Brandon Williams’ mum hopes that her son can bounce back from his recent struggles and reignite his footballing career.
The former Manchester United youngster is facing up to two years behind bars for crashing his car at 99mph – having been filmed moments earlier ‘with a balloon in his mouth’.
At a hearing before Chester Crown Court on March 14, Williams, 24, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. His sentencing on May 9 will come almost a year since he was released by the Red Devils when his four-year deal worth £65,000 a week ran out, leaving the left back without a club.
The defender grew up in the city’s tough Harpurhey estate, while his mother Lisa Wood runs a cafe, Snack Attack, on Harpurhey market.
Ms Wood, 54 was tight-lipped about her son’s situation other than to say she ‘hopes’ he can reignite his footballing career. ‘I can’t say anything else’, she told Mail Sport.
Ms Wood had watched on from the public gallery when Williams admitted to driving dangerously earlier this month. Richard Littler KC, defending, told the court that there was a ‘mental health aspect’ to the case and the footballer had ‘lost’ his career and a relationship.
Brand Williams’ mum Lisa runs a cafe, Snack Attack, on Harpurhey market. She said she hopes her son can get back to playing football
Williams was released by his boyhood club Manchester United at the end of last season
One neighbour living close to the family home told Mail Sport: ‘I see him quite often with his mum. He’s a nice lad and really down to earth. His gran lives a few doors down, so they are a really close-knit family.
‘Everyone knows him as the lad who played for United. I hope he gets back to playing soon.’
In the YouTube interview, for the More Than A Match channel hosted by Williams’ former United youth team colleague D’Mari Mellor and another former footballer, Ryan Hopper, Williams described how his life ‘went from 0-100 real quick and that’s what people will never understand’.
Referring to his background as an ‘estate kid’, he said: ‘I’m from that area, it’s red, red, red, like. I’ve done stuff with my mum’s cafe.’
Williams’ playing career took off soon after turning 19, in September 2019, when he was handed his debut in an EFL Cup match against Rochdale.
The following month, he was hailed as ‘man of the match’ in a Europa League away victory against Partisan Belgrade by then-United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who eulogised about his young prospect, saying: ‘He’s been fantastic the few games he’s played. The boy has no fear, he is as brave as a lion and he got us the win.’
Williams, who had been with Manchester United from the age of seven, quickly discovered a down side.
He said: ‘It was difficult. You had family members you didn’t know was (sic) your family, friends you didn’t know was your mates.’
Williams has admitted that he found fame ‘hard’ because of how often he was approached
Williams started boxing training to stay fit and potentially impress a new club, having also played for Norwich and Ipswich on loan
Normal activities such as going to the shops or for family meals soon became problematic.
He recalled: ‘I am and always will still act who I am. I like to walk round ASDA, do my shopping, I like to think of it as a little meditation, listening to the radio and getting all the bargains.
‘I had someone come up to me and say, what are you doing in here? I thought, what do you mean, why can’t I be in here?
‘The limelight’s on you and the things I found hard was when I was out with my family and people are coming up to me and asking for photos. I’m about to eat my steak and someone’s come up for a picture. When I’m with my family, I’m with my family. That’s what I lost.’
