Ian Richardson (footballer, born 1970)

Ian George Richardson (born 22 October 1970) is an English former professional footballer and football manager. He played 260 games in the Football League for Birmingham City and for Notts County,[1] where he spent most of his professional career, including for a time acting as caretaker manager. He played as a midfielder or centre half.

For other people with the same name, see Ian Richardson (disambiguation).

Ian Richardson
Personal information
Full name Ian George Richardson[1]
Date of birth (1970-10-22) 22 October 1970
Place of birth Barking, England
Position(s) Midfielder / Centre half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
19xx–1995 Dagenham & Redbridge
1995–1996 Birmingham City 7 (0)
1996 → Notts County (loan) 4 (0)
1996–2005 Notts County 249 (21)
Teams managed
2004–2005 Notts County
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Richardson was born in Barking.[1] He worked as a meat-porter at Smithfield Market[2] and played football part-time before his performances with Dagenham & Redbridge in the Conference earned him a £60,000 move to Birmingham City, newly promoted to the Football League First Division (the second tier of English football), in the 1995 close season.[3] Dagenham teammate Jason Broom described him as "Never the most gifted player in the world but was a ferocious tackler. He used to get from box to box and scored lots of goals mainly through his excellence in the air."[4] He made his debut in the Football League on 8 October 1995, as a substitute replacing Jonathan Hunt in a 2–0 win at home to Southend United.[5] Only three months later Richardson joined Notts County on loan.[1] Though he returned to Birmingham and made three more first-team appearances,[5] including a place in the starting eleven for the second leg of the League Cup semi-final against Leeds United,[6] Richardson joined Notts County on a permanent basis in March 1996 for a fee of £150,000.[7]

Notts County

In the 1997–98 season, Richardson was part of Sam Allardyce's Notts County team which won the Division Three title by a record margin and at a record early date.[8] A £350,000 move to Wimbledon foundered on a failed medical, much to the delight of County's manager Jocky Scott.[9][10] With the club in financial difficulties, Richardson took a pay cut to remain at County because his family were settled in the area.[11] His contract expired at the end of the 2002–03 season; with the club in administration and subject to a transfer embargo, it was not until August 2003 that the Football League gave them permission to offer Richardson monthly terms.[12] Richardson said that "the problems never influenced the players on the pitch – only during every other moment when they weren't playing."[13]

Richardson was appointed caretaker player-manager in November 2004 after the departure of Gary Mills,[14] though his injured knee restricted him to a largely managerial role.[15] He successfully led the team away from relegation and to the Third Round of the FA Cup,[16] but was replaced as manager by Gudjon Thordarson at the end of the season.[8] Despite his limited playing appearances in the 2004–05 season, Richardson was voted County's Player of the Year for the second consecutive year,[17] and was selected as League Two's "Unsung Hero" in BBC Sport's alternative awards list.[18] After his playing contract expired in June 2005, he was given a monthly contract to allow him time to prove his fitness; despite playing in two reserve games, the club's view was "the knee has not made a sufficient recovery for the acquired [sic] level of professional football", and Richardson was released.[9] The player took legal advice and consulted the Professional Footballers' Association,[19] but after trials with Peterborough United and Burton Albion, he decided to retire as a player and to accept the offer of a testimonial match and a coaching role with the club's Football in the Community programme.[16]

As of 2010, Richardson was working as Activity Manager for Notts County's Football in the Community programme,[20] which won the League Two Best Community Initiative Award at the 2008 Football League Awards ceremony for a project designed to use football to approach the improvement of self-esteem and life skills of adult males with mental health issues.[21]

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J, ed. (2005). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2005/2006. Queen Anne Press. p. 343. ISBN 978-1-85291-662-6.
  2. Southon, Hugh (26 May 1996). "County's big steak". Sunday Mirror. p. 77. Retrieved 21 January 2014 – via NewsBank.
  3. Shaw, Phil (10 February 1996). "Fry ready to put heat on Leeds". The Independent. London. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  4. Simpson, Dave (8 August 2001). "Jason Broom Profile". Match programme: Jason Broom Testimonial. Retrieved 21 January 2014 – via DiggerDagger.com.
  5. Hallam, Ben, ed. (5 May 1996). "Statistically speaking". Official Matchday Magazine. Birmingham City F.C. pp. 46–47.
  6. Shaw, Phil (26 February 1996). "Leeds rely on African influence". The Independent. London. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  7. "Flitcroft plans to catch peers". The Independent. London. 23 March 1996. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  8. "The History of Notts County". Notts County F.C. 7 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009.
  9. "Ian Richardson Decision". Notts County F.C. 31 August 2005. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012.
  10. "Dons deal is off". The Express. 7 July 2001. Retrieved 21 January 2014 – via NewsBank.
  11. "Exclusive Interview with Ian Richardson". Notts County Mad. 7 December 2002. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  12. Szczepanik, Nick (9 August 2003). "Wednesday to give new faces early chance to impress – Second Division". The Times. London. Retrieved 21 January 2014 – via NewsBank.
  13. "The long road to recovery". Nottingham Evening Post. 3 December 2003 – via NewsBank.
  14. "Club Statement". Notts County F.C. 4 November 2004. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012.
  15. "Richo Has His Operation Today". Notts County F.C. 25 March 2005. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012.
  16. "Tickets Now Available For Richo's Testimonial Dinner". Notts County F.C. 30 November 2005. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012.
  17. "Richo Claims Player of the Year Award". Notts County F.C. 28 April 2005. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012.
  18. Warren, Dan (18 May 2005). "The alternative awards: The players". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  19. "The end for Richo". BBC Nottingham. 1 September 2005. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
  20. "Staff". Notts County F.C. Football in the Community. Archived from the original on 7 August 2010.
  21. "FITC Claim Football League Award". Notts County F.C. 5 March 2008. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012.
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