Tony Richards (footballer, born 1934)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Anthony Willis Richards | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Birmingham City | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1951–1954 | Birmingham City | 0 | (0) |
| 1954–1963 | Walsall | 334 | (185) |
| 1963–1966 | Port Vale | 63 | (30) |
| Nuneaton Borough | |||
| Dudley Town | |||
| Total | 397+ | (215+) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Anthony Willis (Tony) Richards (6 March 1934 - 6 March 2010) was an English footballer.
Early life
Richards was in the Army from 1952 to his demobbing in 1954, playing football (as captain) for the Battery and Regimental team whilst serving in Egypt.[1]
Playing career
Richards started his career with Birmingham City, but did not make a league appearance for them before joining Walsall in 1954. In 9 years at the club, Richards scored 185 goals in 334 games, and is the club's second-highest goal scorer.[2] He joined Port Vale for £9,000 in March 1963. Amazingly, with 13 goals in the 1962-63 season he had become the club's top scorer despite only playing for three months of the season. The following season, with nine months to play in, he only managed to re-create his previous season's record; scoring 13 goals and once more becoming the clubs top scorer. This is explained by a leg injury Richards suffered in September 1963. He began to be plagued by injuries at Vale, missing the start of the 1964-65 season, suffering the effects of an insect bite. In September 1964, he sustained a cartilage injury which required surgery. He never really recovered after the surgery, and having racked up 69 Vale appearances (63 in the league) and 31 Vale goals (30 in the league) was given a free transfer in May 1966. He finished his career with Nuneaton Borough and Dudley Town.[3] Before he died, Richards was appointed an Honary Life President of Walsall, to mark his contribution to the club and his cult status amongst the club's fans.[4]
Death
Richards died on 6 March 2010, his 74th birthday.[5] A minute's silence was held before Walsall's 2-2 draw with Millwall on 7 March as a tribute to Richards and Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander, who had died on 3 March.[6]
References
- ^ "Nostalgia Letter: Outstanding sportsman was always on the ball". The Sentinel. November 21, 2009. Retrieved 06 December 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "RIP Tony Richards". Vitalfootball. 6 March 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
- ^ Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 249. ISBN 0952915200.
- ^ "RIP Tony Richards". Vitalfootball. 6 March 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
- ^ "RIP Tony Richards". Vitalfootball. 6 March 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
- ^ "Walsall 2-2 Millwall". Vitalfootball. 7 March 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2010.