FORMER Bury midfielder Gareth Williams has passed away after an operation at the age of 76.

Hendon-born Williams started professionally with Cardiff City after being plucked from local football, and eventually went on to captain the Bluebirds before leaving for Bolton Wanderers in a £45,000 deal in October 1967.

He joined Bury in 1971, making 42 appearances for the Shakers during his two-year spell at Gigg Lane, finding the net four times before he hung up his boots in 1973.

He had made his Bolton debut in 1967 but after Nat Lofthouse stepped in as manager in 1968 he and Williams, pictured, would clash on a number of disciplinary issues.

Their relationship ended defeat at Birmingham saw Bolton drop into the third tier for the first time in their history. Williams then left Burnden Park for Bury, playing two seasons in Division Four under Tom McAnearney and Allan Brown.

He later worked in the prison service and ran a hotel in Fylde before moving to Gran Canaria in later life with wife Karen.