richards_william
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| Name: William "Billy" Richards |
Nationality: England |
| Position: centre-forward |
Signing Information: Transferred from: West Bromwich Albion, 12/1901, £40 |
| Birthdate: 06-10-1874 |
Years at Club: 1901-1902 |
| Age: (150) |
Debut: 21/12/1901 v Port Vale (Bank Street) 1-0 (League Division Two) |
| Birthplace: West Bromwich, England |
Previous clubs: West Bromwich Albion |
| Height: 5' 9" (1.75m) |
Farewell to Manchester United: Transferred to ?, 05/1902, £ |
| Weight: 11st 8lbs (73.48kg) |
Passed Away: 12/02/1926 |
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If only Billy Richards knew what he was letting himself into when he left West Bromwich Albion for Newton Heath in mid-December 1901. Just over three weeks later, his new club, struggling financially, were wound up and all the players' contracts were cancelled. Perhaps as a sign of his growing bond with his new teammates, Richards rejected the opportunity to walk away and join another club by sticking with the Heathens until the end of the season.
Billy was a product of the Midlands having come through at Wordsley then Singers FC (now Coventry). The 5'9" centre-forward became a star with WBA when he joined them in 1894, promptly getting off the mark with a debut goal versus Wolverhampton in September. His career hit a setback just a month later when he missed the train to a game at Everton. The incensed West Brom board "questioned him at a considerable length" before suspending him until the New Year. Luckily, the FA met in November and removed his draconian ban once he paid a fine of one guinea.
At the end of 1894-95, Richards earned an FA Cup finalists' medal when Albion lost to Aston Villa, then in both 1895-96 and 1898-99, he led his club's scoring charts. By 1901, however, he had lost his regular spot in the first team, and that is when Newton Heath threw their last £40 on him.
Richards' Mancunian debut came in frosty weather against Burslem Port Vale on December 21st, 1901. Heath's goalkeeper and both fullbacks received heavy knocks during the game, but Billy brightened the occasion by claiming the only goal with a lighting shot that crashed just under the bar. Initially, Richards appeared in six consecutive outings but, when he could not find the net again, he lost his place to an even newer signing - Jamie Higson - and only added three more outings in February and March, still without scoring.
Not re-signed by the new owners, Billy left Manchester United in the 1902 close season and played for Stourbridge for two years. He ended his career at Halesowen Town where he played from 1904 to 1907.
Biography kindly provided by Charbel Boujaoude. |
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Season
Goals |
Season
Apps |
| 1 |
1901-1902 |
1 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
| TOTALS |
1 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
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