Former Manchester United player Brandon Williams, who was sentenced for dangerous driving, has made his first appearance in 19 months.
The full-back came on as a substitute for Hull City, where he is on trial, during their 2-1 friendly win over Sunderland on Tuesday night.
In May Williams was handed a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after crashing his Audi A3 at almost 100mph on August 20, 2023.
The 24-year-old, who was once paid £3.4million a year as a promising young defender, had been ‘driving erratically’ in his Audi A3 before hitting a Ford Fiesta and careering into the central reservation of the A34 in Cheshire.
On Tuesday, Championship side Hull gave him 15 minutes off the bench for his first outing since he played on loan for Ipswich against QPR in a 0-0 draw in December 2023.
Williams said in May that he wanted to be ‘100 per cent focused’ on his football again and ‘kick on’ with a new club, wherever that may be.
Former Manchester United star Brandon Williams played in a friendly for Hull on Tuesday
The full-back came on after 77 minutes as a trialist as the Yorkshrie side beat Sunderland 2-1
Williams, 24, was sentenced for dangerous driving in May after going at almost 100mph
The 51-time Man United player was handed a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for two years
‘It hurts me watching football now because I just want to be there, I just want to play. I miss being in a team, on the coach, travelling to games, having meals together and just doing things,’ he said.
‘I want to have that feeling again of winning and being around the changing room environment.
‘I’ve had loads of teams trying to get me out – America, Europe and England – but I haven’t been ready. I want to go somewhere 100 per cent focused and kick on.
‘I would like to experience that different culture. I’m only 24 so I could do three or four years abroad. Definitely Europe at a good club or an upcoming club.’
Williams admitted he had been trying to show off to a female passenger who was sitting next to him, and a witness is said to have filmed him with a balloon by his mouth. Prosecutors said it was ‘fortunate’ nobody was seriously injured or killed.
Judge Eric Lamb also banned Williams from driving for three years and ordered him to do 180 hours of unpaid work.
The homegrown Man United talent announced last June that he would leave the club at the end of his contract, and when the incident took place – in August 2023 – Williams had been on loan at Ipswich Town.
He made 51 appearances for United after coming through their youth academy.
