David Richards (footballer)

David Richards

Personal information
Full name	David Richards
Date of birth	1 October 1896(1896-10-01)
Place of birth	Wolverhampton, England
Date of death	25 June 1971(1971-06-25) (aged 74)
Place of death	Hammersmith, England
Youth career
	Larkhall Thistle
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1922–1923	Port Vale	1	(0)
1923–1925	Dundee United	49	(3)
1925–1931	Luton Town	147	(0)
1931–1933	Watford	35	(0)
Total		232	(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

David Richards (1 October 1896 – 25 June 1971) was an English footballer who played professionally for Port Vale, Dundee United, Luton Town and Watford.

Playing career

Richards played for Larkhall Thistle before joining Port Vale in August 1922. His only appearance was at centre-half in a 1–0 defeat at Notts County on 28 October 1922, and he was released at the end of the season.^[1]

Richards then became one of new Dundee Hibernian manager Jimmy Brownlie's first signings, and made his debut for Hibs in a Penman Cup tie against St. Johnstone on 15 August 1923. Two months later the club changed its name mid-season, with Richards being one of the players that appeared in their first match under the new identity of Dundee United. He spent two seasons with the club, making over 50 competitive appearances and winning promotion as champions of Scottish Football League Division Two in the 1924–25 season.^[2]

Although Dundee United hoped to keep the promotion-winning squad intact for their first season in the top division, Richards departed after accepting an offer from Luton Town, where he would go on to play in excess of 150 matches over six seasons. After leaving Luton he joined Watford on a free transfer, where he made 43 appearances in all competitions over two seasons.^[3]

Coaching career

Upon his retirement as a player he became a trainer and worked at Queen's Park Rangers, Chelmsford City and Brentford.

Honours

Dundee United

• Scottish Football League Division Two: 1924–25

References

1. ^ Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 249. ISBN 0952915200. http://www.amazon.ca/Port-Vale-Personalities-Jeff-Kent/dp/0952915200. 
2. ^ Gracie, Steve (2008). A Passion For Survival. Dundee: Arabest Publishing. ISBN 9780955834103. 
3. ^ Jones, Trefor (1996). The Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. p. 196. ISBN 0-9527458-0-1. 

Persondata
Name	Richards, David
Alternative names
Short description	Footballer
Date of birth	1 October 1896
Place of birth	Wolverhampton, England
Date of death	25 June 1971
Place of death	Hammersmith, England