Matt Richards (footballer, born 1984)
|
Richards pictured in 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthew Lee Richards[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 26 December 1984[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Harlow, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1] | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| 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) |
| 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 18:04, 17 May 2016 (UTC). | |||
Matthew Lee "Matt" Richards (born 26 December 1984) is an English footballer who is currently a free agent.
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
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]
Return to Ipswich and release
Richards made his Ipswich return in 2009 under new manager Roy Keane starting against Cardiff in a 3–0 win at Ninian Park.[6] This would turn out to be his last game for the club as he was released on 14 May 2009.[7]
Walsall
Richards had a trial spell with Burton Albion[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11]
Richards was released by Shrewsbury at the end of the 2012–13 season and joined Cheltenham Town on 5 July 2013.[12]
Cheltenham Town
Richard joined League Two side Cheltenham Town on 5 July 2013.[12] He scored his first goal for Cheltenham in a 3–1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle on 17 August 2013.[13]
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.[14] In May 2016 as his contract expired, he was released along with eleven players as Dagenham were relegated to the National League.[15]
Career statistics
- As of match played 19 April 2016.
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ipswich Town | 2002–03[16] | First Division | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | — | 17 | 0 | |
| 2003–04[17] | First Division | 44 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 50 | 1 | ||
| 2004–05[18] | Championship | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | 28 | 1 | ||
| 2005–06[19] | Championship | 38 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 4 | |||
| 2006–07[20] | Championship | 28 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 3 | |||
| 2008–09[21] | Championship | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 148 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 168 | 9 | ||
| Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) | 2007–08[22] | League One | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 2[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 33 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09[21] | League One | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 4[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 32 | 2 | ||
| Total | 51 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 6 | 0 | 65 | 2 | |||
| Walsall | 2009–10[23] | League One | 40 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 44 | 4 | |
| 2010–11[24] | League One | 46 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 51 | 9 | ||
| Total | 86 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 95 | 13 | |||
| Shrewsbury Town | 2011–12[25] | League Two | 42 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 1[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 48 | 5 | |
| 2012–13[26] | League One | 43 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 45 | 7 | ||
| Total | 85 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 93 | 12 | |||
| Cheltenham Town | 2013–14[27] | League Two | 46 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 0 | 0 | 49 | 8 | |
| 2014–15[28] | League Two | 45 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 50 | 3 | ||
| Total | 91 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | 2 | 0 | 99 | 11 | |||
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 2015–16[29] | League Two | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Career total | 471 | 41 | 24 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 531 | 47 | ||
- ↑ Appearances in UEFA Cup
- ↑ Appearances in First Division play-offs
- ↑ Appearances in Championship play-offs
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Appearances in Football League Trophy
References
- 1 2 3 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
- ↑ Richards to Extend Brighton loan, BBC Football, 18 October 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2008
- ↑ Richards Extends Loan at Brighton, BBC Football, 17 November 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2008
- ↑ Brighton bag Ipswich's Richards, BBC Football, 17 January 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2008
- ↑ Matt Returns to Brighton, itfc.co.uk, 21 July 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2008
- ↑ http://www.clubfanzine.com/ipswich_town/v2.showNews.php?id=19375
- ↑ http://www.clubfanzine.com/ipswich_town/v2.showNews.php?id=19623
- ↑ Burton Albion 2 Ilkeston Town 3 Clough The Magic Dragon, 14 July 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2010
- ↑ Walsall Sign Defender Richards, BBC Football, 4 August 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009
- ↑ "Midfielder signs". Shrewsbury Town F C official website. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
- ↑ http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/shrewsbury-town-fc/2012/05/01/matt-richards-big-winner-at-fans%E2%80%99-awards-night/
- 1 2 "Matt Richards: Cheltenham Town sign former Shrewsbury captain". BBC Sport. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- ↑ "Cheltenham 1–3 Plymouth". BBC Sport. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
- ↑ "Daggers Sign Midfielder". Dagenham & Redbridge. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Games played by Matt Richards in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Matt Richards in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Matt Richards in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Matt Richards in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Matt Richards in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- 1 2 "Games played by Matt Richards in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Matt Richards in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Matt Richards in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Matt Richards in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Matt Richards in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Matt Richards in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Matt Richards in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Matt Richards in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Matt Richards in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matt Richards (footballer born 1984). |
