Garry Richards

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.

Garry Richards
Richards training with Gillingham in 2011.
Personal information
Full name Garry Richards[1]
Date of birth (1986-06-11) 11 June 1986
Place of birth Romford, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[2]
Position(s) Central defender
Youth career
0000–2004 Colchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 Colchester United 20 (1)
2005 → Gravesend & Northfleet (loan) 0 (0)
2007 → Brentford (loan) 10 (1)
2007–2008 Southend United 10 (0)
2008–2012 Gillingham 107 (4)
2012–2013 Luton Town 0 (0)
Total 147 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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.[3] He remained an unused substitute during the 2–1 defeat and had to wait until 3 September 2005 to make his debut,[3] which came with a start in a 0–0 draw with Bristol City.[4] He made 19 appearances during the 2005–06 season and helped the Us to automatic promotion to the Championship.[4][5] 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.[6][7] Richards departed Layer Road in August 2007, after making 24 appearances and scoring one goal for the club.[7][8]

Gravesend & Northfleet (loan)

On 29 January 2005, Richards joined Conference Premier club Gravesend & Northfleet on a one-month loan.[7] He failed to make an appearance before his loan expired.[7]

Brentford (loan)

On 9 February 2007, Richards joined League One strugglers Brentford on a one-month loan,[9] which was later extended until the end of the 2006–07 season.[10][11] He made 10 appearances and scored one goal, which came with the opener in a 2–2 draw with Oldham Athletic on 25 March,[6] before his spell came to an end due to a pelvic injury suffered during a match versus Cheltenham Town on 7 April.[12]

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,[13] Richards departed Roots Hall on 25 January 2008.[14]

Gillingham

On 25 January 2008, Richards joined League One strugglers Gillingham on a 2+1⁄2-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[14] 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.[15] Despite suffering ankle ligament damage and a broken toe in April 2010,[16] Richards signed a new two-year contract in July 2010,[17] but his Gillingham career was ultimately ended by a fractured fibula suffered during a 3–1 victory over Barnet on 6 March 2012.[18] Richards was released in May 2012 and made 122 appearances and scored six goals during 4+1⁄2 seasons at Priestfield.[7][19]

Luton Town

On 25 June 2012, Richards dropped into non-League football to join Conference Premier club Luton Town on a two-year contract.[20] 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.[21] Richards' departure signalled his retirement from football.[22]

Honours

Colchester United

Gillingham

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Colchester United 2004–05[23] League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2005–06[4] 15 0 1 0 0 0 3[lower-alpha 1] 0 19 0
2006–07[6] Championship 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1
Total 20 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 24 1
Gravesend & Northfleet (loan) 2004–05[23] Conference Premier 0 0 — — — 0 0
Brentford (loan) 2006–07[6] League One 10 1 — — — 10 1
Southend United 2007–08[13] League One 10 0 1 0 2 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 14 0
Gillingham 2007–08[13] League One 14 1 — — — 14 1
2008–09[15] League Two 36 2 3 0 1 0 4[lower-alpha 2] 0 44 2
2009–10[24] League One 16 0 0 0 1 0 2[lower-alpha 1] 0 19 0
2010–11[25] League Two 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 0
2011–12[26] 24 1 3 1 0 0 1[lower-alpha 1] 1 28 3
Total 107 4 6 1 2 0 7 1 122 6
Career total 147 6 8 1 4 0 11 1 170 8
  1. Appearances in Football League Trophy
  2. 3 appearances in League Two play-offs, 1 appearance in Football League Trophy

References
  1. "Garry Richards". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  2. "Player Profiles". Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  3. "Garry Richards Player Profile". ESPN FC. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  4. "Games played by Garry Richards in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  5. "Colchester United Complete History". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  6. "Games played by Garry Richards in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  7. Garry Richards at Soccerbase
  8. "Southend sign Richards from U's". BBC Sport. 4 August 2007. Retrieved 4 August 2007.
  9. "Bees Sign Defender". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  10. "Richards Extends Loan". brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  11. "Fitz Tells Of Loan Signing". brentfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  12. "Player Update". brentfordfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  13. "Games played by Garry Richards in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  14. "Exclusive: Richards Becomes Latest Player To Sign". 25 January 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  15. "Games played by Garry Richards in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  16. "Gills suffer Richards injury blow". 14 April 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  17. "Richards pens new Gillingham deal". 1 July 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  18. "Garry Richards breaks leg in Gillingham win over Barnet". BBC Sport. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  19. "Gillingham release Simon King, Jo Kuffour & Garry Richards". BBC Sport. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  20. "Signing #5 Welcome Garry Richards". 25 June 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  21. "Richards Leaves Hatters". Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  22. "Retiring Hatters defender Richards expresses his gratitude". www.dunstabletoday.co.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  23. "Games played by Garry Richards in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  24. "Games played by Garry Richards in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  25. "Games played by Garry Richards in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  26. "Games played by Garry Richards in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
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