Matt Richards (footballer, born 1984)

Matthew Lee Richards (born 26 December 1984) is an English former professional footballer who played as a Midfielder or Left back.

Matt Richards
Richards pictured in 2011
Personal information
Full name Matthew Lee Richards[1]
Date of birth (1984-12-26) 26 December 1984[1]
Place of birth Harlow, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder / Left back
Youth career
2000–2002 Ipswich Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2009 Ipswich Town 148 (8)
2007 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 14 (0)
2008 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 14 (0)
2008–2009 → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 23 (1)
2009–2011 Walsall 86 (12)
2011–2013 Shrewsbury Town 85 (12)
2013–2015 Cheltenham Town 91 (8)
2015–2016 Dagenham & Redbridge 10 (0)
2017–2019 Bath City 24 (3)
2019 Banbury United 7 (0)
Total 502 (44)
National team‡
2004–2005 England U16 5 (0)
2005–2006 England U17 5 (0)
2006 England U18 1 (0)
2004 England U21 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 March 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17:02, 7 July 2010 (UTC)

Career

Ipswich Town

Matt is a graduate of the Ipswich Town academy, and made his debut in the UEFA Cup against Avenir Beggen aged just 17. He received his only England under-21 cap for appearing in the England U21 victory over Ukraine U21 in August 2004. He played a prominent role in Joe Royle's Play-off semi-finalist making teams in 2003/04 and 2004/05. When Club Captain Jim Magilton was made manager in 2006–07, Richards found himself out of favour. Originally regarded as a left-back, he is now much more comfortable as a midfielder, either playing on the left or in the centre.

Brighton & Hove Albion (loans)

On 18 September 2007, Richards joined League One side Brighton & Hove Albion on a provisional one-month loan deal, although the Seagulls had allegedly been tracking the player all through the summer of 2007.

Richards' loan deal at Brighton was extended by a further two months, running up until 18 December 2007.[2][3] He played 14 League games in total during his three-month loan at the Withdean and ex-Brighton manager Dean Wilkins expressed his interest on loaning the player until the end of the 2007/08 season. On 17 January 2008, it was revealed that Richards had agreed to join Brighton on loan for the remainder of the 2007–08 season.[4]

Richards once again rejoined Brighton on loan until the end of December 2008 on 21 July 2008.[5] He scored his first goal for Brighton in a 4-0 Football League Cup win over Barnet on 12 August 2008.[6] In the following round he scored the winning penalty as Brighton knocked out Premier League side Manchester City in a shootout.[7]

Return to Ipswich

Richards made his Ipswich return in 2009 under new manager Roy Keane starting against Cardiff in a 3–0 win at Ninian Park.[8] This would turn out to be his last game for the club as he was released on 14 May 2009.[9]

Walsall

Richards had a trial spell with Burton Albion[10] scoring in a friendly against Ilkeston Town, however following a successful trial at League One side Walsall, Richards penned a two-year contract with the Saddlers.[11] Richards stated his desire to sign on at Walsall on Twitter, however, this was not possible.

Shrewsbury Town

Richards impressed during a trial period with Shrewsbury Town and underwent a medical at the Greenhous Meadow on 27 July 2011, with the deal expected to be completed in the following days. He signed a two-year deal with the Shropshire outfit on 28 July 2011, and scored his first goal in Shrewsbury colours on 8 October in a 3–2 home win over Barnet.[12] The season finished with Shrewsbury earning promotion to League One with Richards playing in excess of 30 games and earning players, and fans player of the year awards.[13]

Richards was released by Shrewsbury at the end of the 2012–13 season and joined Cheltenham Town on 5 July 2013.[14]

Cheltenham Town

Richard joined League Two side Cheltenham Town on 5 July 2013.[14] He scored his first goal for Cheltenham in a 3–1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle on 17 August 2013.[15]

Dagenham & Redbridge

In August 2015, he signed for League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge on a one-year deal after impressing whilst on trial during pre-season.[16] In May 2016 as his contract expired, he was released along with eleven players as Dagenham were relegated to the National League.[17]

Bath City

In November 2017, after a year out of the game, Richards joined Bath City of the National League South.[18]

