“It’s been a bit hectic, but I’m delighted to be here,” says Ben Williams, who as recently last Wednesday had not expected to be a Carlisle United player but now has a Blues appearance under his belt.
Williams joined the Blues at quick notice amid a series of injuries to their left wing-back options. When Cameron Harper and Taylor Charters joined Jack Robinson in the treatment room, Paul Simpson made the call to Williams.
The result was a couple of training sessions then an immediate debut at Gillingham, where the 25-year-old performed encouragingly in spite of Carlisle’s 4-1 defeat. Williams has signed a deal until January with the incentive to extend that deal should all go well.
The former Barnsley player was a free agent having been released by Cheltenham Town at the end of last season. Right at the end of the summer – his signing was announced 90 minutes before kick-off on Saturday – he has a new club.
“Yeah, it [the summer] has been a bit of a weird one,” he says. “A bit unfamiliar for me, being a free agent. I've not been in that situation before.
“I've been training at a couple of clubs and there were a few offers here and there that probably weren't right for me. When I heard of the interest from Carlisle, it was a no-brainer, really.
“It was on Wednesday [that the call came]. I came up and met the gaffer, and what he talked to me about was the club's ambition – and it matched mine. I couldn’t wait to get on board.
“It's a massive club with great ambitions. I jumped at the chance to be involved and I'm looking forward to kicking on this season.”
It was in many respects a harsh baptism given the outcome on Saturday, when a bright first-half performance eventually gave way to a 4-1 hiding. Simpson, though, was delighted with what Williams offered, and said the likes of Harper and Charters will find it hard to claim a place in the XI if he maintains those performance levels.
The chance of a long run in the side is immediately available – as well as the opportunity to convince United he is worth keeping beyond the new year.
“Yeah, that's definitely an ambition of mine,” says Williams. “Obviously, it's only a deal to the January, but I'll be looking to give my all for the club on the pitch. Hopefully, we can achieve a lot of success and get us back where we belong.
“Individually, for me, if I can chip in with goals and assists, and if that comes at the end and there is a longer deal for me, then that's what I'll be looking to do.”
In the very short term Carlisle must recover from such a heavy opening-day defeat. Williams shared in the frustration of his new team-mates and also in the diagnosis of why United came apart.
“I think it's just a case of being a bit more ruthless in both boxes,” he says. “Coming at half-time, we thought we had been the better team. We probably had more chances in the game. [In the first half] I can't remember them having more than that chance in the first three minutes [Tim Dieng’s opening goal].
“We had a chance to level it just before half-time, and then the goals that we conceded were at bad times. It was always a struggle to get right back in it.”
Simpson felt “individual errors” cost Carlisle. Williams agreed. “They’re not great goals,” he says. “The lads have taken responsibility [in the dressing room]. I think the scoreline sort of flatters [Gillingham]. I don’t think it was a 4-1 game, and when Mellsy [Jon Mellish]’s goal got us back in it, we were probably the better team for a short period.
“Those two quick-fire goals after that killed us, really. It’s a tough place to come for the first game of the season, but we know we need to put it right in the next game and that's what we'll be looking to do.”
Williams played 78 minutes at Priestfield and says: “I was just delighted to be back on the pitch, to be honest. I felt fit, I felt good.”
The wing-back system favoured by Simpson is a good fit for Williams, he feels. “I've played that a lot in my career, especially the last few years. I'm equally as comfortable playing at left-back which we went to in the second half.
“I feel like I can do a job at left-centre half as well. I'm pretty flexible and comfortable playing wherever the gaffer asks me to.”
Williams has been at Brunton Park a very short time but says his impressions of the club and its fanbase are positive. “The backing [on Saturday] was absolutely fantastic. I heard a lot about the fans before I came and how supportive and a 12th man they are. It was disappointing to not give them something happy to go back with.
“It's a big club with big ambitions. It's a long season, so I'm sure, come the end of the season, we'll be in a better place.”
Williams is now ready for a taste of Brunton Park, where United take on Stoke City in the Carabao Cup tonight, then Barrow in the league on Saturday. “I'm looking forward to getting back to Brunton Park in front of the home fans and seeing what the support's all about,” he says, “because I've heard great things about it.”
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