Forest reject Williams ready to face old club

Anthony Smith • Published 19 Aug 2010 15:30 0 Comments

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READING’S Marcus Williams is desperate to beat his first club Nottingham Forest this weekend - for booting him out as a teenager.

Left-back Williams was snapped up by Forest while playing junior football for a local team in Doncaster.

However, he failed to make the grade at the City Ground and was released at the age of 14, before Scunthorpe United took him on.

Williams went on to become a regular in their first team, paving the way for his free transfer to the Royals this summer.

He explained: “I was playing Sunday League football for a team called Scawthorpe Scorpions back in Doncaster when Forest approached us, so me and three other lads went down there and signed up for a few seasons.

“We were still at school so we used to travel down but we had some good players at Forest.

“I was with Forest from the age of 11 to 14 when Paul Hart was in charge of the Academy. They were in the Premier League then and had a lot of big hitters.

“I was in the same side as James Perch who recently went to Newcastle and I had a really good time there. I ended up going to Scunthorpe, but I still know a couple of boys there.”

If the Forest experience taught Williams one thing it was to appreciate his big break into professional football.

“None of the other lads who went to Forest with me are still playing so I’m quite fortunate really,” he admitted. “I’m the only one to have made a career out of everyone at my old team.

“I was disappointed that no-one else went a bit further and got a professional contract because they were good players.

“I suppose that’s football because only a limited number of players go through to make it so I’m really grateful.”

The 24-year-old spent four years at Scunthorpe before moving to Reading on a free-transfer earlier this summer.

Ironically, he was brought in to replace ex-Chelsea loanee Ryan Bertrand, who has since gone to Forest on loan and will be in their side this Saturday.

“I think I’m doing alright at the minute. I’m still getting to know the players but I’m happy.

“I was with Forest many years back now, but we know what they’re about and they’re a good team who like to get it down and play football.

“But we’ll look for areas where we can get at them and obviously we can create chances. The main thing is to get the job done and pick up three points.

"And it would be nice to end up as the best left-back on the pitch.”

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