Garry Richards Explained

Garry Richards
Fullname:Garry Richards
Height:[1]
Birth Date:1986 6, df=y
Birth Place:Romford, England
Position:Central defender
Youthyears1:–2004
Youthclubs1:Colchester United
Years1:2004–2007
Years2:2005
Years3:2007
Years4:2007–2008
Years5:2008–2012
Years6:2012–2013
Clubs1:Colchester United
Clubs2:Gravesend & Northfleet (loan)
Clubs3:Brentford (loan)
Clubs4:Southend United
Clubs5:Gillingham
Clubs6:Luton Town
Caps1:20
Goals1:1
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Caps3:10
Goals3:1
Caps4:10
Goals4:0
Caps5:107
Goals5:4
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Totalcaps:147
Totalgoals:6

Garry Richards (born 11 June 1986) is an English retired professional footballer who made over 100 appearances as a central defender in the Football League for Gillingham. He also played for Colchester United, Southend United and Brentford.

Career

Colchester United

A product of the youth system at Colchester United, Richards won his maiden call into the first team squad for a League One match versus Hartlepool United on 30 August 2004.[2] He remained an unused substitute during the 2–1 defeat and had to wait until 3 September 2005 to make his debut, which came with a start in a 0–0 draw with Bristol City. He made 19 appearances during the 2005–06 season and helped the Us to automatic promotion to the Championship.[3] Despite scoring his first goal for the club with the only goal of the game versus Preston North End on 30 January 2007, Richards was largely out of favour during the 2006–07 season and spent two months away on loan. Richards departed Layer Road in August 2007, after making 24 appearances and scoring one goal for the club.

Gravesend & Northfleet (loan)

On 29 January 2005, Richards joined Conference Premier club Gravesend & Northfleet on a one-month loan. He failed to make an appearance before his loan expired.

Brentford (loan)

On 9 February 2007, Richards joined League One strugglers Brentford on a one-month loan,[4] which was later extended until the end of the 2006–07 season.[5] [6] He made 10 appearances and scored one goal, which came with the opener in a 2–2 draw with Oldham Athletic on 25 March, before his spell came to an end due to a pelvic injury suffered during a match versus Cheltenham Town on 7 April.[7]

Southend United

Richards joined League One club Southend United on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee on 4 August 2007.[8] After making just 14 appearances during the first half of the 2007–08 season, Richards departed Roots Hall on 25 January 2008.[9]

Gillingham

On 25 January 2008, Richards joined League One strugglers Gillingham on a -year contract for an undisclosed fee. At the end of the 2008–09 season, he was part of the team which secured promotion back to League One with victory in the 2009 League Two play-off final. Despite suffering ankle ligament damage and a broken toe in April 2010,[10] Richards signed a new two-year contract in July 2010,[11] but his Gillingham career was ultimately ended by a fractured fibula suffered during a 3–1 victory over Barnet on 6 March 2012.[12] Richards was released in May 2012 and made 122 appearances and scored six goals during seasons at Priestfield.[13]

Luton Town

On 25 June 2012, Richards dropped into non-League football to join Conference Premier club Luton Town on a two-year contract.[14] Richards' time at Kenilworth Road was beset by injury and despite multiple operations and extensive periods of rehabilitation on an injured ankle, he failed to win a call into a squad before his contract was mutually terminated on 14 October 2013.[15] Richards' departure signalled his retirement from football.[16]

Honours

Colchester United

Gillingham

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Colchester United2004–05League One0000000000
2005–0615010003[17] 0190
2006–07Championship5100000051
Total201100030241
Gravesend & Northfleet (loan)2004–05Conference Premier0000
Brentford (loan)2006–07League One101101
Southend United2007–08League One100102010140
Gillingham2007–08League One141141
2008–09League Two36230104[18] 0442
2009–10League One160001020190
2010–11League Two170000000170
2011–12241310011283
Total10746120711226
Career total147681401111708

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Player Profiles . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120919132532/http://www.lutontown.co.uk/team/player-profile/index.aspx?playerid=298668&tcmuri=194490 . 19 September 2012 . 24 July 2019.
  2. Web site: Garry Richards Player Profile . 2 January 2018 . ESPN FC.
  3. Web site: Colchester United Complete History . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065001/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/colchester-united/history . 4 March 2016 . 3 January 2018 . Statto.com.
  4. Web site: Bees Sign Defender . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180212205016/http://world.brentfordfc.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~978399,00.html . 12 February 2018 . 8 April 2018 . brentfordfc.co.uk.
  5. Web site: Richards Extends Loan . 8 April 2018 . brentfordfc.co.uk.
  6. Web site: Fitz Tells Of Loan Signing . 8 April 2018 . brentfordfc.co.uk.
  7. Web site: Player Update . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180408210221/http://world.brentfordfc.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~1009646,00.html . 8 April 2018 . 8 April 2018 . brentfordfc.co.uk.
  8. News: 4 August 2007 . Southend sign Richards from U's . BBC Sport . 4 August 2007.
  9. Web site: 25 January 2008 . Exclusive: Richards Becomes Latest Player To Sign . 3 January 2018.
  10. News: 14 April 2010 . Gills suffer Richards injury blow . en-GB . 3 January 2018.
  11. News: 1 July 2010 . Richards pens new Gillingham deal . en-GB . 3 January 2018.
  12. News: 7 March 2012 . Garry Richards breaks leg in Gillingham win over Barnet . en-GB . BBC Sport . 3 January 2018.
  13. News: 21 May 2012 . Gillingham release Simon King, Jo Kuffour & Garry Richards . en-GB . BBC Sport . 3 January 2018.
  14. Web site: 25 June 2012 . Signing #5 Welcome Garry Richards . 3 January 2018.
  15. News: Richards Leaves Hatters . en-gb . 3 January 2018.
  16. Web site: Retiring Hatters defender Richards expresses his gratitude . 3 January 2018 . www.dunstabletoday.co.uk . en.
  17. Appearances in Football League Trophy
  18. 3 appearances in League Two play-offs, 1 appearance in Football League Trophy