Good luck, Ed Williams!

It's not often I'll do a post such as this but, then again, it's not often your local team appears to be on the verge of signing someone who you've tracked from afar for several years after recognising his ability in Cheltenham Town's youth team.

When it's confirmed, Ed Williams should be a decent signing for Doncaster Rovers. This is very much his big chance and something which he'll have wanted for so long.

There'll no doubt be some fans who'll question it - partly due to the fact he was released as a youngster by Cheltenham without having featured in their first team and partly because he's never played in the Football League. Those concerns are understandable although, in this instance, they're misguided because he isn't your stereotypical non-league 'slogger' or anything remotely close to that. It's quite the opposite and his talent/ability should shine through at a level where he'll now be surrounded by better players on a daily basis - many of whom will be on a similar technical wavelength. He's also an athlete who looks after himself and is used to full-time training as he's been in that environment with Kidderminster for the past two years so, again, that won't be a concern.

Just like anyone stepping up three divisions, nevertheless, he'll notice a difference in class compared to what he's been accustomed to in the Conference North - a league where it can sometimes be a tough battle with some opponents who just want to kick you harder and harder to stop you from performing well. Not every player can handle it (and certainly there's players in the Football League right now who wouldn't be able to), but he found a way to overcome it with Gloucester initially and then more recently with Kidderminster. What's certain is that he's already a good player and this move, whether it works out or otherwise, will help him to become an even better player.

For any fans specifically interested in what he'll offer to the team, he's predominantly right-footed, confident with the ball at his feet and running at players, a decent passer and someone who isn't scared to have a pop from outside the area. He offers some versatility as he started out on the wide-right at Cheltenham (the position I first saw him play) but has since come inside and now usually operates in a more central, attacking-midfield role. He's also decent from the penalty spot, having scored a couple in the past (Chester (2018), and Cirencester (2013) being two which spring to mind) so if he's able to wrestle that responsibility from one of his new team-mates, he should be alright.

His first season at Kidderminster (2018/19) was actually much more successful than last term which was probably frustrating for him on a personal level in some ways as he couldn't quite replicate his exploits from his first 5-6 months at Aggborough - a period which culminated in a deserved call-up to the 'England C' team (versus Estonia) not long after earning the Conference North's 'Player of the Month' accolade. Despite only turning 25 in July, he's got a good amount of experience already - having made roughly 200-250 senior appearances for Cirencester, Gloucester and Kidderminster up to now, plus whatever he made during his 'work experience' type loans at Bishop's Cleeve and Evesham in his youth team/first-year pro days at Whaddon Road. He studied at Hartpury from 2014-2017, thus still training full-time after leaving CTFC, and played in their Mens First XI who were often near the top of the table in the BUCS League. At weekends, he was at Cirencester (2014-15), then Gloucester up to 2018, then Kidderminster.

Like anyone, he's overcome some injury problems during that time too.

At Cheltenham, in 2011/12, he was sidelined with a back problem for about half-a-season or so before forcing his way into contention during 2012/13 - returning during a pre-season trip to Holland (where they played Willem II and NAC Breda and even caught Steve McClaren's eye) and ultimately doing enough to earn a professional contract after featuring in youth, reserve and some Gloucestershire Cup games later that season, having also trained with the first team. During his spell at Hartpury, I'm sure he was also sidelined for a time (in possibly the 2015/16 season), then he had a minor ankle injury at Kidderminster midway through the season before last. Nevertheless, these are seemingly all in the past and he's overcome them with what he's achieved since to be in line for this move 'up the ladder' right now.

For a bit more background, he was in Cheltenham's youth side at the same time as Michael Gonzalo (who, surprisingly to me, didn't get offered a contract), Joe Hanks (a decent midfielder whom he joined the academy with - probably the time of the 2006/07 season), Harry Williams and Zack Kotwica (both of whom were a year younger) and at least three of those players were probably the club's main hopes back when he was on the Robins' books. Luke Thomas, undoubtedly the best player to emerge from their set-up in recent years, wasn't quite on the radar at that time as he's a few years younger, but what a phenomenal player he's become!

The place where it all began (and continued with Gloucester)...

The reason why he was released by Cheltenham (or, rather, Mark Yates, as it was his decision) back in May 2014 was because at that time he hadn't fully-developed physically as a footballer - something which he's pretty much said himself in his own words, but that development has happened in the years since to become the player he is right at this moment in time. Even by just looking at 'then and now' comparison-type photos, it'll be noticeable to those who haven't seen him play before. His release was nothing to do with pure footballing ability because that's always been present in his game.

Now he seems to have pretty much got this move back to the Football League, he should be something of a symbol to every youngster out there who has been released by a professional club - whether that be at the end of a scholarship or a first-year pro contract. Football is about opinions and, if you're prepared to do the hard work, graft, do the right things off the pitch (for six years in Ed's case), and speak to the right people who can help you/your career, then you might find a manager with a different opinion to what you were told at 18/19 who'll ultimately give you the chance to achieve what you've always wanted for such a long time!

I've already spoken to three players who've played alongside Ed and they're all in agreement that he's a good player. They're keen to see how he does this season and wishing him well because they recognise that he's a talented lad with the big chance, literally, at his feet right now.

I don't know if the 'Pizza Delivery Boy' story in his past is true (if it is then I'll have an extra-large pepperoni with stuffed crusts), but he'll definitely have the whitest teeth in the Football League. If he falls over in-front of an open goal though (like he did against Darlington not too long ago), then I hope he gets battered by his team-mates for it, but joking aside, I'm absolutely rooting for him to do well.

Good luck, Ed.

P.S: If you read this, you might remember a game you was at where Nick Powell popped one in from 25 yards in about 40 degrees sunshine - it was way too warm that day! Keep up all your hard work and, with a bit of luck, you'll hopefully get to play in the same stadium at some point. Fingers crossed!

P.P.S: I haven't mentioned that goal against Aston Villa yet, so here it is for anyone that wants to see it (1m 20secs - you won't be disappointed)...