Valour FC had just wrapped a rigorous training session — undoubtedly the first of many this season — and it was capped by a gruelling fitness test component that left the participants doubled over and gasping for air in recovery.

And as Kian Williams left the pitch, the sweat water-falling down his face, the Valour winger broke into a grin as wide as the Red River.

This is his happy place, after all, and there were long stretches last season when the 24-year-old Englishman wondered if he would ever find himself here again.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself over the last while,” began Williams in a chat with valourfootball.club. “And the most important probably being that I truly love every little detail about football. I love the games, the training… I get so much satisfaction from all that.

“It’s even the small things that some people might not understand. It’s the smells when you get to the pitch, the sound that’s made when the ball hits the net… I get so much joy from those things. And for that to be gone for a year was tough. To not have that was honestly depressing.”

Let’s rewind a tad here to fill in some of the details.

If you recall, Williams entered the 2024 Canadian Premier League season eager to morph into a true impact player after tying for the club lead in goals in ’23 with four. But complications from a knee injury kept him from training this time a year ago, with the situation worsening with every step. And by the end of the calendar year, he had undergone three surgeries.

Not only was his body battered, so was his will.

“It’s been a tough year, to say the least,” Williams explained. “When I was back in England, every day you wake up you have to motivate yourself. There’s no timelines to do this or that, so it really has to come from within. I feel like I’ve been really good with that considering I’ve had three surgeries. It’s not only the work, but after each surgery you’re in a brace for six weeks, then it’s stiff and you’ve really push to get the full bend in the leg and that can be painful. So, to do that three times is tough.

“I don’t do it enough, but I should give credit to myself for going through that and to my family as well. To be where I am and back involved has been great. That’s why just being around all my teammates and the staff has been great. I’ve got to give credit to Evan (Fehr, head athletic therapist) and Susie (Falk, assistant athletic therapist), the physios, because they’ve been great in really helping me out.

“I missed coming into work every day. Again, not having that has been tough and that’s why I’m absolutely loving being back.”

Valour’s trainers and coaches have been easing Williams back into the picture but there is a hope he will be good to go when the season opens April 5th in Victoria against Pacific FC. A return to form for Williams would be a boon to a club that could use his skill and offensive flair as an attacking option. Beyond that, his enthusiasm for the game and the squad can be infectious, too.

“I had those moments where I wondered if I would play again,” Williams admitted. “And in those moments I was wondering, ‘What else can I go into?’ That’s the tough part because this is all I’ve known. I left school at 16 to start football full time… again, this is all I’ve known. So, for that to be taken away from me and the unknown with that, it really hurt. You’re by yourself a lot and you can get in your own head at times. I’m someone who has an unlimited love and passion for this game. My whole life with the things that happened football has always been my outlet. So, to not have that hurt so bad.

“But now I can see the light. I’m closer. We’re going to Vancouver in a few weeks and then Toronto (for preseason matches and training) and that’s the light at the end of the tunnel.”

An epilogue to this story… 10 minutes or so after the interview Williams circled back, asking to add more detail involving about teammate Raphael Ohin, who had gone through much the same experiences with his own knee injuries. And the additional layer Williams added to his tale speaks not only of his appreciation for a teammate, but offers an additional peek at what he’s been through and his current state of mind.

“Throughout the whole period when I was back in England Raph would call me at least once a week,” said Williams. “Obviously he’s been through some tough, tough times as well. It showed to me how good he is as a captain and as a guy.

“He also told me a story that motivated me quite a bit. He was signing autographs at an event at the end of the season and a few of the fans asked about me. Sometimes when you’re away you feel like you’re forgotten so to hear that, to know that some people were concerned about me was so motivating. In your darkest moments those are the things you lean on; that people care about you.

“That’s why I really want to make this year worthwhile after all the pain and suffering I’ve had to go through.”