Owain Fôn Williams First Interview

OFW:- "I have learnt so much along the way that hopefully I can pass that on.”

It was good to be back claimed Owain Fôn Williams when he gave his first interview as a Pars player:-

“When we got closer to finalising the deal I couldn’t hide my feelings. I had a great time here in the short period that I was here and when you have experienced that, when you get the opportunity to do it again you jump at that. That is exactly what I have done.

“My whole family are just made up that this has happened and I am really looking forward to getting going especially after what we have been through with the virus. We cannot wait to get going.”

Owain joins on a two year deal wanting to add significantly to his six game Dunfermline career while on loan from Hamilton from January until the season ended in March:-

“I wanted to play the remaining eight matches of the season because we were heading in the right direction in terms of where we wanted to be and where we wanted to finish the season. Our aim was to be in the play offs but sadly the virus cut things short.

“I remember the momentum we had, the way the guys were training with competitiveness every single day and going into games confident that we were playing well and getting the results. With that sort of form at that time of the season we were heading for the play offs but sadly it got cut short.”

A coaching role will be included within Owain’s responsibilities at East End Park and he is very excited at the prospect of working with the other goalkeepers at Dunfermline and pushing them on:-

“We all know that the potential is there for Cammy (Gill) to go on to big big things and it is a challenge to me to make that happen. I want to make that happen and I want to pass my experience on to him.

“Ben Swinton is younger but I want to push these guys on and get them playing regularly in the first team. That is the aim and that is where the club wants them to be. I will do everything that I can to make that happen.”

Owain leaves Hamilton behind and his goalkeeping coach there, Brian Potter who was a coach at Dunfermline from October 2011 until he left to take up a similar role at the New Douglas Park club. The big Welshman smiled as he recalled Brian Potter’s reaction and influence:-

“He is a big fan and he was delighted when I came here last season to play for his team. Potts is a fantastic goalkeeping coach, I really enjoyed working with him, he is very enthusiastic. I will be hoping to pass on what I have learned off him to the guys here.”

All the goalkeeping coaches that Owain has worked under have had an affect on his knowledge and ability, he continued:-

“Being a goalkeeping coach is very different to any other position because you work very very close. There are not many goalkeepers in comparison to an outfield coach with outfield players. When it is a goalkeeping coach it is closer in a way because you work with individuals rather than a group of people.

“You tend to want to know the type of character that you are dealing with and how to be able to push each one and be able to understand what each goalkeeper needs. Obviously with the people that I have worked with, world class goalkeepers and goalkeeper coaches as well. I have learnt so much along the way that hopefully I can pass that on.”

The enforced break for Covid has allowed Owain to get close to finishing his B licence coaching qualification. He has been doing that with Tony Roberts, the former QPR and Wales keeper and the goalkeeping coach to his national side after a successful spell as goalie coach at Swansea City. Talking to fellow course members like Wayne Hennessy has been a real bonus for Owain but he claims that it is beneficial for everyone to do coaching badges.

“It can only benefit your own game as well, not just as a coach but you can learn a lot more by being a better player from it as well. You educate yourself in how the game should be played and how a manager sees the game.

“Your brain changes from seeing it the way you see it to the way someone else sees it. So I think, personally, coaching and getting your badges should be compulsory. Everyone should be doing it.

“I am a big big believer that you never stop learning. You are constantly learning no matter what it is. I love learning new things and hearing different people’s opinion. That is only going to benefit me, not only as a player, not only as a coach but as a person as well.“

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