Damien Richardson (footballer)

Damien John Richardson (born 2 August 1947 in Dublin) is an Irish football manager and former player. His most recent job was as manager of Drogheda United. Richardson formerly managed Gillingham in England and Cobh Ramblers, Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers in Ireland. He is also known for his media work, including Monday Night Soccer.

For other people with the same name, see Damien Richardson.

Damien Richardson
Personal information
Full name Damien John Richardson
Date of birth (1947-08-02) 2 August 1947
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1963–1972 Shamrock Rovers 110 (41)
1972–1981 Gillingham 323 (94)
1984–1985 Canterbury City 28 (0)
International career
1971–1979 Republic of Ireland 3 (0)
1968 League of Ireland XI 1 (0)
Managerial career
1989–1992 Gillingham
1993–1995 Cork City
1995 Cobh Ramblers
1995–1998 Shelbourne
1999–2002 Shamrock Rovers
2005–2007 Cork City
2010–2011 League of Ireland XI
2014 Drogheda United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Player

As a player Richardson's career was divided between Shamrock Rovers and Gillingham. He made his Rovers debut in a 2–1 friendly win over Sunderland at Roker Park on 10 August 1963. His competitive debut came eight days later as Rovers beat Shelbourne 3–0 at Tolka Park in a Dublin City Cup clash. While at Rovers he twice won the FAI Cup in 1968 and 1969 (scoring in the final replay) as well as getting an Inter League cap and represented the club 5 times in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup. He received the first of three international caps for the Irish national team while at Shamrock Rovers, making his debut against Austria in Linz in October 1971. He scored in his final appearance for Rovers on 22 October 1972 at Milltown.

He moved to the English Fourth Division side Gillingham at the age of 25. He played for the Priestfield Stadium side for the next nine years before being released in 1981. During his time there he scored 100 goals and was named Player of the Season for 1974–75.[1][2]

Manager

Richardson's managerial career began in 1989 where he managed Gillingham, having previously served as the club's youth team manager. A rather lacklustre career there ended in 1992, and he returned to Ireland in 1993 to manage Cork City. He proved an instant success bringing the club within striking distance of retaining the league title. However, after 18 months he left the club after a dispute with then chairman Pat O'Donovan.

Following Cork City, he moved on another Cork side Cobh Ramblers before taking up the management position at Shelbourne. His time at Shelbourne saw two Cup successes (1995–96 and 1996–97), one League of Ireland Cup (1995–96) and a runner up position in the League (1997–98) in three seasons. His failure to win the league ultimately cost him his job.

He moved to his old club Shamrock Rovers, where his tenure for three seasons failed to result in a trophy. Ultimately, Richardson and club chairman Joe Colwell disagreed on the direction of the club, and parted ways in April 2002.[3] Colwell wanted to focus on building a new stadium for the club, while Richardson wanted to focus on a full-time panel of players.

In 2005 Richardson returned to League of Ireland management when Cork City's manager Pat Dolan was dramatically sacked before the start of pre-season friendlies. Cork City chairman Brian Lennox signed the 57-year-old Richardson to a two-year contract at Turners Cross 15 days before the first competitive match of the season. Richardson commented that the Cork City job was the only one that could have brought him back to League of Ireland management.[4] Despite being hospitalised in September[5] in his first season in charge Cork City were crowned League of Ireland champions for the second time in the club's history. Cork City also reached the final of the FAI Cup but were defeated by Drogheda United. The 2006 and 2007 seasons saw 4th-place positions for his club in both years. In 2007 Richardson led Cork City to FAI Cup victory, but left shortly afterwards following some controversy, and a financial settlement agreement.[6]

In 2010 Damien was selected by the FAI to manage a League of Ireland XI to play a full-strength Manchester United side in the opening match of the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Again in 2011 he was selected by the FAI to manage a League of Ireland XI to play in the Dublin Super Cup at the Aviva Stadium.

Richardson was named as the manager of Drogheda United on 26 July 2014 for the remainder of their league campaign.

Media work

In 2002, Richardson left football management to become a TV soccer pundit with TV3 in Ireland, before returning to the game in 2005. He is now a regular pundit on Monday Night Soccer on Raidió Teilifís Éireann, and is also a regular contributor to RTÉ Radio's coverage of Republic of Ireland international matches. He contributed to RTÉ Sport's coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[7][8]

Richardson writes a regular blog for the RTÉ / MNS website, and continues to write a weekly column for a Cork newspaper since his time as manager of Cork City.

Richardson has also supported Red FM's national award-winning "Break the Cycle" anti-speeding campaign. In addition to his media work, he occasionally teaches football team management seminars. Richardson also once played the bodhran on an album (A Kentish Garland) by Tundra, a folk music group from Kent.[9]

Honours

As a player
Shamrock Rovers

Individual

  • Gillingham Player of the Season: 1974–75[2]

As a manager
Shelbourne
Cork City

Individual
  • SWAI Personality of the Year: 2005

Family

Richardson's father George also played and managed in the League of Ireland. He played for Bray Unknowns F.C. and Brideville F.C. and managed St Patrick's Athletic in the 1970s.

References
  1. "GILLINGHAM : 1950/51 - 2013/14". Neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 2016-03-08.
  2. Gillingham Football Club 1975-76 Supporters Handbook. 1975. p. 25. Damien Richardson is current Player-of-the-Year. He earned the award with some great performances last season.
  3. The Irish Times https://web.archive.org/web/20121022233634/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/2002/0418/Pg023.html. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2011. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. "Irish Examiner - 2005/03/03: Richardson ready to step in for Dolan". Archived from the original on 1 July 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2005.
  5. The Irish Times https://web.archive.org/web/20121010123255/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/2005/0910/Pg030.html. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2009. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. "Richardson and Cork agree exit deal". RTÉ News. 20 December 2007. Archived from the original on 23 December 2007.
  7. Black, Fergus (2 June 2010). "RTÉ hopes Ossie and squad will spur fans to back home team". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  8. O'Malley, Carl (2 June 2010). "RTÉ roll out big guns for their 56 live games". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  9. McSweeney, Joseph (26 July 2014). "Tundra Release list". Mainlyforfolk.info. Retrieved 26 July 2014.

Bibliography
  • The Hoops by Paul Doolan and Robert Goggins (ISBN 0-7171-2121-6)
  • Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7524-2243-X.
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