Celtic And Wolves Mourn Popular Keeper

Evan Williams, the former Wolves keeper who went on to become a huge favourite at Celtic, has died aged 81.

The Scot with the Welsh name played 15 games while at Molineux in the late 1960s, also squeezing in a loan spell at Tommy Docherty’s Villa before returning north of the border.

Having started at East Fife and then failed to establish himself at Third Lanark, Dumbarton-born Williams made his Wolves debut in a 3-2 home win over Arsenal in October, 1967.

That was the start of a 12-game run for him in Ronnie Allen’s senior side and, although he played only one more game that season, he was back in 1968-69 wth a couple of outings in the League Cup.

It was while he was temporarily in the Second City that Bill McGarry received notice of Parkhead interest and Phil Parkes’s reserve was off like a shot within an hour.

We have written several stories about and with Evan and were disappointed not to meet him on a Europa League visit to Celtic Park in the company of Jim McCalliog and his wife, Debbie, three seasons ago.

Our good friend, Gwilym Machin, had more luck, though, and travelled to meet him in Lennox’s Bar in Dumbarton in early 2023 after coming into possession of a 1974 newspaper he thought would be of interest as it contained a headline about the player’s move to Clyde. 

We published this story at the time A New Corner Routine – Wolves Heroes and now send our deepest condolences to Evan’s family and many friends.

It was Glasgow-based Gwilym who kindly alerted us to the news of his passing and he said today: “I had a lovely afternoon in the pub with him and this announcement was a very sad one.”

Another of our biggest supporters, Les Wilson, will also be saddened by the loss of an old friend who he recalls  accompanying on a rain-lashed journey to Scotland shortly before the keeper’s wedding.

Football lovers of many different persuasions should also be grateful to Williams for providing them with one of the sport’s more intriguing quiz questions.

He played up front for Wolves’ third team on occasions, so his starring against Feyenoord gave rise to the poser: ‘Which player started 1969-70 as a Wolves reserve forward and ended it as a European Cup hero?’

Please read this story In Moon Landing Year…….Another Giant Leap – Wolves Heroes to remind yourself of more of the background.

Williams played nearly 150 games for The Hoops, helping win four League titles and two Scottish cups, and later worked for decades as an ambassador for the club, travelling to different parts of the world to spread their name as well as performing corporate duties at matches and events.

A minute’s applause was held in his honour before the crushing win over Aberdeen last night.