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Grant Williams

200 replies · 15,601 views
about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Grant , hope you had a great xmas because its the last one you will see on the outside. Its getting close now , you must be starting to sh*t your pants now.
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Williams fronts at the Wellington Court on 15th Feb, this is for a "pre trial" administration hearing, which I am told is a curtain raiser for the main event, sorting out how the evidence will be tabled by victims and witnesses video or live, etc etc.
The main trial is mid May and down for 5 days at this stage I am told, so is going to make the headlines, complainants are now in double figures I am led to believe and from both NZ and overseas, it has been a long time coming but Williams day in court will not be a pleasant experience for anyone. those involved or those in denial. 
 
 
 
louie the fly2010-02-08 11:41:45
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Louie the fly,

Correct me if I am wrong but about 10-12 years ago was the gentleman concerned not prohibited from being in the company of boys under a specific age unless such were accompanied by a an adult?

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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I heard the same thing. Looks like the club did not inform the parents
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I wonder why did the club did not just get rid of the man on the spot,  the worst part is that the club knew he was in the company of lads in the club office
Maybe it was because Williams was good at getting the dollars required to run the club critter2010-02-08 22:40:19
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
You would think they would get rid of him on the spot. Such a very strange thing to do , to keep him on and let little boys in his office.
So my thinking is the people that let him stay at the club and knew about him are just as guilty.
I just cannot understand it at all. Adults stood by while he offended and just looked the other way and say they did not know anything.
Why was my parents and other parents not  warned about this monster. This guy could have been stopped.
I think those people that knew that he was not allowed to be alone with under 16 boys should have informed the parents. Instead they had a little meeting and decided to keep it quiet.
I think some people owe some answers .
And people involved in the very bad decsion are still running the soccer club. I do not think that is right at all , they have already shown they cannot make the correct decsions.
This just makes me so angry - and this guy is still out and about.
petone12010-02-08 23:09:25
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
About 20 years ago from memory there was rumours that the Hutt Valley JFA had made such a ruling, in my position I tried to find out what the ruling was  or if it existed,  to no avail. I approached the Police and was told to be very careful and  if I made any accusations  I was on shakey ground. I have in my possession a letter which was sent to the Police at at the time and I also have the reply on Police letterhead that clearly stated that the Police  did a thorough investigation and there was no further action required, I was mentioned in the letter with some concerns, but the Police never bothered to even talk to me, thank God the Police today have a different attitude, the police now have copies of the  letters concerned.
I openly put my hand up to say I was one of the people who let these young guys down, I was the Junior Chairman at Petone  for a couple of years during his time at the Club, but I did however, approach the Police on more than one occassion, also during my time at the Club which was  some 15 years no one actually laid a complaint, the first and for along time only complainant surfaced later and it was due to this brave person that Williams is to face these charges.
I do not know how the victims have coped over the years,I know the past 12 months for me personally have been a bastard and at times I was struggling to cope, but the one thing that kept me  going was that he would get his day in court, these people that prey on young children are the most cunning vermin on the planet, they lie, they laugh, they build trust ,they bribe,  they are so clever and he fooled me and he fooled others, he may still be fooling some, but that will change. But when we had concerns and we went to the Police we  got nowhere, a long answer I know but but we did try, but it doesn't make me feel any better  I hope you understand .
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Morning
By the sounds of it you were not one of the people that knew about him not being allowed to coach under 16s by himself. Or that he had got off in the past on a technicality. Adults at the club did know and decided it was better not to alram everybody. It is very wrong that these people did not inform the parents of the children about Williams past.
Some of those same people are still running the club and that I find amazing that they can still be in charge of looking after the large number of youth teams.
I would think that they would feel guilty about allowing Williams access to young children. The club was like a bloody lollie shop to him.
I do thank you for trying many years ago to have something done. My problem is with the people that knew alot more than you did about williams and stood by.
I am getting alot of people saying "oh well it was different in those days , people just turned a blind eye" The fact that it was different in those days does not excuse adults hiding the fact the Williams was a dodgy bastard from the parents.
Does anybody else think this is just disgusting ?
Does anybody else think that those involved in hiding this should be life members of the club or still running the club ?
 
