George Richards (English footballer)
Encyclopedia
George Richards was an English footballer who played as a wing half
(and sometimes inside left
) in the Football League with Derby County
in the 1900s and 1910s. His final game for Derby came on 7 February 1914.
He was born in Castle Donington
, Leicestershire
and played for local teams before signing for First Division
side Derby County in the 1901-02 season. He went on to make 284 Football League appearances for Derby, scoring 33 times. He was a member of the Derby team that played in the 1903 FA Cup Final
and helped Derby to the Second Division championship in 1912.
On 1 June 1909, Richards made his only appearance for England
against Austria
, having been a reserve for the match against Scotland
earlier that year. He also toured with the FA party in South Africa in 1910.
He is not the same player as the Bristol Rovers footballer of the same era, who played for Rovers between 1911 and 1913.
Wing half
In association football, the position of wing half or wing half back) was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries...
(and sometimes inside left
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
) in the Football League with Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in the 1900s and 1910s. His final game for Derby came on 7 February 1914.
He was born in Castle Donington
Castle Donington
Castle Donington is a village, with a population of around 7000 in the North West of Leicestershire, part of the Derby postcode area and on the edge of the National Forest. It is the closest town to East Midlands Airport.-Transport and housing:...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
and played for local teams before signing for First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
side Derby County in the 1901-02 season. He went on to make 284 Football League appearances for Derby, scoring 33 times. He was a member of the Derby team that played in the 1903 FA Cup Final
1903 FA Cup Final
The 1903 FA Cup Final was contested by Bury and Derby County at Crystal Palace. Bury won 6–0, with goals from George Ross, Charles Sagar, Joe Leeming , William Wood and John Plant...
and helped Derby to the Second Division championship in 1912.
On 1 June 1909, Richards made his only appearance for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
against Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
, having been a reserve for the match against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
earlier that year. He also toured with the FA party in South Africa in 1910.
He is not the same player as the Bristol Rovers footballer of the same era, who played for Rovers between 1911 and 1913.
Honours
Derby CountyDerby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
- Football League Second DivisionFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
champions: 1911–12 - FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
finalists: 19031903 FA Cup FinalThe 1903 FA Cup Final was contested by Bury and Derby County at Crystal Palace. Bury won 6–0, with goals from George Ross, Charles Sagar, Joe Leeming , William Wood and John Plant...