Richard Poole (footballer)
English footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richard John Poole (born 3 July 1957) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre forward in the Football League for Brentford and Watford and in France for Sporting Toulon Var.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Richard John Poole[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 3 July 1957 | ||
| Place of birth | Heston, England | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1969–1974 | Brentford | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1974–1976 | Brentford | 21 | (1) |
| 1976–1977 | Watford | 9 | (1) |
| 1977–1978 | Sporting Toulon Var | 7 | (2) |
| Total | 37 | (4) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
Brentford
Along with Kevin Harding, Poole was one of the first players recruited when the Brentford youth team was relaunched in 1972,[2] after joining the club at the age of 12.[3] Poole made his professional debut in a Fourth Division match versus Lincoln City in February 1974, while still an apprentice.[4] At 16 years, 7 months and 20 days old, Poole's league debut was at the time the club's second-youngest.[5] In the final home game of the 1973–74 season, Poole scored one and made another in a 2–0 win against Bradford City on 20 April, a result which saved the Bees from having to apply for re-election.[6] Poole still stands as Brentford's youngest league goalscorer.[7] He signed a professional contract during the 1975 off-season and made seven further appearances for the club,[4] before leaving in July 1976.[7]
Watford
Poole joined fellow Fourth Division club Watford in July 1976 and made nine appearances and scored one goal during the 1976–77 season.[1][8]
Sporting Toulon Var
In 1977, Poole emigrated to France and joined Division 2 Group A club Sporting Toulon Var.[9] He made 8 appearances and scored two goals during the 1977–78 season, before a knee ligament injury brought his career to an end in April 1978.[3][citation needed] He was a teammate of future France and Ivory Coast internationals Jean Tigana and Jean-Désiré Sikely respectively.[citation needed]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brentford | 1973–74[4] | Fourth Division | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| 1974–75[4] | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| 1975–76[4] | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Total | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 | ||
| Watford | 1976–77[8] | Fourth Division | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| Sporting Toulon Var | 1977–78[citation needed] | French Division 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 8 | 2 | |
| Career total | 35 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 4 | ||
