Lundon Williams Trophy

  Over the years, I've been lucky enough to play with some of the best amateur footballers our great city has ever produced and there are none better than Ben Williams and Michael Lundon. Ben was one of my closest friends and someone who always felt more like a brother. In our twenties and early thirties, we were inseparable, both on and off the football field. He was a special player and an even better man. I got close to his family and built so many amazing memories with Ben, his wife Jac, his daughters Rebecca and Grace and his little brother Matty, who was also an excellent footballer. While playing together at Old Xavs, we built an excellent team and won plenty of trophies. However, my best football memory is winning the last ever I-Zingari Premier Leage title in 2006 and Ben lifting the trophy after the final game. What a player and captain he was. You can see how happy Ben was in the photo above. I was living in the States when Ben died and I can remember that day like it ...

  Ben was very well known around Liverpool amateur football, having played for and managed many teams. He was a football man and other than his wife, two daughters and his family, there was nothing more important to Ben than the beautiful game.  Ben was a classy footballer with endless ability. He started as a centre forward where he scored goals for fun. Then he ended his career as a centre half, in the style of Alan Hansen in his heyday.  He won numerous trophies, including the last ever I-Zingari League in 2006 with Old Xaverians. Ben was a born leader and was captain of the Old Xaverians first team for many years. He led that team to the most successful period in the clubs 100+ year history. He then went on to become a qualified coach and exceptional manager. Using his natural people skills, tactical knowledge and drive to win, Ben created great teams at Old Xaverians and A.F.C. Liverpool. He left a mark on every person at these clubs and the entire Liverpool football...

  Michael is one of the city’s most successful amateur footballers after many years playing Saturday and Sunday and winning every trophy there is to win, multiple times. Being part of a true football family, there was never a doubt that he would turn into a local football legend. Michael played for many teams but there were two clubs where he spent most of his footballing years... Waterloo Dock and The Seymour. These clubs meant the world to Michael and he meant the world to everyone involved in both clubs. Michael was a centre half for the majority of his career and was one of the very best in the city. He had energy to burn, could head the ball like no other and loved a tackle. Friend or foe, if you were on the opposite side to Michael, you knew you were in for a tough game. Michael was another great leader. He led by example and always drove his team to win. He was the first person to back up his team mates if it got a bit tasty but if you didn't put in the effort during th...

  The third annual Lundon Williams Trophy football tournament will take place on Saturday 15th July 2023 with the first game kicking off at 2.30pm . The venue is Target Football, Admiral Street, Liverpool. There will be four teams taking part, representing Waterloo Dock, APH, Farmers Arms and Follow Your Heart FC (Ben Williams select 11). There will be semi-finals and the final on the day. Entrance fee is £5 for adults and kids can attend for free.  There is a bar on-site, which will be fully stocked. And we will have a BBQ to keep you all fed throughout the day. All of the money raised goes to supporting the Lundon family as they support Michael in his ongoing fight with MND and to the Follow Your Heart Foundation in memory of Ben Williams, which helps the local football community with heart health awareness. The Gofundme page will be live in the coming days and we will make sure the link is available for those who would like to donate to these worthy causes. Thank for all y...

I’ve tried my best in the past to stay away from any writings to do with the tournament! On twitter I’m limited to what I can write which is perfect for me because usually when I start I can’t stop! For me this tournament is everything. I was never the greatest player of football, at least not at the heights that a lot of the players we’ll see on the day reached anyway. I was lucky though that my hero, my dad, was good enough and when he thought his journey was over, along came the Old Xavs looking for a keeper! I watched him roll back the years and enjoy his Saturdays between the sticks, up until a collision with a young Quarry Bank striker seen him break his leg and kneecap. Fast forward, he then became Billy Birch’s assistant with the first team, and when Billy moved on he stayed with Ben Williams as his assistant. I always joked that Ben was the son my dad never had. Haha. Ben lost his dad early so I was always glad he had my dad around him to offer advice when needed. That also me...

Welcome to the Lundon Williams Trophy official blog In a city that loves football, there are many people who put their heart and soul into the local amateur game. However, every so often, really special people come along who have a long-term impact on those around them. Both Ben Williams and Michael Lundon firmly fall into that category. This tournament is about telling their story and promoting the third annual Lundon Williams Trophy which will be taking place on Saturday July 15th 2023 at Target Football Ground on Admiral Street, Liverpool. The tournament will see four local teams fighting for the honor of calling themselves the Lundon Williams Trophy winners for the following 12 months. On the day, there will be two semi-finals and the final with teams representing Waterloo Dock, Aigburth Peoples Hall (APH), Farmers Arms and Follow Your Heart FC (Ben Williams Select XI) featuring some of the city's finest players.  For those who have attended in previous years, this tournament h...