| Matt Richards | |
| Fullname: | Matthew Lee Richards[1] |
| Birth Date: | 1984 12, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Harlow, England |
| Position: | Midfielder / Left back |
| Youthyears1: | 2000–2002 |
| Youthclubs1: | Ipswich Town |
| Years1: | 2002–2009 |
| Years2: | 2007 |
| Years3: | 2008 |
| Years4: | 2008–2009 |
| Years5: | 2009–2011 |
| Years6: | 2011–2013 |
| Years7: | 2013–2015 |
| Years8: | 2015–2016 |
| Years9: | 2017–2019 |
| Years10: | 2019 |
| Clubs1: | Ipswich Town |
| Clubs2: | → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) |
| Clubs3: | → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) |
| Clubs4: | → Brighton & Hove Albion (loan) |
| Clubs5: | Walsall |
| Clubs6: | Shrewsbury Town |
| Clubs7: | Cheltenham Town |
| Clubs8: | Dagenham & Redbridge |
| Clubs10: | Banbury United |
| Caps1: | 148 |
| Caps2: | 14 |
| Caps3: | 14 |
| Caps4: | 23 |
| Caps5: | 86 |
| Caps6: | 85 |
| Caps7: | 91 |
| Caps8: | 10 |
| Caps9: | 24 |
| Caps10: | 7 |
| Goals1: | 8 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Goals5: | 12 |
| Goals6: | 12 |
| Goals7: | 8 |
| Goals8: | 0 |
| Goals9: | 3 |
| Goals10: | 0 |
| Totalcaps: | 502 |
| Totalgoals: | 44 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2004–2005 |
| Nationalteam1: | England U16 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 5 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2005–2006 |
| Nationalteam2: | England U17 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 5 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2006 |
| Nationalteam3: | England U18 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Nationalyears4: | 2004 |
| Nationalteam4: | England U21 |
| Nationalcaps4: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals4: | 0 |
Matthew Lee Richards (born 26 December 1984) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder or left back.
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.
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]
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]
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.
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]
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]
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]
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]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Ipswich Town | 2002–03 | First Division | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[21] | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2003–04 | First Division | 44 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[22] | 0 | 50 | 1 | ||
| 2004–05 | Championship | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[23] | 0 | 28 | 1 | ||
| 2005–06 | Championship | 38 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 40 | 4 | |||
| 2006–07 | Championship | 28 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 32 | 3 | |||
| 2008–09 | 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 | League One | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[24] | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| 2008–09 | League One | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 32 | 2 | ||
| Total | 51 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 65 | 2 | |||
| Walsall | 2009–10 | League One | 40 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 4 | |
| 2010–11 | League One | 46 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 9 | ||
| Total | 86 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 95 | 13 | |||
| Shrewsbury Town | 2011–12 | League Two | 42 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 5 | |
| 2012–13 | League One | 43 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 7 | ||
| Total | 85 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 93 | 12 | |||
| Cheltenham Town | 2013–14 | League Two | 46 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 8 | |
| 2014–15 | League Two | 45 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 3 | ||
| Total | 91 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 99 | 11 | |||
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 2015–16 | League Two | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Bath City | 2017–18[25] | National League South | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 6[26] | 0 | 25 | 3 | ||
| 2018–19[27] | National League South | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 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 | |||
Shrewsbury Town
Individual