Louis Posted August 18, 2007 Report Share Posted August 18, 2007 Meet a 19-year-old who eschews money and top clubs’ advances to play for fun. It may just be that the most exceptional footballer in the land is not the England captain who has recently signed a £130,000-a-week deal at Chelsea but a slight teenager who wants to shun the bright lights for a piece of the action in West Yorkshire’s coal-mining belt. Meet Duncan Williams. In an age when football has a get-rich-quick feel about it, this 19-year-old from Leeds sounds a lone voice. Terry is rich beyond his wildest dreams, while David Beckham has spawned an empire founded on the cult of celebrity. Williams plays right midfield for Garforth Town, has turned down advances from Middlesbrough, Everton and Bolton Wanderers and refuses to be paid. “I want to become the first player in the Premier League who does not have a wage,” he said. “I don’t think it’s right that you get paid for doing something you love when there are people being killed all over the world.” At the moment, any earnings Williams would normally have collected go towards the Lesonn Foundation, a Leeds-based charity that works with disadvantaged children. Williams does not want to play for clubs such as Middlesbrough because he likes the ethos of Garforth, who promote Brazilian-type, skills-based football. “I’m thinking about university but want to make sure I can still play for Garforth,” he said. “I’m not interested in money. I love playing. And maybe I can get to the top here.” His manager believes so. Simon Clifford has made a lot of waves in football for a former school teacher. Sir Clive Woodward, the rugby union World Cup-winning coach, hailed him as a visionary when he installed him as his right-hand man for their ill-fated spell at Southampton. In hindsight, Clifford said that his plans could never have worked at a club with the likes of Harry Redknapp and Dave Bassett in situ. An eccentric who owns letters from Winston Churchill, William Wilberforce, Brian Clough’s desk from the City Ground and Luke Skywalker’s original land speeder, Clifford has received glowing endorsements from Sir Trevor Brooking, Socrates, Pele, Michael Owen and Tord Grip among others. He has also launched a new football magazine called COIN, an anagram of ICON, the plush Jamie Redknapp version aimed at those who need another Bentley or Dior watch. By contrast, COIN is distributed within The Big Issue. “Agents will encourage players to go to a hospital or work with children, but the aim is to increase that player’s value,” Clifford said. “It’s not right.” Williams has bought into the idea. Clifford planned to move him on to a Premier League club, but Williams told him that he was going nowhere. While one of his BSS peers, Micah Richards, went to Manchester City, Williams insists that he will stay at Garforth, who are in the UniBond League first division north. If the club make it into the Football League – and Clifford believes that they will make the Premier League – Williams said that he will not accept a penny as a salary. When he goes full-time, he will seek sponsorship. “Why should I want a salary out of football?” he said. “I don’t blame Beckham for what he’s doing, but it’s not me.” It may sound naive, idealistic and unrealistic, but for those who think that football has long sold its soul, this Yorkshire “pauper” may actually be a post-modern prince. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexKing Posted August 19, 2007 Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 What an bright vision this youngster has. I couldnt do the same. He obviously dont have to pay anything like food , kids new clothes , rent/loan , electric bill and that kind of stuff. Anyway it alwasy nice to see at all the people of the world aint cold hearted and want to think the brightest side of life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted August 19, 2007 Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 Would make far more sense to make as much money as he can and give it away to charity if he's serious. Does no good to anyone (other than his club) refusing payment. Misguided if you ask me, whatever his intention but good luck to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evertonfc92 Posted August 19, 2007 Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 Would make far more sense to make as much money as he can and give it away to charity if he's serious. Does no good to anyone (other than his club) refusing payment. Misguided if you ask me, whatever his intention but good luck to him. I was thinking exactly the same its very odd... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Bernard Posted August 19, 2007 Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 maybe he thinks moving to a big club will poison his charitable views. Good on you son i couldnt do the same. Am a greedy bastard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaron Posted August 19, 2007 Report Share Posted August 19, 2007 Yeah good on the lad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldfishMemory Posted August 20, 2007 Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 So he still lives at home with mummy then??? Give you a couple of years lad and you'll regret turning down those wages when the council tax bill lands on the door mat or you fancy getting yourself on the property ladder. Doese he realistically think he's gona be able to play profesional football for free and hold down a full time job to support himself & his family?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuffRob Posted August 20, 2007 Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 He gets absolutely no admiration from me for not wanting a wage. “I want to become the first player in the Premier League who does not have a wage,” he said. “I don’t think it’s right that you get paid for doing something you love when there are people being killed all over the world.” What on earth is getting paid doing something you enjoy, got to do with people being killer all over the world - Not a thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ooberman Posted August 20, 2007 Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 he's missing the point really. the reason footballers get paid more than the average worker is that their careers are pretty short-lived! 15 years is a good career in football nowadays.....and it's only really a few of the lucky ones that get the ridiculous pay days.... i think he could live to regret turning down offers from big clubs.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Berno Posted August 20, 2007 Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 Hmmm is mas is probably a nun and his das a priest but he is right in every way a 19 has put every football player to shame. If he is good everton should sign him. Does anyone no wether he is good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everton_Worshiper Posted August 20, 2007 Report Share Posted August 20, 2007 What a cock....some 19 y/o from Yorkshire is not going to bring down the multi-billion pound footballing industry. Agree with what has been said, very very ill advised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueBri Posted August 21, 2007 Report Share Posted August 21, 2007 Would have respect if it was a politician or a public servant making this statement. Can't figure out whether this is just an Urban Myth. How true is this. If it is true, how does he live. The other thing that wrangles me, is he really that conceited that he thinks he is that good. Maybe I'm ust cynical, but sounds more like a publicity stunt. Nice sentiment, but wholly unrealistic. Smacks of Hollywood story. Grow up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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