Darren Williams
| Date of birth | 28 April 1977 |
| Place of birth | Middlesbrough |
| Nationality | English |
| Weight | 75 kg |
| Height | 1.78 m |
| Position | Defender/Midfielder |
Often referred to by Peter Reid as his best value-for-money signing, this dependable Sunderland utility man signed a five-year extension to his contract at the Stadium of Light in September 2000.
Darren can operate in the centre of defence, at full back, or in midfield and, although he has stressed that he would like to establish himself in one position, he remains an extremely useful squad player who can do a job almost anywhere on the field.
A good tackler and competitor, Darren was made available for transfer by Hartlepool United in May 2006.
He joined Bradford City in July 2007 with a one-year contract.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| York City | 21 Jun 1995 | 18 Oct 1996 | |
| Sunderland | 18 Oct 1996 | 10 Dec 2004 | |
| Cardiff City | 22 Sep 2004 | 09 Dec 2004 | L |
| Cardiff City | 10 Dec 2004 | 19 Jul 2005 | |
| Hartlepool United | 19 Jul 2005 | 30 Jun 2007 | |
| Bradford City | 27 Jul 2007 | 30 Jun 2008 | |
| Dundee | 01 Aug 2008 | 31 May 2009 | |
| Gateshead | 28 Aug 2009 | 30 Jun 2010 |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | York City | League Cup | 3 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Sunderland | FA Cup | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 1996-97 | Sunderland | Premier League | 10 | 1 |
2 |
1
|
|
| 1997-98 | Sunderland | League Cup | 3 | 1 |
|||
| 1998-99 | Sunderland | League Cup | 4 |
1
|
|||
| 1999-00 | Sunderland | League Cup | 3 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 1999-00 | Sunderland | Premier League | 13 | 12 |
3
|
||
| 2000-01 | Sunderland | FA Cup | 4 |
1
|
|||
| 2000-01 | Sunderland | League Cup | 4 | 1 |
|||
| 2000-01 | Sunderland | Premier League | 21 | 7 |
7
|
||
| 2001-02 | Sunderland | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Sunderland | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Sunderland | Premier League | 23 | 5 |
3
|
||
| 2002-03 | Sunderland | FA Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Sunderland | League Cup | 3 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 2002-03 | Sunderland | Premier League | 12 | 4 |
5
|
||
| 2003-04 | Sunderland | FA Cup | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2003-04 | Sunderland | League Cup | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2003-04 | Sunderland | League Division 1 | 24 | 5 |
6
|
||
| 2003-04 | Sunderland | League Division 1 Play-Offs | 1 | 1 |
|||
| 2004-05 | Cardiff City | League Championship | 17 | 3 |
1
|
||
| 2004-05 | Sunderland | League Championship | 1 | ||||
| 2004-05 | Sunderland | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Hartlepool United | FA Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Hartlepool United | League Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2005-06 | Hartlepool United | League One | 33 | 6 |
9
|
1
|
|
| 2006-07 | Hartlepool United | FA Cup | 2 |
1
|
|||
| 2006-07 | Hartlepool United | Johnstones Paint Trophy | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 2006-07 | Hartlepool United | League Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2006-07 | Hartlepool United | League Two | 19 | 7 |
2
|
||
| 2007-08 | Bradford City | FA Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2007-08 | Bradford City | League Cup | 1 | ||||
| 2007-08 | Bradford City | League Two | 28 |
4
|
|||
| 2009-10 | Gateshead | FA Cup | 2 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04 Jan 1997 | Arsenal v Sunderland | D | 1-1 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 11 Jan 1997 | Sunderland v Arsenal | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 15 Jan 1997 | Sunderland v Arsenal | L | 0-2 | FA Cup | 3rd round replay |
| 18 Jan 1997 | Sunderland v Blackburn Rovers | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 29 Jan 1997 | Leicester City v Sunderland | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 01 Feb 1997 | Aston Villa v Sunderland | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 22 Feb 1997 | Sunderland v Leeds United | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 01 Mar 1997 | Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 08 Mar 1997 | Sunderland v Manchester United | W | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 19 Apr 1997 | Middlesbrough v Sunderland | W | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 22 Apr 1997 | Sunderland v Southampton | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 03 May 1997 | Sunderland v Everton | W | 3-0 | Premier League | |
| 11 May 1997 | Wimbledon v Sunderland | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 16 Sep 1997 | Sunderland v Bury | W | 2-1 | League Cup | 2nd round 1st leg |
| 23 Sep 1997 | Bury v Sunderland | W |
1-2 Agg: 2-4 |
League Cup | 2nd round 2nd leg |
