Richard Cresswell

This article is about the English footballer. For the 18th century British politician, see Richard Cresswell (MP).

Richard Cresswell

Cresswell playing for Sheffield United
Personal information
Full name	Richard Paul Wesley Cresswell
Date of birth	20 September 1977 (1977-09-20)
Place of birth	Bridlington, England
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Sheffield United
Number	17
Youth career
000?–1995	York City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1995–1999	York City	95	(21)
1997	→ Mansfield Town (loan)	5	(1)
1999–2001	Sheffield Wednesday	31	(2)
2000–2001	→ Leicester City (loan)	8	(0)
2001	→ Preston North End (loan)	11	(2)
2001–2005	Preston North End	176	(46)
2005–2007	Leeds United	38	(9)
2007–2010	Stoke City	75	(11)
2009	→ Sheffield United (loan)	9	(2)
2010–	Sheffield United	81	(22)
National team‡
1999	England U21	4	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:07, 22 January 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 25:56, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Richard Paul Wesley Cresswell (born 20 September 1977) is an English footballer who plays for Sheffield United. Cresswell is a centre-forward who has adapted to life as a left midfielder.

Career

Early career

Born in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, Cresswell went to Moorfield Primary School (Bridlington), where he first started to play football. He was a regular in the school football team and it became clear how talented he was.^{[citation needed]} Cresswell began his career at Scarborough before soon moving to York City, where he signed a professional contract on 15 November 1995 and made his first team debut against Bradford City on 20 January 1996. Cresswell spent a brief period on loan at Mansfield Town in 1997, before returning and becoming a first team regular for York during the 1998–1999 season. Cresswell later was called up to the England Under-21 Team, where he won four caps before a £950,000 move to then Premiership side, Sheffield Wednesday. He was then loaned to Leicester City in September 2000, before completing a £750,000 move later in the season. He scored once for Leicester, his goal ironically coming against former club York in the FA Cup. In July 2001, Cresswell then transferred to Preston North End for £500,000 after previously spending time with them on loan.

It was at Preston where Cresswell would enjoy his best goal return, in the 2004–2005 season. He scored a total of 23 goals in 52 games, which helped Preston to reach the Championship Play-offs, where they were beaten by West Ham United.

Leeds United

Cresswell was purchased by Leeds United on the final day of the 2005 summer transfer window. It was confirmed on 31 August that Leeds had indeed signed Cresswell, for a fee of £1,150,000. After signing, Cresswell made it known that he was a lifelong Leeds United supporter, and did not want to miss a chance to join his favourite club.

Cresswell playing for Leeds United in 2005

It did not take Cresswell long to find the net for his new club, scoring two goals in Leeds' Carling Cup defeat of Rotherham United, in only his second start. These goals immediately endeared Cresswell to Leeds fans. However, Cresswell suffered ruptured knee ligaments in a match against Derby County, just a week later. This injury kept Cresswell out of action for ten weeks, missing a total of thirteen games.

Once Cresswell returned from injury, it did not take him long to rediscover his scoring touch, scoring in his second match back, against Coventry City. Cresswell scored four more goals, making him Leeds' joint third top scorer, with Robbie Blake. Another knee injury though, this time before a match with Derby again slowed his and Leeds' progress. Although a six week lay off was initially predicted after surgery, it turned out to be worse and he was eventually ruled out for the rest of the season. He was ruled out of the playoff final after being sent off in Leeds' 2–0 (Leeds advance 3–1) second leg victory over former club Preston.

In the 2006–07 season, Cresswell got another injury which ruled him out of action for a few months, after a few games, one goal and in many Leeds' fans opinions, several diabolical performances, Cresswell got another injury and was kept out until February. He made his comeback as a substitute against Crystal Palace, and it was believed that his return would be instrumental in ensuring Leeds United's safety in the Championship this season. Despite some much improved performances from Cresswell, amongst others, Leeds United were now resigned to relegation to the third tier for the first time in their history. After a few games working his way back to full fitness, Cresswell netted 2 goals in successive matches, including a potentially vital winner against fellow relegation rivals Luton Town, and firmly established himself as one of the fans favourites once again. He scored for Leeds in the last home game of the season – the 1–1 draw with Ipswich Town.

Stoke City

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis confirmed the signing of Cresswell on a 3-year deal for an undisclosed fee at the start of August 2007. Cresswell scored two goals as Stoke beat Crystal Palace 3–1.

Cresswell made 42 league appearances for Stoke City in the 2007/08 season, scoring 11 goals. He even scored the last ever goal at Colchester United's Layer Road ground in a 1–0 win. Cresswell has regularly been used on the right wing by Stoke manager Tony Pulis even though his natural position is as a striker. However despite this Cresswell managed to score eleven goals during the 07/08 season helping the club to Promotion the Premier League.

During the 08/09 season Cresswell was once again forced to play as a right winger. He played in 30 games but failed to score a single goal.

Sheffield United

Cresswell joined Sheffield United on a three month loan at the end of September 2009 and made his début the same evening against Ipswich Town. Starting the following game he scored a 65th minute equaliser against Doncaster Rovers. In January 2010 he joined United on a permanent deal, playing regularly for the remainder of the season and finishing top scorer with twelve goals. He was rewarded with a new three-year contract with the club at the start of June. Unfortunately his first full season with The Blades was less productive as he struggled to find the form of the previous term. Played largely out on the wing he scored only five goals in all competitions as the Blades were relegated. However, Cresswell notched up three goals in the Blades opening three games in their 2011-2012 nPower League One campaign.

Career statistics

As of 16 January 2010.

Club	Season	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
York City	1995–96	16	1	-		-		-		-		16	1
	1996–97	17	0	1	0	1	0	-		-		19	0
Mansfield Town (Loan)	1996–97	5	1	-		-		-		-		5	1
York City	1997–98	26	4	1	0	1	0	-		-		28	4
	1998–99	36	16	3	3	2	0	-		-		34	9
Sheffield Wednesday	1998–99	7	1	-		-		-		-		7	1
	1999–00	20	1	3	0	2	0	-		-		25	1
	2000–01	4	0	-		-		-		-		4	0
Leicester City	2000–01	8	0	2	1	1	0	2	0	-		14	1
Preston North End (Loan)	2000–01	14	2	-		-		-		-		14	2
Preston North End	2001–02	40	13	2	2	2	1	-		-		44	16
	2002–03	42	16	-		4	0	-		-		46	16
	2003–04	44	2	1	1	1	0	-		-		47	3
	2004–05	49	17	-		3	4	-		-		52	21
	2005–06	3	0	-		-		-		-		3	0
Leeds United	2005–06	18	5	2	0	1	2	-		-		21	7
	2006–07	22	4	-		1	0	-		-		23	4
Stoke City	2007–08	43	11	2	0	1	1	-		-		46	12
	2008–09	30	0	-		4	1	-		-		34	1
	2009–10	2	0	0	0	1	0	-		-		3	0
Sheffield United (Loan)	2009–10	9	2	-		-		-		-		9	2
Sheffield United	2009–10	22	10	2	2	0	0	-		-		33	14
Sheffield United	2010–11	35	5	0	0	1	0	-		-		36	5
Sheffield United	2011–12	4	3	0	0	2	1	-		-		6	4
Career total		488	109	19	8	26	9	2	0	0	0	535	117

External links

• Richard Cresswell profile at the Sheffield United website
• Richard Cresswell career stats at Soccerbase