Julian Williams returns to where it all began

Experienced forward Julian Williams is back where it all began.

The 29-year-old has rejoined hometown club Llanrwst United, where he developed his talents as a teenager.

He is a player who brings assured quality in the final third, is strong in the air and offers tremendous fitness levels and commitment – as well as a fine record for finding the net.

After leaving Parc Gwydir the first time he had a short stint with Llandudno before featuring in a series of friendlies for Welsh Premier League club Rhyl in summer 2014 aged 19.

While he impressed for the Lilywhites, the club let him move on loan to Holyhead Hotspur, where he made a really strong impact in the 2014/15 campaign, scoring 13 goals.

The following season, Rhyl released Williams who signed for Cymru Alliance outfit Porthmadog and notched 11 goals in 22 starts.

He remained at Y Traeth for the next three seasons, collecting double-figure goal hauls in 2016/17 (11), 2017/18 (13) and 2018/19 (12).

Very popular with Traeth fans, there was disappointment when Williams left the Eifionydd club and joined Colwyn Bay in 2019/20.

In the Bay’s comeback season in Welsh football, the Llanrwst lad was again a consistent marksman, finding the net nine times.

Williams returned to Porthmadog in 2021-22, hitting 21 goals and helping the club earn promotion back to the Cymru North via the end-of-season Ardal Northern play-off.

That took his total goals for the club to 68 in around 130 appearances.

Williams spent 2022-23 at Llandudno, scoring six goals, then last season signed for Holywell Town, who went on to win the Cymru North title.

Unfortunately, after a strong start with the Wellmen, injuries hampered Williams’ progress, limiting his game time, but he still more than played his part in the club’s championship success.

In all competitions, he featured in 29 games, scoring five times, including netting in the Wellmen’s last match of the season – a 4-0 victory over Llanidloes Town.

Now comes a new adventure for Ardal North West outfit Llanrwst, where no doubt the welcome will be very warm with long-serving Leighton Griffiths at the helm.

Speaking on his move, Williams said: “Happy to be back where it all began. I can see the club wants to grow and challenge in the league and hopefully with the experience I’ve got I can contribute to that. Looking forward to get started with the lads and management.”