Will Richards (footballer)

William Stanley Richards (born 18 December 1991) is a Welsh footballer who plays as a defender for Chippenham Town.

Will Richards
Personal information
Full name William Stanley Richards
Date of birth (1991-12-18) 18 December 1991
Place of birth Knighton, Wales
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
–2009 Shrewsbury Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009−2010 Shrewsbury Town 0 (0)
2010−2011 AFC Telford United
2010−2011 → Market Drayton Town (loan)
2011 → Redditch United (loan)
2011−2012 Solihull Moors
2011 → Redditch United (loan)
2011−2012 → Evesham United (loan)
2012−2013 Redditch United
2013−2015 Stourbridge
2015−2016 Redditch United
2016− Chippenham Town 118 (10)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:00, 30 June 2019 (UTC)

A product of the Shrewsbury Town youth system, he made just one senior appearance, before embarking on a career in non-league football in the West Midlands area.

Playing career

Richards began his career in the Shrewsbury Town youth team, and despite ultimately never signing professional terms with the club made one competitive appearance in a Football League Trophy fixture against Accrington Stanley on 20 October 2009 as a substitute.[1]

Having also been a regular for Shrewsbury's reserve team, on his release he was offered a trial and later signed up at non-league neighbours AFC Telford in June 2010,[2] however he was sent out on loan to Market Drayton Town in September 2010 with then Telford manager Andy Sinton citing his sides good start to the season limiting Richards first team opportunities at the club.[3] He was recalled from his loan to cover for suspension in January 2011[4] but was sent out on loan again to Redditch United in February 2011.[5]

After the expiry of his contract at Telford, Richards later went on to sign for Solihull Moors in August 2011,[6] before spending further loan spells at Redditch and Evesham United. He then spent the 2012−13 season on a permanent basis at Redditch United, before joining Stourbridge in June 2013.[7] Whilst at Stourbridge, he notably scored in an FA Cup first-round tie against fellow Southern League Premier Division side Biggleswade Town in a 4−1 victory.[8] He also played a full ninety minutes in the second round as they were knocked out of the competition by Stevenage of League One.[9]

Richards returned to Redditch for a fourth time, signing a one-year deal in June 2015.[10]

After being named in the Southern Football League team of the year for the 2015–16 season, he then signed for Chippenham Town in July 2016,[11] helping them to promotion to the National League South as champions of the Southern League Premier Division in April 2017.[12] He agreed a contract extension at the club the following month.[13]

Will departed Chippenham Town after 4 seasons on 20 December 2019, and emigrated to Australia.[14]

References
  1. "Accrington 2–0 Shrewsbury". BBC Sport. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  2. "Telford look at former Shrewsbury midfielder". BBC Sport. 28 June 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  3. "Will Richards has AFC Telford future". BBC Sport. 30 September 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  4. "Will Richards returns to AFC Telford United". BBC Sport. 25 January 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  5. "Bucks set for Bridgnorth Town friendly". Shropshire Star. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  6. "Moors Bring in Richards". Pitchero Non-League. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  7. "Glassboys Recruit Richards". Stourbridge FC. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  8. "Stourbridge 4-1 Biggleswade Town". BBC Sport. 9 November 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  9. "Stevenage 4-0 Stourbridge". BBC Sport. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  10. "McDonald brings back former Reds favourite". Redditch United F.C. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  11. "Chippenham Town sign ex-Redditch United defender Will Richards". Wiltshire Times. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  12. "Chippenham Town see unbeaten run ended following defeat to St Neots Town". Gazette and Herald. 15 April 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  13. "Super six agree terms to stay with title winning Bluebirds". Wiltshire Times. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  14. "Defender Will Richards to leave Chippenham Town and head to Australia". Gazette and Herald. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
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