On the final day before the English transfer deadline day, it was announced that Eifion Williams had signed for English Third Division club, Torquay United, for a Torquay record signing of �70,000.
Eifion signed for Barry from Caernarfon Town on the eve of the 1997/98 season, scoring 96 goals in a Barry shirt, including a goal against European Champions League semi-finalists, Dynamo Kyiv.
Barry's record signing cost the club �25,000, a record between two League of Wales clubs, but proved his worth, scoring on his debut as the first of 57 goals last season, with an additional 39 this season.
Those include a five goal haul in Barry's 10-0 demolition of Total Network Solutions, and four apiece in matches against Conwy in the FAW Invitation Cup and against Knighton Town in the Welsh Cup.
Originally a schoolboy at Wolves, Eifion had been linked with a number of clubs, having had trials at Manchester City and Crewe while at Caernarfon Town, and with Portsmouth and others while here at Barry.
Torquay's Alex Watson was present at last Saturday's League of Wales match at Holywell, where Eifion scored a hat-trick, and was present alongside Torquay manager, Wes Saunders, on Tuesday night, when Barry effectively sealed the League of Wales title by defeating third-placed rivals, Cwmbran Town.
Having previously represented his country at under-21 level while at Caernarfon Town, Eifion also represented Wales 'B', scoring the winner against Northern Ireland 'B' last month.
Everyone at Barry is very grateful for his commitment to the club over the past two seasons, where he has played a huge role in winning the title last season, and in putting Barry in such a strong position this year.
We all wish him the best of luck for the future at Torquay United, where he takes over from present manager, Wes Saunders, as the club's most expensive player. Last Saturday he paid back more than a little of that money, scoring a hat-trick on his debut in the inimitable style which was Eifion's own.
Let's hope that he gets to fulfill a few more of his ambitions.
the Yellow Dragon.
Links to other sites on the Web
Barry Town homepage
Barry Town Matchday Magazine index
This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry Town Matchday Magazine, v Carmarthen Town, League of Wales, 30.03.1999
Get your own Free Home Page