Welsh under-21 keeper Anthony Williams arrived at Pools in 2000 and he soon wrested the number one shirt from Martin Hollund. He played a key role in the club's success in the next three seasons. Towards the end of this spell his form dipped and, when he started the 2003/04 season with a poor showing at Peterborough, Neale Cooper replaced him with Jim Provett. Williams failed to regain his place in the team and, after a loan spell at Stockport County, he left the club in July 2004.