Former Northampton Town striker announces retirement from football as two others are released
Former Northampton Town striker Andy Williams has announced his retirement from football.
The hugely experienced striker, who turns 40 in August, has spent the last three years at hometown club Hereford, where he’s scored 29 goals in 111 games. He netted 20 times in 71 league appearances for Cobblers between 2018 and 2020 and was part of Keith Curle’s promotion-winning squad, scoring one of the four goals in the play-off final against Exeter City at Wembley.
Williams started his career at Hereford and also played for Bristol Rovers, Yeovil Town, Swindon Town, Doncaster Rovers, Cheltenham Town and Walsall. He finished with a total of 190 goals in nearly 800 career appearances.
"I feel it’s the right time,” said Williams. “One reason is because I can’t keep being selfish. That’s the problem with football, especially if you play to the level I have, you need to be incredibly selfish and my family has had to put up with a lot. I’ll still be a fan and I’ll still come back and watch Hereford whenever I can.”
Lawson D’Ath, a member of Chris Wilder’s 2015/16 title-winning season, was released by Hereford after they dramatically secured their National League North safety on the final day of the season. The 33-year-old midfielder played 105 times for Cobblers between 2014 and 2017.
Elsewhere, Oldham have let go Billy Waters. The striker, now 31, only managed two goals in three seasons at Sixfields, though much of that time was spent out on loan to the likes of Cambridge and Cheltenham. He had a spell on loan at Halifax in the second half of the 2025/26 season.