales in sensational style.
"Without getting too carried away, it's up to Eifion how far he goes. He's got enough ability to play at a higher level - at the top if he really wants it.
"It's good for Wales because there's another striker coming through. I'm sure he can challenge people in the full squad."
Southall, the record Welsh caps holder now enjoying his football as much as ever in the Third Division, revealed he played a major role in Williams's deadline-day transfer.
He explained, "I spoke to Wes Saunders (Torquay manager) and he said he was being quoted ridiculous prices for players.
"I knew Barry were quite a wealthy club and they wouldn't let him go cheaply.
"But Wes liked the look of him and knew that several other clubs were having a little sniff. He was brave enough to go for Eifion, and it's paid off already."
Southall joked that the hat-trick would hit Williams in the pocket in training this week.
"I'm sure the match-ball will be taken out of his wages because I don't think we can afford that," said Southall.
"But I'm really pleased for Eifion. When I first saw him I didn't think he was ready to leave Barry.
"But when he came on in the B game (against Northern Ireland last month) I thought he looked more of a man. He's got a bit of pace and loves scoring goals.
"He's desperate to prove himself in the Football League but he doesn't have to worry about anyone else. He only has to prove it to himself.
"The problem is that he's set himself up. If he doesn't score in the next couple of weeks people will hammer him.
"He's made a rod for his own back, but that's what good strikers do.
"But if you look at his career record, he's always scored goals. I don't think that's going to stop.
"He may have a period when he misses one or two chances, but I think he's already proven he will score in this league.
"And it's not as if we're a team bombing for the title. We need the points for other reasons, but he's come straight in and shown he can handle it."
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first printed in the Western Mail, 29.03.1999
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