David 'Dias' Williams an Aberystwyth Legend with 476 goals in 433 games!

David Williams Cancer Appeal

In November 1988, Ceredigion and beyond was shocked by the sudden death of David Williams of Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, who was only 39 years old. He was the Headmaster of Llanfihangel y Creuddyn Primary School, but it is fair to say that he was famous across the whole of Wales, as a highly talented footballer and one of the best ever strikers of all time in the country. Everyone knew him as ' Dias ', named after a famous Brazilian footballer who starred in the 1960 World Cup. ' Dias ' was a faithful supporter of Wolverhampton Wanderers. One of his dreams was realised a few months before his death, when he had the opportunity to watch Wolves play in a final at Wembley, beating Burnley to win the ' Sherpa Vans Trophy.

Unfortunately this gifted, popular and generous character was lost in a devestatingly sudden manner, as a result of pancreatic cancer, leaving a remarkable void in so many people’s lives.

It is now 30 years since we lost ‘Dias’, and indeed, in March 2019 he would have been celebrating his 70th birthday, with his wife Margery reaching this particular milestone in February.

The family, including Margery, their sons Owain and Siôn, neighbours and friends, wanted to do something positive in memory of ' Dias '. So we have come up with the idea of raising money towards McMillan Cancer Care, which provides great care and support for those affected by this terrible disease.

So the idea is to hold a sponsored walk over three or four days, visiting the local football clubs that were very important to ' Dias ' during his incredibly successful football career! All the money will go towards cancer charities. We thank you for your kindness in advance.

David Williams was born in Pontrhydfendigaid village in March 1949 and left the primary school in Bont, to attend Tregaron Secondary School. He then went on to Trinity College Carmarthen to receive teacher’s training. He was first employed as a teacher at Rhydypennau Primary School and was then appointed Headmaster of Llanfihangel y Creuddyn Primary School. He married Margery, from Llangybi near Lampeter in 1972, and soon they had two sons, named Owain and Siôn.

David Williams’ football career began in his home village of Pontrhydfendigaid. After a successful period with the Bont team, he attracted the attention of Aberystwyth Football Club, and played his first game for the club in 1968. Apart from a short period of two seasons playing for Llanidloes, he represented Aberystwyth in the Mid Wales League until 1982. Without a doubt, he was one of the best attackers ever seen at this level. His record of scoring 476 goals in 433 games was astonishing and unlikely to be beaten! 

Some of the highlights of David Williams’ football career were:

1963: ' Dias ' played his first match for his native village of Pontrhydfendigaid at 14 years of age and scored on his debut. At the time Bont were bottom of the Aberystwyth and District League, but the following season they won the league!

May 1968: Playing his first game for Aberystwyth Town against Aberystwyth University, he scored in their win. Aberystwyth finished the season second in the Mid Wales League and won the League Cup.

1968/1969: He played for Aberystwyth against Cardiff in the fifth round of the Welsh Cup at Park Avenue, but despite losing 3-0, it was a great performance by Aberystwyth against their illustrious opponents, as Cardiff City were at the time third in the English Second Division. Brian Clark and John Toshack were in the Cardiff team and a short while later in the season, John Toshack signed for Liverpool. The previous season the Bluebirds successfully reached the semi-final of the European Cup Winners Cup, before losing to the giants of Real Madrid. Aberystwyth ended the season second in the league and ‘Dias’  scored 38 goals.

1969/1970: He was part of the Aberystwyth squad who won the Welsh Amateur Cup by defeating Cardiff College of Education 1-0. Unfortunately, ‘Dias’ missed the final as a result of a broken leg sustained on Boxing Day 1969, playing against Machynlleth.

1970-1971: He played against Swansea City, newly promoted to the Third Division in a friendly match, but lost 5-0. During the season ‘Dias’ scored 52 goals.

Aberystwyth won the League Cup.

1971-1972: This was one of the most memorable seasons for Aberystwyth Town Football Club, as a result of a fantastic run in the Welsh Cup. In the fourth round, Aberystwyth had to travel to Edgar Street to play Hereford United on December 29th 1971. A month later Hereford and the famous commentator John Motson came to the nation's attention, beating Newcastle United from the First Division in the FA Cup. 

But in front of a substantial crowd of 3,457 Hereford were surprised, when David Williams and Gareth Roberts scored to secure a 2-2 draw. The following week, remarkably, Aberystwyth beat their famous opponents 1-0. 

Sadly, their great cup run ended in the quarter-finals, as they visited the Racecourse Ground to face Wrexham. Despite losing by 6 goals to 2, ‘Dias’ managed to score from the penalty spot, in front of a sizeable crowd of 3,538.

