Williams makes Boro history (From The Northern Echo)

Williams makes Boro history

10:39am Wednesday 30th December 2009 in

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MIDDLESBROUGH’S youngest player in 105 years admitted he was surprised to be given a first team opportunity so early during Gordon Strachan’s managerial reign.

Luke Williams, aged 16, five months and three weeks, appeared as a second half substitute at Barnsley on Monday to make a landmark appearance.

The former South Bank St Peter’s pupil, following in the footsteps of former St Peter’s graduate Wilf Mannion, is the youngest to have appeared in a Boro team since Tom Murray played at Sheffield Wednesday in 1905.

And Williams, who hails from Teesville and qualifies to play for both England and Ireland, said: “I enjoyed it. It was great. I had no idea I was going to play until the manager told me to warm up – and run!

“He just said to ‘go and do what you’ve been doing and enjoy it’ and I did enjoy it. I’m buzzing now.

It’s all come so fast.

“This season I was hoping just to play for the Under- 18 side but now I just want to play more games for the first team. But the manager has taken me under his wing.”