Tony Richards (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Anthony Willis "Tony" Richards (6 March 1934 – 4 March 2010) was an English
footballer who played as a forward. He played for Walsall
for nine years between 1954 and 1963, and also turned out for Birmingham City
and Port Vale
, as well as non-league sides Nuneaton Borough and Dudley Town
.
from 1952 to his demobbing in 1954, playing football (as captain) for the Battery and Regimental team whilst serving in Egypt
.
, 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.
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
. Before he died, Richards was appointed an Honorary Life President of Walsall, to mark his contribution to the club and his cult status amongst the club's fans.
on 7 March as a tribute to Richards and Macclesfield Town
manager Keith Alexander
, who had died on 3 March.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer who played as a forward. He played for Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
for nine years between 1954 and 1963, and also turned out for Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
and Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, as well as non-league sides Nuneaton Borough and Dudley Town
Dudley Town F.C.
Dudley Town F.C. are a football club based in Dudley, West Midlands, England. The club is one of the oldest non-league teams in the Midlands region, having been established in 1888...
.
Early life
Richards was in the ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
from 1952 to his demobbing in 1954, playing football (as captain) for the Battery and Regimental team whilst serving in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
Playing career
Richards started his career with Birmingham CityBirmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, but did not make a league appearance for them before joining Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
in 1954. In 9 years at the club, Richards scored 185 goals in 334 games, and is the club's second-highest goal scorer.
He joined Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
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
Cartilage
Cartilage is a flexible connective tissue found in many areas in the bodies of humans and other animals, including the joints between bones, the rib cage, the ear, the nose, the elbow, the knee, the ankle, the bronchial tubes and the intervertebral discs...
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
Dudley Town F.C.
Dudley Town F.C. are a football club based in Dudley, West Midlands, England. The club is one of the oldest non-league teams in the Midlands region, having been established in 1888...
. Before he died, Richards was appointed an Honorary Life President of Walsall, to mark his contribution to the club and his cult status amongst the club's fans.
Death
Richards died on 4 March 2010, two days before what would have been his 76th birthday. A minute's silence was held before Walsall's 2–2 draw with MillwallMillwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
on 7 March as a tribute to Richards and Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
manager Keith Alexander
Keith Alexander (footballer)
Keith Alexander was a Saint Lucian footballer and manager. Born in Nottingham, England, he was the manager of League Two side Macclesfield Town at the time of his death, in a career that included international appearances for Saint Lucia. Alexander played for a whole host of lower league football...
, who had died on 3 March.