| 15 Oct 1997 | Middlesbrough v Sunderland | L | 2-0 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 11 Aug 1998 | York City v Sunderland | W | 0-2 | League Cup | 1st round 1st leg |
| 18 Aug 1998 | Sunderland v York City | W |
2-1 Agg: 4-1 |
League Cup | 1st round 2nd leg |
| 15 Sep 1998 | Sunderland v Chester City | W | 3-0 | League Cup | 2nd round 1st leg |
| 11 Nov 1998 | Everton v Sunderland | W | 1-1 (5-4) | League Cup | 4th round |
| 11 Sep 1999 | Sunderland v Leicester City | W | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 14 Sep 1999 | Sunderland v Walsall | W | 3-2 | League Cup | 2nd round 1st leg |
| 18 Sep 1999 | Derby County v Sunderland | W | 0-5 | Premier League | |
| 21 Sep 1999 | Walsall v Sunderland | W |
0-5 Agg: 2-8 |
League Cup | 2nd round 2nd leg |
| 02 Oct 1999 | Bradford City v Sunderland | W | 0-4 | Premier League | |
| 12 Oct 1999 | Wimbledon v Sunderland | L | 3-2 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 24 Oct 1999 | West Ham United v Sunderland | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 31 Oct 1999 | Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur | W | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 06 Nov 1999 | Middlesbrough v Sunderland | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 20 Nov 1999 | Sunderland v Liverpool | L | 0-2 | Premier League | |
| 27 Nov 1999 | Watford v Sunderland | W | 2-3 | Premier League | |
| 04 Dec 1999 | Sunderland v Chelsea | W | 4-1 | Premier League | |
| 18 Dec 1999 | Sunderland v Southampton | W | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 26 Dec 1999 | Everton v Sunderland | L | 5-0 | Premier League | |
| 28 Dec 1999 | Sunderland v Manchester United | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 03 Jan 2000 | Wimbledon v Sunderland | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 15 Jan 2000 | Arsenal v Sunderland | L | 4-1 | Premier League | |
| 23 Jan 2000 | Sunderland v Leeds United | L | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 12 Feb 2000 | Coventry City v Sunderland | L | 3-2 | Premier League | |
| 26 Feb 2000 | Sunderland v Derby County | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 11 Mar 2000 | Liverpool v Sunderland | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 18 Mar 2000 | Sunderland v Middlesbrough | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 25 Mar 2000 | Sunderland v Everton | W | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 01 Apr 2000 | Southampton v Sunderland | W | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 08 Apr 2000 | Sunderland v Wimbledon | W | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 15 Apr 2000 | Manchester United v Sunderland | L | 4-0 | Premier League | |
| 22 Apr 2000 | Sheffield Wednesday v Sunderland | W | 0-2 | Premier League | |
| 24 Apr 2000 | Sunderland v Bradford City | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 19 Aug 2000 | Sunderland v Arsenal | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 16 Sep 2000 | Sunderland v Derby County | W | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 19 Sep 2000 | Sunderland v Luton Town | W | 3-0 | League Cup | 2nd round 1st leg |
| 23 Sep 2000 | Liverpool v Sunderland | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 26 Sep 2000 | Luton Town v Sunderland | W |
1-2 Agg: 1-5 |
League Cup | 2nd round 2nd leg |
| 01 Oct 2000 | Sunderland v Leicester City | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 14 Oct 2000 | Sunderland v Chelsea | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 22 Oct 2000 | Aston Villa v Sunderland | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 28 Oct 2000 | Sunderland v Coventry City | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 31 Oct 2000 | Bristol Rovers v Sunderland | W | 1-2 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 04 Nov 2000 | Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 11 Nov 2000 | Sunderland v Southampton | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 18 Nov 2000 | Newcastle United v Sunderland | W | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 25 Nov 2000 | Charlton Athletic v Sunderland | W | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 28 Nov 2000 | Sunderland v Manchester United | W | 2-1 | League Cup | 4th round |
| 04 Dec 2000 | Sunderland v Everton | W | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 09 Dec 2000 | Sunderland v Middlesbrough | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 16 Dec 2000 | Leeds United v Sunderland | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 19 Dec 2000 | Crystal Palace v Sunderland | L | 2-1 | League Cup | Quarter-final |
| 23 Dec 2000 | Sunderland v Manchester City | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 01 Jan 2001 | Sunderland v Ipswich Town | W | 4-1 | Premier League | |
| 06 Jan 2001 | Sunderland v Crystal Palace | D | 0-0 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 13 Jan 2001 | West Ham United v Sunderland | W | 0-2 | Premier League | |
