UP
Williams go back to Australia
It's back to the sunshine, Australian rugby league and the birds on the famous Manley beech for Hull FC Graham William the former Swinton scrum half, who played his last game in England on Wednesday, write Richard Tingle. At 11am tomorrow 11 Feb 1973, William and Aussie Bob Shaw will fly out of Heathrow airport on their way beck to Australia, via San Francisco
Williams, who arrived at the boulevard with prop Melvyn Hicks last September 1972 as part of Roy Francis's team strengthening programme, has proved one of the club's best signings of the season. Although a scrum-half Williams has made 12 of his 17 senior appearances at off half, and from this unaccustomed position he scored 5 tries.
Despite his size he just managed to top 5ft Williams injected variations Into Hulls play and although he has been heavily handicapped by an underweight pack, who have not given him the protection he needs.
In spite of this and the clubs amazing run of injuries, he has been one of the most consistent players at the club, and one wonder, what sort of impact he would have had had circumstances been different and Hull's pack had been able to give him the necessary cover.
Williams, however, returns to Australia with few memories of success and the thought that he played in one of the clubs worst sides for some time.
A SHAKY START
Yet just before he left for London he told me: 'While the club have had more than their fair share of troubles I can honestly say they are the best club I have played with'.
'The lads are magnificent and my stay in Hull is something which I will always remember'
'I have been very happy here. And I am only sorry that the club have been dogged by injuries. Without hesitation I would jump at the chance to come back'.
While he has been happy and enjoyed his stay with Hull, William 27 has had his share of ups and downs, but each time this little flamboyant Lancashire man has bounced back.
The first seven years of his life were critical. In fact it was thought he might never pull through, for it was thought he was born with asthma and bronchitis and was run over by a coal lorry when he was four and fractured his skull
Following that accident he had to have a brain operation to relieve the pressure caused by a depressed skull. 'The pain was sending me batty and I was beginning talk back to front' said Williams
The shock that accident, however, brought about a change in the youngsters life and at seven his asthma and bronchitis cleared up.
From that point he began to take keen interest in all sports, although the life of a professional Rugby League player had never entered his head.
Born only a quarter of a mile away from Swinton's Station Rd ground he was not particularly interested in rugby or Swinton even though his father Alf was a regular Lions supporter.
At the age of 11 he moved to Cromwell Road Boys School and for the first time Rugby League began to mean something. Although representing the school at cricket, soccer, athletics and swimming the love of rugby grew stronger.
'At that time I enjoyed playing all sports, but I did not realise rugby was taking a firm grip on me. In fact, it was not until I had left school that I felt rugby was my game' said Williams.
'I was playing quite a bit of soccer at the time and although an inside-right when I left school, I joined a junior side and played in goal'.
'But some friend kept asking me to play rugby until in the end I agreed. In my first game, for Fally-lane junior, I scored a hat-trick, something I have not repeated since and from then on it was rugby all the way'.
From Fally-lane, Williams moved up the ladder when he signed as an amateur for Swinton and although Oldham, Leigh and Salford were interested in getting him to turn professional, it was Swinton who succeeded.
Although they offered him less money 100 pounds in fact he signed for them on 11 November 1961 when he was 16.
He got a job
He got a job as an apprentice special welder at a firm only 50yd from the Station Road ground and began to make a name in the game.
In eight years with Swinton. Williams played six times for Lancashire and was reserve for the Great Britain side that played Australia at Wembley in the 1963 Test Match.
Australia and to play for North Sydney
Then in February, 1969 he was offered the chance to immigrate to Australia and play for North Sydney under Roy Francis 'I jumped at the chance as this was the opportunity to better myself and give my wife and son Damian, a better standard of living' Said Williams
Graham Williams Spent 2 and a half years with North Sydney and gained the highest honour a foreigner can obtain when he captained the club side.
Although a qualified welder, Williams gave up his profession and went into life insurance.
But, when every thing seemed to be running smoothly, tragedy struck the Williams household his wife was drowned following a parachute jump, when she landed in a farm pond. His parents immediately flew to Sydney and after seven months in Australia they brought Damian home to live with them at Swinton.
Soon after his wife death Williams was transferred to Manley for 8000 dollars in June 1971 and signed a three and half year contract with a year's option.
At the end of his first season with Manley, Williams went on a world cruise and came home to see his son and parents. 'It was great to see Damian again and when Hull offered me the chance to come back to England free how could I refuse.'
Now he returns to Australia but he may not be parted from his son for long as his parents this week decided to emigrate and join Graham in Sydney. With his family in Australia Graham says it is possible that I will stay for good although I would like to return to England next season. 'My future plans however, are still very much up in the air although I would like to achieve my last two ambitions to travel round Europe and to ride round Australia on a motorbike'.
The Englishman was a man of adventure and enjoyed boating and riding his motorbike.
He remarried and consistently returned home to Swinton in retirement.
After losing a wife and finding the strength to come back to Australia, Williams deserved to live out his years in peace.
That peace would come suddenly.
On the 1st of July, 1994, Williams was killed while riding his bike just prior to his 50th birthday.
Sometimes, life can be twisted and cruel.
sorce Hull Daily Mail
