Richie Powling

Infobox Football biography
playername = Richie Powling


fullname =
dateofbirth = 21 May 1956
cityofbirth = Barking
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height =
position = Defender
currentclub =
youthyears = 1971-1973
youthclubs = Arsenal
years = 1973-1981
clubs = Arsenal
Barnet Grays Athletic
caps(goals) = 55 0(3)
nationalyears = 1973-74
nationalteam = England youth
nationalcaps(goals) = 03 0(0)
manageryears = 1984-????
1992-1997
1999
2002-2003
managerclubs = Tiptree United
Harwich & Parkeston
Sudbury Town
Braintree Town
Clacton Town
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Richie Powling (born 21 May 1956) is a former English professional footballer who played as a central defender, and who later became a manager.

Playing career

Born in Barking, Powling began his career at Arsenal, signing on apprentice terms in September 1971. A regular for the club's reserve teams while still just fifteen, he turned professional in July 1973. He made his first-team debut in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of QPR on 27 October 1973, but only played once more that season; he went on to win three England youth caps during the 1973-74 season.

A bit-part player during 1974-75, making only nine appearances, in the 1975-76 season he established himself in the first team, playing 29 matches and scored his first goal in a 1-1 draw at Coventry City's Highfield Road. However, following the arrival of a new manager, Terry Neill, and two new defenders (Pat Howard and Willie Young), as well as a series of injuries, he lost his regular place in the first team, playing just 11 times in 1976-77.

He suffered a serious injury in a match against Nottingham Forest in September 1977 and missed the rest of the 1977-78 and 1978-79 seasons. He made a comeback in the reserves at the end of 1979-80 but never fully recovered and never played for the first team again. In total he played 59 times for Arsenal, scoring three times. He left the club in 1981, signing for non-League Barnet and went on to play for Grays Athletic before retiring.

Managerial career

He began his management career at Tiptree United in 1984, [ [http://www.tiptreeunited.com/history.php History] Tiptree United] before moving to Harwich & Parkeston. Between 1992 and 1997 he managed Sudbury Town, [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19961115/ai_n14077930 Football: FA CUP COUNTDOWN: Powling's paupers can cash in] The Independent, 15 November 1996] leading them to their greatest period of success; the club were promoted to the Premier Division of the Southern League and reached the FA Cup second round for the first (and only) time in their history.

After leaving Sudbury he took over as manager of Braintree Town in April 1999, [ [http://archive.echo-news.co.uk/1999/4/14/222499.html Soccer: Powling aims high for Braintree] Gazette, 14 April 1999] but was sacked in December that year. [ [http://archive.braintreeandwithamtimes.co.uk/1999/12/17/210457.html Soccer: Iron sack Powling] Gazette, 17 December 1999] After returning to Harwich on the coaching staff in 2000, [ [http://archive.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/2000/12/13/190620.html Soccer: Powling at Harwich] Clacton Gazette, 13 December 2000] he joined Clacton Town in 2002, and became the club's Director of Football in 2003. [ [http://archive.billericayweeklynews.co.uk/2003/9/9/141200.html Soccer: Powling steps up] Gazette, 9 September 2003]

References

*cite book
author=Harris, Jeff & Hogg, Tony (ed.)
title=Arsenal Who's Who
publisher=Independent UK Sports
year=1995
id=ISBN 1-899429-03-4

External links

* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=21265 Richie Powling] Sporting Heroes