G-love at first sight
Last updated 13:09, Monday, 14 July 2008
He has been with his new team-mates for little more than a week, and could not have wished for a more comfortable debut in Carlisle United colours.
Yet Ben Williams is already convinced that he will be confronting a different kind of anxiety this season after the ordeal of scrambling for survival with Crewe Alexandra last term.
Asked whether United have the sort of squad that can hit the heights in League One in 2008/9, their new goalkeeper offers a convincing response.
“Definitely, without doubt,” he says. “The quality is very good and that goes for the full depth of the squad, not just a select few.
“The boys have been working hard from day one and the quality has been an eye-opener for me.
“It was a difficult season with Crewe. We were in a good position early on, but we never kicked on and struggled after that. It’s never a nice position to be in – no footballer wants that.
“It will be nice to change that and have the pressure to win games for promotion, rather than having to win them just to stay in the league. It’s a great challenge, I’m an ambitious lad and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Williams, 25, eased through his 45-minute debut in the Blues’ 4-0 win at Kendal on Friday night – far from the intensity of life with Manchester United, yet the former Old Trafford prospect does not play down the importance of making a sound start to life with his new club. “There are always a few nerves with your first game,” he says. “There wasn’t a massive amount of pressure, but you want to perform, keep a clean sheet and show the lads what you can do. I was happy with how it went.
“I’m settling in well. I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive at first. When I joined Crewe I had already been on loan there, so it was an easy transition. Changing clubs like I have done this summer is a bit like changing school.
“But the lads have been great and I’m feeling good about being here.” Carlisle United’s six-match pre-season friendly programme can also be distilled into half-a-dozen tests for Williams and Chris Howarth in the fight to replace Keiren Westwood as the Blues’ first-choice goalkeeper. Friday night’s game, in which both custodians played 45 minutes, offered little persuasive evidence but forthcoming engagements with Partick Thistle, Chester, Preston, Middlesbrough and Morecambe ought to see both men tested more searchingly.
“You’ve got to train hard, play well and earn the jersey,” says Williams. “Chris is a good ‘keeper and a good lad, and the competition will be really good. Whoever gets the jersey will deserve it.
“I’m really excited about it. I think it’s going to go really well. I’ve got some big gloves to fill – Keiren did well in his time here and I’m just hoping I can do what he did, and even better. Hopefully I can help get the club up into the Championship where it should be.”
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