By his own admission, Ashley Williams was a rubbish waiter. He didn’t hate his part-time job at Drayton Manor theme park — not many 16-year-olds would mind free rollercoaster rides — but he wasn’t as pumped when working as a petrol station attendant.
Yet Williams would not change a thing about his journey, from juggling grassroots football with odd jobs to captaining Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016.
Williams spent his childhood playing in the streets with friends, knowing once the streetlights clicked on that it was home time.
Ashley Williams urged young people enjoying Euro 2020 to get involved and play themselves
That isn’t the way it works in the modern world and, as a father of three now, Williams felt he needed to find a safe environment in which his children could play with pals.
He’s now found one and it comes at a time when Euro 2020 is in full flow.
‘The timing is perfect,’ says Williams. ‘You know what it’s like when there’s a major tournament on. It’s the same as when Wimbledon is on: everyone wants to play tennis. Now the football is on and everyone wants to play.
‘Watching the football is good, but what’s even better is getting out, playing yourself and learning the game.
‘For the last 12 months, kids are sitting at home, eating, playing on their iPads, playing their consoles. I know how difficult it is to get them out playing.
‘There is nothing better, in my opinion, than a team sport. These are free sessions, hundreds of kids will pass through it — it’s an unbelievable opportunity for parents.’
Williams is talking about McDonald’s Fun Football — a programme designed to provide kids aged between five and 11 with free access to football. ‘All kids can come, any ability, whatever the situation,’ he adds. ‘Come down, have a laugh and get some fresh air in the lungs.’
Williams supports McDonald's Fun Football scheme urging kids aged five to 11 to play the sport
Williams started at six years old, playing for
