Richard Rose (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername= Richard Rose
fullname = Richard Alan Rose


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|9|8
cityofbirth = Tunbridge Wells
countryofbirth = England
height = height|metres=1.78
currentclub = Hereford United
clubnumber = 2
position = Full back, Centre back, Centre midfield
youthyears =
youthclubs = Gillingham
years = 2000–2006
2002–2003
2006–
clubs = Gillingham
→ Bristol Rovers (loan)
Hereford United
caps(goals) = 58 (0)
09 (0)
70 (2)
pcupdate = 10:25, 21 September 2008 (UTC)

Richard Alan Rose (born 8 September 1982 in Tunbridge Wells) is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Hereford United.

Richard made his professional debut whilst still a youth trainee as a substitute in Gillingham's 2–1 defeat at Crewe towards the end of the 2000–01 season. Rose went on to play in the final four games of the season in place of the injured Mark Patterson. Despite his young age, Rose produced calm, assured performances and showed that he was able to play anywhere across the back.

Rose also showed that he was equally comfortable with either foot and took free kicks with both feet. A stylish defender, Rose displayed a good awareness of players around him, and had a good first touch and a wide range of passing abilities.

Rose only played three games in the next season and three the season after that, however he did spend time on loan with Bristol Rovers during the 2002–03 season, playing nine times and picking up two bookings in the season that Bristol Rovers finished a disappointing 20th in League Two.

Rose started to establish himself more in the 2004–05 season, during which time he played 20 times (18 in the league), mostly at right or left back. Gillingham were eventually relegated back down to League One at the end of that season. Relegation prompted the departures of Nyron Nosworthy (a right back) and John Hills (a left back), presenting Rose to stake a claim for a regular spot in the starting line-up in League One.

Things certainly started according to plan as Neale Cooper gave Rose a permanent right-back spot. Unfortunately, however, Rose responded with some disappointing performances as Gillingham struggled in League One. Neale Cooper left with less than half the season elapsed, and assistant manager Ronnie Jepson stepped into the Gillingham hot seat. Jepson did not, however, favour Rose and Rose was dropped from the side. Having only made one appearance for the first team since Cooper's departure, it appeared that Rose's days at Gillingham could be numbered, and indeed on May 9th he was released by the club.

On June 29 he signed for Hereford United, playing initially in centre midfield for the opening matches of the season. He scored his first goal for the club in the 2–0 win over Chester. However the loan signings of John Eustace and Neil MacKenzie kept Richard out of the starting XI since the end of October. However he returned to the side for the 1–0 win away at Notts County, in defence. With only two central defence places available for much of the season, and competition for those places, Richard ended up as the third most selected central defender of the season.

Rose started the current season at left back but has filled in at centre back and right back when required. He was the first Hereford defender to score a goal this season when he netted against Darlington and is currently sidelined with a broken ankle.

External links

* [http://www.herefordunited.co.uk/Player?playerId=556801 Official Hereford United Profile]
*soccerbase|24193|Richard Rose