Hendon offers players counselling after death of midfielder Ezekiel Williams

Hendon's players have been offered counselling following the death of midfielder Ezekiel Williams, with the non-league club describing the difficulty of supporting a squad in mourning. BBC Sport reported on November 13 that Williams died in hospital on November 2 from head injuries after an incident in Milton Keynes. He was 26. Two men have been charged with murder.

The north-west London club has not played since Williams' death. Chairman Cyrus Cooper told BBC Sport that those at Hendon were struggling to process what had happened, while midfielder Tashae Andall-Gibbons described the distress among Williams' teammates. The club competes in the Isthmian League South Central Division, at the eighth level of English football, and is based in Kingsbury.

Williams joined Hendon in September after playing for several other non-league sides, including Hastings United, Kettering Town and St Ives Town. Although his time at the club was short, Cooper recalled his quiet, courteous manner and an occasion when the midfielder apologised to him after a defeat. The chairman's account was among the personal memories shared with the BBC as the club mourned.

Williams had scored against Jersey Bulls on October 24 and started Hendon's 2-0 home defeat by Egham Town three days later. That was his final appearance. Manager Adam Fisher said Williams subsequently messaged him to explain that he would be away visiting an unwell relative, would miss training and a Saturday fixture, and expected to return on the Monday.

Fisher later contacted Williams about his availability for a London Cup match against Woodford but received no response. He told BBC Sport that he learned of the death through social media the following afternoon and was left shocked. In trying to understand how to help his players, Fisher has watched interviews with Liverpool players discussing their grief following Diogo Jota's death.

Hendon are scheduled to resume playing away to Bedfont Sports on Saturday, their first fixture since losing Williams. Cooper said the return would be especially difficult because it would mean the players putting on their kit without their teammate present. Fisher, meanwhile, described the challenge of addressing a dressing room still mourning, with the counselling offer forming part of the support available to the squad.