A breakthrough season on the pitch hasn’t stopped Morgan Williams from rediscovering a previous passion – and it’s certainly a bit different to most footballers!
The tempo of Morgan’s career has gathered pace after a first professional start at Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, but there’s also been the welcome distraction away from football of playing the piano.
“It’s important to switch off from the football world a little bit,” said Morgan. “We train every day and play one or two games a week, but I think it’s good to have other stuff on, so I’ve picked up playing the piano again and I’m having lessons now. I used to play in Primary School, but then it dropped off because of the football. Over the past year I’ve started playing it a lot as I’ve got a piano at home.
“Though it's good to learn the piano, so that you know everything about the chords and notes required, I like to play popular songs, and ones that I can sing-along to, including a bit of Robbie Williams – I can play Angels!”
Despite such a passion for music, the 18-year-old Welsh youth international midfielder is showing admirable dedication to carve out a successful football career.
“At the moment there’s a good philosophy at the training ground with a lot of boys doing all they can to better themselves," added Morgan. "It's something as a young player that you have to do.
“I do extra sessions with some of the coaching staff, gym sessions and stuff away from the training ground, so there’s always something I’m trying to do so that I can better myself. I’m surrounded by lots of boys who are very similar, so it’s a very good place to be at the moment.
“Set pieces are something I’ve always worked on during my rise through the age groups, so that I can impact the game. I always work on different techniques, different passing, first touch - all the basics. I’ve tried to master all of those from an early age. You aim to set yourself up to be the most effective that you can be on the pitch.”
Morgan, who joined the Dons at the age of six after his football talents were spotted by Rob Tuvey when he was playing in Wimbledon Park, believes our Academy provided the right pathway for him to flourish.
“Our Academy does so well in helping young individuals to progress," recalled Morgan. "There’s such a good infrastructure. The coaches and the people who run it provide a good insight for what is required to make the grade – including the little one per cents that can separate you from the other players.
"The Richmond Run is something that you wouldn’t see other academies doing. Events like that can make us one per cent better – fitter, stronger, and resilient. I never quite managed to win it! The closest I came was when Ben Mason edged ahead of me in the final kilometre – I was always top two or three.”
And after a highly promising start to his senior career with Wimbledon, Dons fans will be pleased to hear that it’s the only place he wants to be.
“Football is a game that includes a lot of opportunities as it’s an environment where everyone wants to succeed to the best of their ability. Wimbledon has always been so supportive of me and it’s a club that I want to repay. As a boy from Wimbledon who joined when I was six, I want to keep playing for AFC Wimbledon and hopefully become a legend, so that I write my name in Wimbledon history."