 
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I was aware of the JFA " ruling" that I could never verify, but from memory that was it, if it was official within the Petone  club I am sure I would have been aware,there was a few rumours I know, but  especially as Williams was running junior coaching clinics that to my knowledge were sanctioned by NZ Football, and were attended by players from other Clubs, these clinics were large and from memory were run in the school holidays as a fundraiser for the club, so I don;t see at that time there could have been an "under 16 rule" with him at the Club.
I was aware of the fact that years before Williams had  got   off on a technicality this was when I was told by the Police to back off, as without evidence  of anything I was on shakey ground, I was promised at that time that they would be keeping a close eye on him, I still remember the Policemans name who told me that . 
 The oldest charges Williams is facing is from long before he arrived at Petone, it was when the  Railways  Club was up and running I believe or in the very first days of Lower Hutt, as has been stated before he had stints at Lower Hutt, Tararua, Stop Out , was a Hutt Valley Rep Coach and selector.Your term lolly shop says it all really.
 but one thing I must say, is back in the day,  there was rumours going around, I personally asked a large amount of people questions( not only from the Petone Club) regarding Williams behaviour, but got nothing back, that coupled with the attitude from the Lower Hutt Police back then was frustrating. It should also be remembered that Williams was a full time employee of the Club. It was a very difficult time.
howevert  in the past year I asked the same questions to quite a lot of the same people and got a  totally different response, a response that sometimes had me in tears, anything that could have been of any interest   to the Police was forwarded to them, if it was told in confidence to me or not, names dates whatever, my theory was you can tell the Police you don't want to do anything about this, don't tell me, this is how these bastards get away with it, it wasn't going to happen again.I think I lost a few friends over this but I did what I had to do.
So with a lot of help from a lot of people, one  in particular, one who has gone through hell and back, and copped flak from  people that he didn't deserve to, his story will come out at  court, and perhaps some people will apologize to him, it is the least he deserves,, but anyway, all these people and even those who have not come forward, will have there day in court, I will be there to support them and hopefully some of you  will be too.
I am sorry for rambling on but its a subject close to my heart, a subject that soon, hopefully wil be  concluded and one hopefully will never be repeated.
 
louie the fly2010-02-09 10:29:27
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Hi all,
 
With the court case approaching I'm going to close this thread. 
 
I'm not trying to stifle discussion but I'm concerned that there is stuff coming out here that could well be put in evidence during court proceedings and, if this proceeds to jury trial, I'd hate for the trial to be affected by information that was put into the public domain on Yellow Fever when it shouldn't have been.
 
Also obviously I've got to look out for YF's also.
 
I want to thank you all for posting so thoughtfully and carefully on what is a very sensitive topic.  Considering the intensely emotional nature of it the amount of stuff we've had to edit/delete has been quite small.  I hope that the coming months brings with it the closure and resolution that you are all seeking.
 
If anyone wants to discuss my decision to close this you're more than welcome to drop me an email: mail@guysmith.co.nz
 
Smithy.

Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.

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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Good News
GW has finally done the right thing and plead guilty to just about every charge he faced.
 
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
  Williamd pleaded guilty to ALL charges in Wellington Court today, he will be sentenced back at the Wellington Court at 9.15 on March 23rd.
I am planning my day already.
 A big thanks to everyone for putting up with me and my team mate Petone 1, I feel so good its hard to put into words, its been a long road, and I hope that after Williams goes down, some closure will come to the victims and there families.
I just hope his early plea doesn't stop him getting at least 15 years, he deserves that and more the bastard.     
 
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
To clarify Louie/Petone1, the Hutt Valley JFA did in fact make such a ruling back in the 80's following an incident at a rep tournament where GW was coaching, but Petone AFC chose to ignore it. After that ruling, he was banned from ever coaching at representative level for Hutt Valley, but those at Petone chose to undermine the Association and keep him on their books. I remember being at meetings following the ruling (which only confirmed my suspicions) and sitting in disbelief that a club would keep him on. Those in charge of the HVJFA at the time did all they could, with the help of the smaller clubs like us, but those in their ivory towers at Petone ignored our calls.   I hope those people can sleep at night knowing what those poor boys went through and how their non-action facilitated both GW's previous and subsequent crimes.

Justice prevails and lets hope he spends the rest of his life in jail. Closure I hope is at least something for the victims.
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
.petone12010-02-16 15:05:53
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
THANKYOU so much for your message. I am in tears reading this. It could have all been stopped.
The commitee of Petone Soccer club could have stopped this. My life could have been so much better,
Why did everyone stick up for and look after GW ?
Everyone please help me to make sure this never happens again
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
The article in the Dom this morning if reported correctly  is a bloody disgrace. There was more than 5 victims I know,I have talked to more than this, its a fact, so the Police have done a deal with the devil, which victims names did they decide not to precede with? why do a deal with a bastard like this? he was gone for all money. The Police were useless back in the day and bloody useless now and the wet bus ticket sentence hey have agreed to, makes a joke of the whole matter, with time off for good behaviour he will be out in 3 years.
 The legal system has just sent a very bad message to all those predators out there, I feel sick in the stomach, what will the victims be feeling.
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Yes the DOM did get it wrong it was 7 victims that he pleaded guilty to not 4 as the paper incorrectly reported
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Where did your posts from last night go Petone1 - it was apt and heart felt - the family and life members who were negligent should be known instead of being continually protected by everyone.
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Happy for discussion to continue about Williams and his guilty plea and sentence.
 