| 17 Jan 2001 | Crystal Palace v Sunderland | W | 2-4 | FA Cup | 3rd round replay |
| 21 Jan 2001 | Sunderland v Bradford City | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 27 Jan 2001 | Sunderland v Ipswich Town | W | 1-0 | FA Cup | 4th round |
| 31 Jan 2001 | Sunderland v Manchester United | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 03 Feb 2001 | Derby County v Sunderland | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 10 Feb 2001 | Sunderland v Liverpool | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 17 Feb 2001 | Sunderland v West Ham United | L | 0-1 | FA Cup | 5th round |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Leicester City v Sunderland | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 17 Mar 2001 | Chelsea v Sunderland | W | 2-4 | Premier League | |
| 09 Apr 2001 | Middlesbrough v Sunderland | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 14 Apr 2001 | Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur | L | 2-3 | Premier League | |
| 16 Apr 2001 | Coventry City v Sunderland | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 05 May 2001 | Sunderland v Charlton Athletic | W | 3-2 | Premier League | |
| 19 May 2001 | Everton v Sunderland | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 12 Sep 2001 | Sheffield Wednesday v Sunderland | L | 4-2 | League Cup | 2nd round |
| 19 Sep 2001 | Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur | L | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 22 Sep 2001 | Sunderland v Charlton Athletic | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 29 Sep 2001 | Bolton Wanderers v Sunderland | W | 0-2 | Premier League | |
| 13 Oct 2001 | Sunderland v Manchester United | L | 1-3 | Premier League | |
| 27 Oct 2001 | Sunderland v Arsenal | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 18 Nov 2001 | Sunderland v Leeds United | W | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 25 Nov 2001 | Liverpool v Sunderland | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 01 Dec 2001 | Sunderland v West Ham United | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 09 Dec 2001 | Sunderland v Chelsea | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 15 Dec 2001 | Southampton v Sunderland | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 22 Dec 2001 | Sunderland v Everton | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 26 Dec 2001 | Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland | W | 0-3 | Premier League | |
| 29 Dec 2001 | Ipswich Town v Sunderland | L | 5-0 | Premier League | |
| 01 Jan 2002 | Sunderland v Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 05 Jan 2002 | Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion | L | 1-2 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 19 Jan 2002 | Sunderland v Fulham | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 02 Feb 2002 | Manchester United v Sunderland | L | 4-1 | Premier League | |
| 09 Feb 2002 | Derby County v Sunderland | W | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 02 Mar 2002 | Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 05 Mar 2002 | Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 16 Mar 2002 | Chelsea v Sunderland | L | 4-0 | Premier League | |
| 23 Mar 2002 | Sunderland v Southampton | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 30 Mar 2002 | Arsenal v Sunderland | L | 3-0 | Premier League | |
| 01 Apr 2002 | Sunderland v Leicester City | W | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 07 Apr 2002 | Leeds United v Sunderland | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 13 Apr 2002 | Sunderland v Liverpool | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 20 Apr 2002 | West Ham United v Sunderland | L | 3-0 | Premier League | |
| 27 Apr 2002 | Charlton Athletic v Sunderland | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 11 May 2002 | Sunderland v Derby County | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 21 Sep 2002 | Newcastle United v Sunderland | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 28 Sep 2002 | Sunderland v Aston Villa | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 01 Oct 2002 | Cambridge United v Sunderland | W | 0-7 | League Cup | 2nd round |
| 06 Oct 2002 | Arsenal v Sunderland | L | 3-1 | Premier League | |
| 03 Nov 2002 | Charlton Athletic v Sunderland | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 06 Nov 2002 | Arsenal v Sunderland | W | 2-3 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 03 Dec 2002 | Sheffield United v Sunderland | L | 2-0 | League Cup | 4th round |
| 01 Jan 2003 | Manchester United v Sunderland | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 04 Jan 2003 | Bolton Wanderers v Sunderland | D | 1-1 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 11 Jan 2003 | Sunderland v Blackburn Rovers | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 14 Jan 2003 | Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers | W | 2-0 | FA Cup | 3rd round replay |
| 18 Jan 2003 | Everton v Sunderland | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 15 Mar 2003 | Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers | L | 0-2 | Premier League | |
| 22 Mar 2003 | West Ham United v Sunderland | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 05 Apr 2003 | Sunderland v Chelsea | L | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 12 Apr 2003 | Birmingham City v Sunderland | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 19 Apr 2003 | Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion | L | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 21 Apr 2003 | Manchester City v Sunderland | L | 3-0 | Premier League | |
| 26 Apr 2003 | Sunderland v Newcastle United | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 03 May 2003 | Aston Villa v Sunderland | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 11 May 2003 | Sunderland v Arsenal | L | 0-4 | Premier League | |
| 13 Aug 2003 | Mansfield Town v Sunderland | W | 1-2 | League Cup | 1st round |
| 13 Sep 2003 | Sunderland v Crystal Palace | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 20 Sep 2003 | Derby County v Sunderland | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 23 Sep 2003 | Sunderland v Huddersfield Town | L | 2-4 | League Cup | 2nd round |
| 27 Sep 2003 | Sunderland v Reading | W | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 30 Sep 2003 | Sunderland v Ipswich Town | W | 3-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 04 Oct 2003 | Sheffield United v Sunderland | W | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 14 Oct 2003 | Sunderland v Cardiff City | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 18 Oct 2003 | Sunderland v Walsall | W | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 21 Oct 2003 | Sunderland v Rotherham United | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 25 Oct 2003 | Norwich City v Sunderland | L | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 01 Nov 2003 | West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 04 Nov 2003 | Gillingham v Sunderland | W | 1-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 08 Nov 2003 | Sunderland v Coventry City | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 29 Nov 2003 | Sunderland v Burnley | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 02 Dec 2003 | Sunderland v Wigan Athletic | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 08 Dec 2003 | Coventry City v Sunderland | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 26 Dec 2003 | Sunderland v Bradford City | W | 3-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 03 Jan 2004 | Sunderland v Hartlepool United | W | 1-0 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 10 Jan 2004 | Sunderland v Nottingham Forest | W | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 24 Jan 2004 | Ipswich Town v Sunderland | W | 1-2 | FA Cup | 4th round |
| 03 Mar 2004 | Walsall v Sunderland | W | 1-3 | League Division 1 | |
| 13 Mar 2004 | Sunderland v West Ham United | W | 2-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 23 Mar 2004 | Sunderland v Gillingham | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 27 Mar 2004 | Sunderland v Derby County | W | 2-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 06 Apr 2004 | Wimbledon v Sunderland | W | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 09 Apr 2004 | Sunderland v Sheffield United | W | 3-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 12 Apr 2004 | Ipswich Town v Sunderland | L | 1-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 18 Apr 2004 | Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion | L | 0-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 21 Apr 2004 | Crystal Palace v Sunderland | L | 3-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 24 Apr 2004 | Wigan Athletic v Sunderland | D | 0-0 | League Division 1 | |
| 01 May 2004 | Sunderland v Crewe Alexandra | D | 1-1 | League Division 1 | |
| 09 May 2004 | Burnley v Sunderland | W | 1-2 | League Division 1 | |
| 14 May 2004 | Crystal Palace v Sunderland | L | 3-2 | League Division 1 Play-Offs | Semi-final 1st leg |
| 17 May 2004 | Sunderland v Crystal Palace | W |
2-1 Agg: 4-4 (4-5) |
League Division 1 Play-Offs | Semi-final 2nd leg |
| 31 Aug 2004 | Reading v Sunderland | L | 1-0 | League Championship | |
| 21 Sep 2004 | Crewe Alexandra v Sunderland | L | 3-3 (2-4) | League Cup | 2nd round |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | England | B International | 1 | ||||
| 1997-98 | England | Under-21 | 1 |
||||
| 1998-99 | England | Under-21 | 1 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Mar 1998 | Switzerland v England | L | 2-0 | Under-21 | |
| 21 Apr 1998 | England v Russia | W | 4-1 | B International | |
| 09 Feb 1999 | England v France | W | 2-1 | Under-21 | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.