Alex Williams believes he gave a “positive showing” on his senior West Bromwich Albion debut and described the occasion as “surreal”.
The 20-year-old was handed a start against Derby County in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, completing 90 minutes as Ryan Mason’s men suffered a harsh defeat on penalties.
Williams, who was on loan at Stratford Town in the Southern League Premier Central division during the 2024/25 campaign, impressed at right back – proving to be confident in possession and capable of making big tackles, while also looking assured in a senior environment.
The Wales U21 international defender says there was a mix of nerves and excitement, but insists the experience was “amazing” despite the frustrating final outcome.
Alex said: “I really enjoyed it. As much as the result didn’t go our way, to make my debut and to be playing in front of the fans was a surreal feeling.
“It’s what you dream of as a kid when you come here, putting in a good performance on your debut. I think I took my chance and I’m really glad about that, but it’s unfortunate that we didn’t get through to the next round.
“I found out I’d be playing on the day, about four hours before kick-off. You need to be ready for anything as a player. As a young player, you might only get a chance like this once or twice.
“As soon as I heard, I had mixed emotions. I had nerves and excitement. I was excited to get on the pitch and start playing and then once you step out at The Hawthorns and feel the atmosphere, it’s amazing.
“In the pre-match meeting Ryan Mason said that he had full faith in me and I feel like throughout pre-season I’ve done well with the chances I’ve been getting. I wanted to come here and do my best. I feel like I gave a positive showing.
“Feeling an atmosphere like that is not really something I’ve felt before, but I really enjoyed taking it all in.
“I had all my family, my girlfriend and her family in the stand, so it was a really nice night.
“They all came here expecting me to be on the bench and maybe get a few minutes at the end, so when they heard I was starting they were chuffed. I think they were just as nervous as me, but it was really nice to have them here. It was a really enjoyable night for me and my family., Hopefully this will lead to bigger and better things for me here. I’m really enjoying my football at the moment.
“All the senior players have been really positive with me and they have been all pre-season. As a young player coming into the first-team squad, they just want to see that your effort and application is there and if you’re doing the right things every day, they’ll get behind you. They all helped out there.”