‘Dias’ scored the winning goal in the semi-final of the Welsh Amateur Cup against Brymbo Steelworks. Sadly, they lost in the final to Welshpool.

1972-1973: The season commenced with two friendly matches. It was not possible for ‘Dias’ to play against Swansea, as his marriage to Margery was much more important! But on the fifth of August 1972, ‘Dias’ scored from the penalty-spot, as Aberystwyth gave a creditable performance against West Bromwich Albion of the English First Division. Despite losing 5-2, it must be remembered that WBA comprised of stars, such as Jeff Astle and Tony Brown, who had won the FA Cup in 1968. 

During a match against Llandrindod Wells, with Aberystwyth winning 14-0, 'Dias' scored an amazing total of 11 goals! 'Dias' scored a total of 57 goals during the season, and this was the third consecutive season that he had scored 50 goals or more! To crown his remarkable season, he was selected for the Welsh Amateur football team squad.

1973-1974: During August 1973 'Dias' played against Wrexham on the occasion of the official opening of the clubhouse. Although they lost 6-1, it must be remembered that Wrexham were a particularly good side during this period, and indeed in 1976, John Neal's team succeeded in reaching the quarter finals of the European Cup Winners Cup, before losing to the eventual winners, Anderlecht.

In April 1974 Aberystwyth won the Mid Wales Division League Cup, beating Berriew 2-1. He scored 40 goals during the season, 'Dias' had scored 200 goals in four seasons.

July 1974: In a testimonial game for Bryan Pugh Jones, ‘Dias’ played for Aberystwyth against the giants of Wrexham, who had just reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup.

Remarkably, the Aberystwyth team consisted of Geoff Hurst, who scored a hat-trick as England beat West Germany 4-2 in the 1966 World Cup Final. Also in the Aberystwyth team who lost 5-0, was the Welsh and Lions rugby union legend, Gerald Davies! Aberystwyth ended the season winning the League Cup.

1975-1977: 'Dias' decided to join Llanidloes Football Club. Over two seasons he scored 118 goals, and the total of 69 goals he scored in the 1975-1976 season was a record for the club.  

1977-1978: 'Dias' returned to Park Avenue, playing in a pre-season friendly match against Middlesbrough of the English First Division, under the stewardship of John Neal. Although the famous team from the North East of England comprised of stars, such as Graham Souness, Terry Cooper and David Mills, the home team achieved a fantastic result, holding their illustrious opponents to a 0-0 draw.

Even though he missed a part of the season through injuries, ‘Dias’ managed to score 32 goals in 32 matches.

1978-1979: 'Dias' was as dangerous as ever in front of goal, succeeding in scoring an incredible total of 64 goals during the season.

1979-1980: Again before the season commenced, there were friendly matches against Wrexham and Middlesbrough. The twentieth of October was a historic day for 'Dias', when he scored two goals in their victory against Newtown. As a result ‘Dias’ had reached a remarkable milestone, by scoring 500 goals at this level.

31/10/1979: He played against Cardiff from the English Second Division to celebrate the turning on of THE floodlights. Aberystwyth put in a creditable performance, as they lost to a solitary goal against the Bluebirds, in front of a crowd of 1,500.

In the final round of the League Cup against Caersws.'Dias' scored the equalizer in the last minute, but unfortunately they lost in the replay. Aberystwyth finished second in the league.

1980-1981: Meirion Appleton's first season at the helm, and 'Dias' scored in 22 of the 33 matches he appeared in. He scored a total of 49 goals and scored nine hat-tricks. Aberystwyth finished second in the league again.

1981-1982: This was the final season of his Aberystwyth career, and they won the Mid Wales Challenge Cup by beating Welshpool 1-0 in the final. There was another record for 'Dias’, when he scored the latest goal ever to be scored in a game at Park Avenue at 9.50 p.m. against Montgomery. This was his 474th and last goal for Aberystwyth and goal number 591 at this level. Over 14 seasons, he had scored an average of a goal per game. This record is never likely to be beaten!

1982-1988: After ‘Dias’ bid farewell to Aberystwyth Town Football Club, he spent the final years of his life playing for Penrhyncoch, Pontrhydfendigaid, Dewi Stars of Llanddewi Brefi and Trawsgoed.

As a tribute to him, a new stand at Park Avenue was named in memory of ‘Dias’. The ‘Dias Stand’ was appropriately officially opened by the world-renowned striker, John Charles.

Aled Evans