Richard Cresswell

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

Richard Cresswell

Personal information
Full name	Richard Paul Wesley Cresswell
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Sheffield United
Number	17
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995–1999	York City	95	(21)
1997	→ Mansfield Town (loan)	5	(1)
1999–2000	Sheffield Wednesday	31	(2)
2000–2001	Leicester City	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)
2009–2010	→ Sheffield United (loan)	9	(2)
2010–	Sheffield United	0
International career‡
	England U21	4	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:16, 29 December 2009 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:24, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Richard Paul Wesley Cresswell (born 20 September 1977 in Bridlington, England) is an English footballer, currently playing for Coca-Cola Championship side Sheffield United. Cresswell is a centre-forward who has adapted to life as a left midfielder.

Career

Early career

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. Cresswell began his career at Scarborough F.C. before soon moving to York City, where he 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. 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.

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 meant that Leeds won a Yorkshire Derby for the first time in four years and 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 are 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 after the 2-0 friendly defeat by Aston Villa on 1 August 2007. Cresswell officially signed a 3-year deal for an undisclosed fee on August 3. 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. This led to increasing unpopularity amongst the fans and he was booed by Stoke fans in a match between Stoke and Fulham on 25 April 2009[1]

Sheffield United

Cresswell joined Sheffield United on a three month loan at the end of September 2009 and made his debut the same evening against Ipswich Town. Starting the following game he scored a 65th minute equalizer against Doncaster Rovers . It was announced on 5 January 2010 that he had joined the Blades on a permanent deal.

Career statistics

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
Career total		446	94	18	7	24	9	2	0	0	0	490	110
Sheffield United	2009–10	9	2	1	1	0	0	-		-		10	3

External links

• Richard Cresswell player profile at stokecityfc.com
• Richard Cresswell at Soccerbase