Not happy for people to use this forum to make new allegations against other people.  I don't have the full facts, so I'm not in a position to tell what it fair from what is not, so I will continue to moderate posts of that sort.
 
You're welcome to email me on the subject to discuss it further, but my response will probably be to take it through the correct channels, and not to throw it around on here.
 
Stick to the topic.

Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.

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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Ah, so his heartfelt, on point and poignant post was moderated? Poor guy - if only everything could be removed and forgotten so easily I guess!
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I could moderate bits of it and leave it on there edited, and if he wants me to do that he's welcome to drop me an email and I'll happily do it.

Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.

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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I have just seen an email from the Police stating the Dom got it wrong there was  7 victims, it didn't explain the expected sentence though.
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
What was writen prob got a bit full on for the forum. What I would suggest is that Petone AFC initiate some sort of forum on the subject so people can speak their mind and some of the issues out there can be resolved.
Feverish2010-02-16 12:01:24

Founder

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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I resent Feverish's implication that I have been protecting the club or anyone at it.
 
I haven't.  In fact one of the people concerned I've not even met.  I wouldn't know him if we passed on the street despite the fact we're at the same club.
 
What is important here is that Yellow Fever's forum is not a clearing house for allegations of criminality.  There is a world of difference between tittle tattle about who is going to what club and serious criminal allegations of this sort.
 
I've tried to tread that line carefully, for everyone's benefit.
 
Rest assured that if this guy had been employed by Karori then this thread would never even have existed.
 
 

Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.

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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I was at the Club when some of this offending took place, I coached there for around 15 years I was the Junior Chairman for 2 years and I don't want to sound like a broken record but I approached the Police back then on more than one occasion, I have still got Police replies to prove this. I was told to be very careful by them about any accusations. I know others approached them as well. 
 For those who haven't figured it out my name is Laurie Sutherland and anyone can email or ring me if you want my version of events at the time.
I believe in hindsight that mistakes were made by me and  others regarding Williams but when the bloody Police will not help there is not a lot that can be done.
He was an employee of the Club at the time and that complicated things as well.
I was advised by a Policeman (not involved in the case now) 12 months ago that I should  "let it go" nothing would happen as  it was historic. I ignored his advice.
In January last year I visited 2 policestations and made statements and got ignored for a whole month, despite ringing repeatedly, before the current guy contacted me, I suppose I am saying that people were trying but no one was listening.
I feel for the victims, no one knows how much. but I am a still a   Petone man and proud of it, no one, especially Williams will change that.
I will be having a beer with Petone 1 soon to celebrate the conclusion of this sad tale, but as a community we must never let this happen again.
I will sign off with the nice thought of Williams selling his car, his house, storing his furniture, he couldn't have a garage sale because me and Petone 1 will turn up, he will be  re directing his mail....ha ha... and you know what? if he moves back to the Valley I will let his neighbours know, it isn't a short prison time, its a life sentence...aaah the sun is rising      
 
 
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Hi
Me again
Yes this could go on forever. I agree with Feverish and Petone should open up some type of forum so this can be looked at as I really think they need to.
I understand Laurie that you tried but alot of people did nothing. How does a club let a manager stay after he has been banned from coaching junior rep teams ?
How did Petone take him on after another club kicked him out ?
I personally think it is a easy choice for Petone what they need to do , now it is upto them to do the right thing.
 
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I have receivedaa couple of emails one from one of the team up North and one from Christchurch, both will be here for the sentencing, we may have to arrange a bigger table at the Petone Workers for the after match function.
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I have been asked to post this on behalf of the club:
 

The Petone Football Club is extremely concerned with the Grant Williams situation. Our thoughts and sympathy are with the victims and their families and we hope the recent guilty plea does offer some comfort for those affected. We have taken the matter very seriously and can assure people that we have introduced steps to ensure this type of behaviour and activity is never repeated at our club.

 

Should anyone wish to contact the club with questions or information, please email Chairman Craig Deadman at chairman@petonefootball.org.nz. 

 

Your email will be treated in strict confidence and we extend the opportunity to meet in person to discuss further should anyone wish to do so.

 

We will reply to all enquiries.

 

Craig Deadman

Chairman

Petone Football Club

Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.

