Paul Williams was a reliable centre-half who made over 450 career appearances for the likes of Derby County, Coventry City and Southampton.
He came through the ranks at County, making over 160 appearances for the Rams before joining Coventry City in 1995 for £750,000. After spending six years with the Sky Blues he rocked up on the south coast at Southampton, where he helped them to the FA Cup Final in 2003. Unfortunately he was only an unused substitute at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, as Robert Pires scored the only goal of the game to lift the cup for Arsenal.
He joined Stoke City in 2003 before leaving for the United States in 2005 to play out his career at the Richmond Kickers. He won six caps for England at Under-21 level, but was never called up to the senior squad.
His management career began in the States, where he took the reins of Fredericksburg Gunners, a fourth tier side, for the 2006/07 season. He was recently appointed caretaker assistant manager of League Two outfit Aldershot Town, partnering former Southampton colleague Jason Dodd.
The Burton-born defender spoke to Ransacker’s Chris Galea about which boots helped him become a household name in the top tier of English football.
Q. What boots did you wear during your career?
A. I went through quite a few different pairs during my playing career, but most of the time I wore Puma Kings. I also tried Nike and Adidas, so quite a range of different manufacturers and styles I suppose, but I always went back to the Puma Kings.
Q. Why were they your favourites?
A. It was mainly due to the leather the Puma King football boots were made from because it gave them a strength which other boots just couldn’t match. I was a bit of an old-school type defender and the Puma Kings suited that style of play because they were traditional black leather boots.
Q. There has been a wide range of different colours made available over the years, but would you ever wear coloured boots?
A. No, I never did and never will. Back in the day, my youth-team manager, Arthur Cox, always told me to stick to black and white boots, so out of respect I have never gone against his words of wisdom.
Q. How many pairs of Puma King football boots did you tend to go through during the course of a season?
A. Quite a few because when they are brand new they tend to fit you perfectly, but as you wear them more they tend to stretch, something not aided by the wet weather. Boots are so much more technology-based these days and it seems that the scientists look into every single part of what goes into putting a boot together. But in my mind the best thing they have advanced in recent years has been the water-proofing!
I suppose I used to go through about 10 or 12 pairs per season.
Q. Anybody in particular during you career who you can remember having some naff boots?
A. No, I don’t think I can remember any that stood out, but even if I did I don’t think I’d stitch them up!!
Ransacker Rated Puma King XL Football Boots
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- Puma King XL. Were £89.99. Now £18.00!!
- Football Boots Review with Lee Trundle
About the author
It's a hard life but someone has to do it. I spend my whole life reporting on football. When I get the chance I ask the professional footballers about their boots for Boot Room Banter.
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