Matt Richards (footballer, born 1984)
English footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Matthew Lee Richards (born 26 December 1984) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder or left back.
|
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] | ||
| Positions | |||
| 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) | |
| International career | |||
| 2004–2005 | England U16 | 5 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | England U17 | 5 | (0) |
| 2006 | England U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 2004 | England U21 | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
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]
Later years
In November 2017, after a year out of the game, Richards joined Bath City of the National League South.[18] On 23 March 2019, he joined Banbury United in the Southern Football League Premier Division.[19] He left the club in late May, at the end of the season.[20]
Career statistics
- As of match played 27 January 2018
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ipswich Town | 2002–03[21] | First Division | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| 2003–04[22] | First Division | 44 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 50 | 1 | |
| 2004–05[23] | Championship | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 28 | 1 | |
| 2005–06[24] | Championship | 38 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 40 | 4 | ||
| 2006–07[25] | Championship | 28 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 32 | 3 | ||
| 2008–09[26] | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 148 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 168 | 9 | ||
| Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) | 2007–08[27] | League One | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 33 | 0 |
| 2008–09[26] | League One | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4[d] | 0 | 32 | 2 | |
| Total | 51 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 65 | 2 | ||
| Walsall | 2009–10[28] | League One | 40 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 44 | 4 |
| 2010–11[29] | League One | 46 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 51 | 9 | |
| Total | 86 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 95 | 13 | ||
| Shrewsbury Town | 2011–12[30] | League Two | 42 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 48 | 5 |
| 2012–13[31] | League One | 43 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 45 | 7 | |
| Total | 85 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 93 | 12 | ||
| Cheltenham Town | 2013–14[32] | League Two | 46 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 8 |
| 2014–15[33] | League Two | 45 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 50 | 3 | |
| Total | 91 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 99 | 11 | ||
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 2015–16[34] | League Two | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Bath City | 2017–18[35] | National League South | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 6[e] | 0 | 25 | 3 | |
| 2018–19[36] | National League South | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[e] | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Total | 24 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 31 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 495 | 44 | 24 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 26 | 0 | 562 | 50 | ||
- Appearances in First Division play-offs
- Appearances in Championship play-offs
- Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
Honours
Shrewsbury Town
Individual
- Shrewsbury Town Player of the Year: 2011–12[37]
- Shrewsbury Town Players' Player of the Year: 2011–12[37]
