Hendon are preparing to return to action for the first time since the death of midfielder Ezekiel Williams, with the non-league club facing an emotional afternoon at Bedfont Sports on Saturday. Williams died in hospital on 2 November from head injuries after an incident in Milton Keynes. He was 26. Two men have been charged with murder.
The midfielder was known to friends as ‘Zekes’ and ‘Eze’ and was well known in non-league circles having played for Hastings United, Kettering Town and St Ives Town. He joined Hendon in September and had already established himself at his new club as a ‘humble, unassuming and generous individual with razor-sharp wit’. Williams was from Ruislip. His death has devastated the part-time club based in Kingsbury, north-west London, which plays in the Isthmian League South Central Division, the eighth tier of English football.
Hendon have not played since Williams died, and players and staff have been offered counselling. Chairman Cyrus Cooper said: “Nothing prepares you for something like this. We’re all human beings and the club is struggling to come to terms with what has happened.” He added: “It’s going to be the first time the players put their kit on without Ezekiel being there. I think there are going to be a lot of tears. It’s going to be an emotional day for everyone associated with Hendon Football Club.” Cooper also remembered Williams as “very courteous and softly spoken”, recalling that the player apologised to him after a match Hendon lost.
Manager Adam Fisher had messaged Williams because Hendon had a midweek cup game and he wanted to check the midfielder was still available. There was no reply, and Fisher then found out what had happened. Their last contact came after the 2-0 home defeat by Egham Town, when Williams told his manager he was going away for the weekend to see a sick relative. He said he would miss Thursday training and Saturday’s game but would be back on Monday. Fisher later messaged him about availability for a London Cup tie against Woodford; when there was no reply, he discovered via social media the following day that Williams had died. Fisher said he found out on the Tuesday afternoon and did not leave his house until the Friday, describing himself as shocked and in a daze.
As manager of Welwyn Garden City for seven years, Fisher has delivered hundreds of team talks and has thought long and hard about the one he will give on Saturday. “What can you say that the players are going to take in?” he said. “I’ve got a squad of players who are mourning the loss of one of their team-mates. We are all really struggling.”
Williams scored in a league game against Jersey Bulls on 24 October and three days later started the 2-0 home defeat by Egham Town. It would be his last match. Hendon midfielder Tashae Andall-Gibbons said: “Saturday is going to be so hard because Eze is going to be on our minds and what happened to him. Everyone is distraught. Eze was only 26 and had his whole life ahead of him.”
Away from Hendon, Williams coached children at football coaching company JOAP (Journey Of A Pro). Tyrique Clarke, JOAP’s CEO and head of coaching and Williams’ best friend, said: “I’ve had lots of messages from parents saying how much Zekes made their kids feel so special. We met about 14 years ago and we spoke every day about everything. He was a real source of comfort for me. Someone I would speak to about every decision. Who do I ask now? He was just the most selfless, loving person and always a bright spark of energy.” Clarke added that Williams loved coaching children and would give them a Bible quote or motivational speech in team talks before games.
A crowdfunding page set up in Williams’ memory has raised nearly £19,000. Hendon will pay tribute to him at their next home game against Ascot United on 28 November. Williams’ sister Shadore said: “Seeing Ezekiel get older and gain different ambitions in life was the best thing I could have witnessed. He got to become a football coach and teach children who loved the same sport as he did. He became closer to God and said he wanted to attend church and would get excited each time he got a new suit and would show it off to the family.”
On Thursday, Hendon’s players met up for training to try to prepare for Saturday’s game. The chairman attended to give a speech after a traumatic week for the club, while the players said a prayer for their team-mate. Andall-Gibbons said: “Everybody is still trying to process what has happened. I hope we use this pain in the right way and put on a big performance on Saturday. Eze will never be forgotten.”