Bill Williams
Having completed his ninth season at Edgeley Park, in March 1994 Bill Williams became only the 11th player to have made 300 appearances for County.
As his father owned a decorating business, Williams served an apprenticeship which enabled him to join the family firm whilst playing football for local team, Ashe Labs, before signing professional forms for Rochdale in August 1981.
Initially playing in midfield, Williams was moved into the defence during his second season at Spotland, and it was as a central defender that he blossomed.
When Rochdale's Les Chapman was freed in 1985 and moved to Edgeley Park, he recommended Williams to his new club and the slim central defender signed for County on July 17 1985.
The cultured defender was the only player to have played through some of County's darker days - including the Great Escape following the Jimmy Melia debacle - before prospering under the Danny Bergara revolution in the early 1990s
DIMINISH
The fact that, as a professional player, he was free to continue in his family business did not in any way diminish his fitness nor his ability to perform at Football League level.
After 120 League and Cup appearances, Bill Williams was transferred to First Division neighbours, Manchester City, for £50,000 in October 1988.
Within two months, and after making only one substitute appearance in the unfamiliar role of right-back, the defender returned to Edgeley Park for £30,000.
City's loss was County's gain as Williams continued to give wonderful performances in his proper central defensive role.
He is, without doubt, the classiest defender to appear for County in the past 30 years, an excellent reader of the game who provided the necessary stability in the heart of the defence.
Williams displayed the most remarkable coolness on the ball, to the extent that County supporters of a nervous disposition frequently had their hearts in their mouths as he nonchantly plays himself out of trouble in the danger area.
HAZARDOUS
The fact that his insistence on taking the stylish way out of hazardous situations leads, on occasion, to the loss of possession, is something the supporters accept as inevitable, but fails to diminish their admiration for the player and the chant, "You'll never beat Bill Williams," regularly echoed around Edgeley Park whenever he robbed an opponent of possession.
At the start of 1993-94, it appeared that Williams might not make another first team appearance but, to the delight of the fans, on New Year's Day 1994 he earned a recall and played a key role in helping County reach the Play-Off Final against arch rivals Burnley.
Lining up alongside Mike Flynn it would be his 313th, and final Hatters appearance, fittingly for one of the club's greatest defenders, at Wembley Stadium.