Banbury United

On 23 March 2019, Richards joined Banbury United.[19]

Career statistics
Richards playing for Cheltenham Town in 2014
As of match played 27 January 2018
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ipswich Town 2002–03[20] First Division 13010102[lower-alpha 1]0170
2003–04[21] First Division 44120202[lower-alpha 2]0501
2004–05[22] Championship 24110102[lower-alpha 3]0281
2005–06[23] Championship 3841010—404
2006–07[24] Championship 2823110—323
2008–09[25] Championship 100000—10
Total 14888160601689
Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) 2007–08[26] League One 28030002[lower-alpha 4]0330
2008–09[25] League One 23120314[lower-alpha 4]0322
Total 511503160652
Walsall 2009–10[27] League One 40420101[lower-alpha 4]0444
2010–11[28] League One 46831101[lower-alpha 4]0519
Total 86125120209513
Shrewsbury Town 2011–12[29] League Two 42530201[lower-alpha 4]0485
2012–13[30] League One 43700101[lower-alpha 4]0457
Total 85123030209312
Cheltenham Town 2013–14[31] League Two 466102200498
2014–15[32] League Two 45221102[lower-alpha 4]0503
Total 9183132209911
Dagenham & Redbridge 2015–16[33] League Two 10000001[lower-alpha 4]0110
Bath City 2017–18[34] National League South 19300—6[lower-alpha 5]0253
2018–19[35] National League South 5000—1[lower-alpha 5]060
Total 243000070313
Career total 4954424317326056250
  1. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  2. Appearances in First Division play-offs
  3. Appearances in Championship play-offs
  4. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  5. Appearance(s) in FA Trophy

Honours

Shrewsbury Town

Individual

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. Richards to Extend Brighton loan, BBC Football, 18 October 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
  3. Richards Extends Loan at Brighton, BBC Football, 17 November 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2008
  4. Brighton bag Ipswich's Richards, BBC Football, 17 January 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
  5. Matt Returns to Brighton Archived 19 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine, itfc.co.uk, 21 July 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2008
  6. "Brighton 4-0 Barnet". bbc.co.uk. 12 August 2008.
  7. "Brighton 2-2 Man City (5-3 pens)". bbc.co.uk. 24 September 2008.
  8. http://www.clubfanzine.com/ipswich_town/v2.showNews.php?id=19375
  9. http://www.clubfanzine.com/ipswich_town/v2.showNews.php?id=19623
  10. Burton Albion 2 Ilkeston Town 3 Archived 8 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Clough The Magic Dragon, 14 July 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2010
  11. Walsall Sign Defender Richards, BBC Football, 4 August 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009
  12. "Midfielder signs". Shrewsbury Town F C official website. 28 July 2011. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  13. http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/shrewsbury-town-fc/2012/05/01/matt-richards-big-winner-at-fans%E2%80%99-awards-night/
  14. "Matt Richards: Cheltenham Town sign former Shrewsbury captain". BBC Sport. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  15. "Cheltenham 1–3 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  16. "Daggers Sign Midfielder". Dagenham & Redbridge. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  17. "Dagenham & Redbridge goalkeeper Liam O'Brien one of 11 players released by club following relegation from the Football League". Barking & Dagenham Post. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  18. http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-cheltenham-town-ipswich-town-764558
  19. "Midfielder Matt Richards joins the Puritans". Banbury United F.C. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  20. "Games played by Matt Richards in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  21. "Games played by Matt Richards in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  22. "Games played by Matt Richards in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  23. "Games played by Matt Richards in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  24. "Games played by Matt Richards in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  25. "Games played by Matt Richards in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  26. "Games played by Matt Richards in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  27. "Games played by Matt Richards in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  28. "Games played by Matt Richards in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  29. "Games played by Matt Richards in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  30. "Games played by Matt Richards in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  31. "Games played by Matt Richards in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  32. "Games played by Matt Richards in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  33. "Games played by Matt Richards in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  34. "Bath City 2017/18". Bath City F.C. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  35. "Matt Richards Career Statistics". Aylesbury United FC. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  36. "Matt Richards completes awards double". Shropshire Star. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
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