And it happened again on Saturday against PSV, when Nolan went eyeball-to-eyeball with him.
But rather than making way for new signing Sol Campbell, Williamson is delighted to welcome the former England international, because he says Sol will further his footballing education.
Mike Williamson: “It is going to be great to be playing and training alongside a player of Sol’s ability every day.
“Look at the number of appearances he has made, the teams he has played for and the international caps he has – it is an amazing record.
“He is up there with Tony Adams as one of the best English defenders of the last decade or so.
“I am buzzing to be playing alongside him and it is fantastic to have that opportunity. First of all it was Colo (Fabricio Coloccini) who I was picking up little bits off, now it is somebody else.
“I intend to pick up on everything from Sol – his movement, his positional play, his talking and his leadership.
“I am really pleased he is here because it just gives me an opportunity to kick on now.
“I know some people might look at it and say the more defenders we have the less chance I have of playing but, honestly, every top Premier League side needs that kind of competition for places.”