The hidden battle of Man City trailblazer adored by Oasis and studied by Pep Guardiola
manchestereveningnews.co.ukAs one of the first black goalkeepers in the modern top flight, Alex Williams had to endure more than most professionals do in their careers.
On top of the everyday racism that came his way from neighbours or teammates - intended or otherwise - the Manchester City stopper was on the end of horrendous abuse at Everton, where some fans brandished burning crosses at him imitating members of the Ku Klux Klan as he made his way to the goalposts at their end of the ground.
For all the unacceptable behaviour Williams faced, the only thing that actually floored the 6ft4 giant was injury; a career-ending injury that left him unable to function.
Playing on with crippling pain in his leg as a result of an undiagnosed slipped disc in his spine was painful enough, yet trying to recover from the injury that would ultimately end his career aged just 25 was harder. "As 1986 dawned, I was low and returning to football was well down my list of priorities," he said in his new autobiography released this week. "Although the surgery had gone well, my body was battered.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk