Shawn ‘Putty’ Williams

Oct 28, 2012 Sports

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– former Guyana International

– a utility player – 1985 to 1987 (deceased)

 

Statistician Charwayne Walker continues his series of features on Guyana’s World Cup players, today we are pleased to feature the late Shawn ‘Putty’ Williams, former Guyana International from 1995 – 1987.
The only position Shawn ‘Putty’ Williams never played for the National Team was goalkeeper.  Inspired by big brother Anthony Williams’ inclusion in 1983 to the Senior National Team, Shawn’s only ambition was to emulate his elder sibling by wearing National colours and the Conquerors FC utility maestro scored in his first outing in National wear, 1984 against Trinidad and Tobago at GFC.
It was the Caribbean Football Union Under-19 eliminator which the visiting team won 3-1. ‘Putty’ Williams’ first overseas tour was to the Twin Island Republic where the host eliminated Guyana from the 1984 CFU Under-19 championship.
He returned to Trinidad in August of 1984 for the CONCACAF Under-19 Championship.  Guyana, led by Paul Ferrell Forde humbled host Trinidad 2-1 and the player of the match was Shawn ‘Putty’ Williams.
He was also the MVP in Guyana’s next win by a 2-1 margin against the Netherland Antilles and was spectacular when Guyana went down 1-2 to El Salvador.
In the next round of the competition, Shawn Williams and company give CONCACAF giants Mexico a rough time before losing 0-2. Although Guyana suffered 2-0 defeats to Canada and Honduras and exited the tournament, the player every Coach was talking about was Shawn ‘Putty’ Williams.
After the CONCACAF series, Shawn was called to senior trials in November 1984 for two friendly matches against Suriname but he did not make the final squad. The following year Coach Lennox Arthur gave Shawn Williams his first senior National cap against the mighty Cubans.
Buoyed by playing alongside big brother Anthony, Shawn was the man that brought the energy at both ends of the field for Guyana as they won the opening match 2-1 and drew the series finale 1-1 to win the series on goal difference; Shawn was given the name ‘Horseman’.
His next International was 1-0 win over French Guiana in Cayenne, his elder brother Anthony was the goal scorer. That CFU Senior eliminator was Shawn’s first senior tour overseas and his next was senior game ended up as a loss to Suriname at Camp Ayanganna, Guyana being needled and was sent packing from the 1985 CFU tournament.
Next up was an international assignment in 1985 that took him to Toronto Canada for the Robbies International Under-19 tournament and again his performance was second to none, Following that tournament, Shawn played an integral part of Mervyn ‘Pug’ Wilson’s National Under-21 team that toured Suriname and contested matches against the host and French Guiana.
Shawn’s international outing in 1985 concluded with two friendly matches against French Guiana at Camp Ayanganna under flood lights. The young Guyana side led by Trevor Maxwell won the first match 2-1 and drew the series decider 1-1 to lift the then Prime Minister Hamilton Greene trophy.
His seventh senior International cap was a 2-0 loss to Barbados in July 1986 at the GCC Ground. In his next game he scored his first senior goal and along with Adrian Forde’ classic strike, they led Guyana to a series leveling victory at GCC Bourda.
Shawn played his next two internationals under the Captaincy of big brother Anthony in matches against Venezuela at Camp Ayanganna; Guyana won both encounters by 7-0 and 6-0 margins; the ensuing celebrations ended up being the biggest of the brother’s career.
Strange enough, those were the last Internationals the Anthony and Shawn played together. Shawn’s next senior cap saw Guyana thumping Bahamas 3-1 in Nassau, 1987. Anthony, who was appointed Captain for that Olympic qualifier disappeared from Shawn and the rest of the National Squad while in transit in Miami.
His 12th match was a 3-1 win for Guyana over St. Lucia in Castries. He was superb in his next game for the Guyanese as they earned a 2-2 draw against Barbados in Bridgetown. In game number 14, Shawn was named the player-of-the-match when Guyana defeated the Bahamas 4-0 in a return Olympic qualifier at GCC, Bourda.
The Conquerors Maestros 15th game as a senior ended with Guyana whipping the Dominican Republic 4-0 at GCC in an Olympic qualifier. The return game saw the utility stalwart scoring a classic which silenced the Santo Domingo crowd.
His 17th match was for the National Under-23 team that humbled Grenada’s Senior National side 1-0 at GCC. In his next game he scored the equaliser that produced a 1-1 result for the senior side against Grenada at the GCC in an international friendly.
The Mackenzie Sports Club Ground was the venue where Shawn ‘Putty’ Williams played his 19th game and that result read, Guyana 3 Grenada 0, Guyana winning the three match series.
This game was followed by a 1-2 loss to Trinidad and Tobago at Camp Ayanganna; matches against Guatemala in Guatemala City where the National team lost Olympic qualifiers 6-0 and 3-0; versus Mexico at the Municipal Stadium in Santa Rosa California where Guyana was whipped 9-0 on December 3, 1987 in another Olympic qualifier.
After the Mexico thrashing, Shawn ‘Putty’ Williams and several other players disappeared from the Guyana Camp. At age 22, Shawn was the only National player that was never dropped after making his senior debut; his 23 matches were played consecutively. He passed away in the USA in 1989.
Shawn ‘Putty’ Williams’ International Tours
1984    Trinidad and Tobago CFU U-19 eliminator
1984    Trinidad and Tobago CONCACAF U-19 championship
1985    French Guiana CFU Senior eliminator
1985    Toronto Canada Robbies International U-19 tournament
1985    Suriname with National U-21 team
1987    Bahamas Olympic Qualifier
1987    St. Lucia International friendly
1987    Barbados International friendly
1987    Dominica Republic Olympic Qualifier
1987    Guatemala Olympic Qualifiers
1987    Los Angeles Olympic Qualifier
Shawn Williams was also the brother of former National and Caricom Basketball player, Kathy Williams.

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