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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

Founder

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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Excellent thanks Craig
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Just a little note to the people saying the Petone Football Club do not owe the victims a apology. Some of the people that are saying this were parents of children of the same age of some of the victims. And now still involved in the club
I think maybe these people would feel alot diffrently if it had been there children
Petone Football club owe the victims an apology .
No other club in Wellington would take Williams and the Lower Hutt Soccer would not let him coach any of there rep teams under 16.
Williams was convicted of a offence against a child in 1979. Petone decided to keep Williams on staff. It is claimed Petone did put steps in to try and restrict his contact with children. But parents at Petone soccer club were not told of Williams past.
How could Petone keep somebody on that they had to try and keep away from children. It is so crazy that it is not funny. How do you let somebody manage a club with so many children but have to put steps in to keep him away from them.
My parents paid the club money for me to attend the summer coaching course run by Williams.
So Petone let him coach young children over the holidays. They even gave him a office with no windows and a lock on the door.  Do you not think that if they ran summer coaching and parents have to pay that the parents would expect there children to be safe at Petone Football Club.
So YES I think that the victims are owed an opology by Petone Football Club as they really dropped the ball on this on.
I think it is disgusting that people think that Petone should not have to give apology. What has shocked me the most during this ordeal is peoples attitudes
Comments like
He was a great coach
He did great things for Petone.
Who cares he is a pedophile , he did everything for his gain not for the club
He promised that he would be good after the first offence , What a joke
Now people are trying to find reasons why they are not responcible. Sorry but people on the committe and some of them still running the club today or still very active with the club made some disgusting decisions and what amazes me they are still running or involved in the club.
The lack of respect for the victims shocks me a little - no wonder crime against children is so high in New Zealand. People look the otherway and say they did not see anything or hear anything wrong. and when the sh*t hits the fan everyone runs for cover and says I did nothing wrong i did not hurt a child. Yes but did you try and prevent a child from being hurt. In this case NO
This whole ordeal is very basic Petone made some terrible decsions and should opologise.
If PFC cannot manage to do the right thing then you really need to wonder if the right people are running Petone Football Club.
Would you want you child attending a club that let a large number of boys down and then could not even make a apology and say sorry for what happaned at Petone Football club
I think they really need to to look at themselves and do the right thing
 
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
petone1.

I have hidden your post as I don't undertsand the ins and outrs of this.  I have asked someone who does to have a look and they may well unhide it.

Please don't post it in other threads or that will constitute spamming.

How's my driving? - Whine here

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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Clearly did not heed your advice.
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I have read the "hidden" posting and find it quite sad, you see today is Media day for a little group that have been driving for Williams to get what is coming to him for a long time now, and really the silence is deafening from the Clubs point of view, this forum would have been an obvious place for them to start
Its a pity they didn't.  
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
It amazes me that they are still not let people have there views on this.
Petone Should have apoligsed in public to all the boys that had been affected by Williams.
There is just so much evidence showing the Petone Club new of the dangers of Williams. They say they put measures in place to keep Williams away from children. You should not have a manger at a club that you have to keep away from young boys.
That seems to f cken basic. But somehow people at Petone do not think the club owes the boys an apology.
parents paid Petone soccer club to go on courses run over the summer holidays by Williams
So they gave williams 20 kids to train and they gave gim an office with no windows and a lock on the door. Are you kidding ????????? That really does not sound like they tried to protect the kids
People that made these terrible descions are still running the club.
It is just a joke.
 
 
 
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
I cant wait to see the media reports that loui e the fly talks of. Hopefully the truth will come out , I really hope it does.
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago

I've been asked to post this by the club:

 

 

'The Petone Football Club believe it inappropriate to comment further or release any further statement until after the sentencing next week. Once sentencing is completed the club will then release a statement on this forum and our website.'

 

Craig Deadman

Chairman

Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.

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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
They have had so long to reply , whats another week. Must be working on how to explain there bull sh*t handling of this whole affair
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about 16 years ago · edited over 13 years ago
Just been catching up on all the news around Williams.  I was a junior player at Petone from around 1982 - 1990 before heading to Oz where I have lived ever since.  I was never in one of his teams but attended coaching clinics run by him and also knew the bloke very well and I never witnessed or even suspected anything of this nature about him, so was pretty surprised and also upset to read the news.
 
It might be a bit rough to accuse people of knowing about his antics.  My parents were very active members of the club between about 1975 and 1990 and new nothing of any wrong doing.  My father even played in the first team when Williams was coach. 
 
The one thing that always surprised me is how long Williams was at the club.  As a coach he was a complete dud.  I suspected that he must have been black mailing someone to have been at the club as long as he was.
 
Anyway, like most former Petone FC members, I will be relieved to hear of his sentence next week and hope that justice prevails.
 
On another topic, well done to the Phoenix on a storming season.  Having been in Oz as long as I have and followed the A league since day one I am a suffering Brisbane Roar fan, however I still keep an eye on Wellington's results and was gutted about the loss to Sydney last week.  Keep it up with the massive crowds over there though, great to see.
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