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Full Name: John P Richards Born: 9th
November 1950
One of the most prolific scorers in the
history of Wolverhampton Wanderers, in 1967 John Richards left school in
Warrington and joined the Molineux club, he then turned professional two
years later. He made his debut in the Old Gold and Black colours at the
Hawthornes in February 1970, a match Wolves drew 3-3. His first goal
arrived in the Anglo-Italian Tournament v Fiorentia (away) in May 1970 and
his first league goal followed against Huddersfield Town (home) in
September 1970 when he came on as sub in a Division 1 match. He formed a
brilliant partnership with Derek Dougan, but it was 1971-72 before he
established himself as a regular first-team member, scoring 16 goals in 48
games and gaining a UEFA Cup runners-up medal. The following season he was
the country's leading goal scorer with 33 league and cup goals and another
three in the Texaco Cup. His total included hat-tricks against Stoke City
(home 5-3) and Everton (home 4-2). At the end of that season he won his
only England cap when he played in a 2-1 win over Northen Ireland, and he
also represented his country at schoolboy, Under 21 and Under 23 levels. In 1974 he scored the winning goal in Wolves 2-1 win over Man City in the
League Cup final and in 1976-77 he helped Wolves win the Second Division
Championship. In 1980 he was a member of the Wolves side that beat Notts
Forest 1-0 in the League Cup final. He went on to score 194 goals in 486
games before leaving Molineux in rather sad circumstances and a lot of
fans were annoyed at his leaving, this after he had been on loan to Derby
County (Nov 1982). He joined the Portuguese side Maritimo of Medeira and
spent three years there before returning to England to begin working for
the Wolverhampton Leisure Services Department. The becoming Wolves
managing director, leaving his position at the start of the 2000/01
season. John is also the only player to have received
two benefits at Wolves one in 1982 and then in 1986 three years after he
had left the club.
John Richard's Wolves Career
|
League
|
FA Cup
|
League Cup
|
Others
|
Totals
|
Season
|
App
|
Gls
|
App
|
Gls
|
App
|
Gls
|
App
|
Gls
|
App
|
Gls
|
1969-70 |
4 |
0 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2/1 |
1 |
6/1 |
1 |
1970-71 |
4/10 |
1 |
0/1 |
1 |
- |
- |
1/1 |
0 |
5/12 |
2 |
1971-72 |
33/2 |
13 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
3 |
46/2 |
16 |
1972-73 |
42 |
27 |
5 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
59 |
36 |
1973-74 |
26 |
9 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
37 |
18 |
1974-75 |
34 |
13 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
37 |
15 |
1975-76 |
38/1 |
17 |
5/1 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
- |
- |
47/1 |
25 |
1976-77 |
27 |
15 |
5 |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
32 |
20 |
1977-78 |
37 |
11 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
- |
- |
41 |
13 |
1978-79 |
19 |
9 |
4 |
0 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
23 |
9 |
1979-80 |
29 |
13 |
4 |
2 |
8 |
3 |
- |
- |
41 |
18 |
1980-81 |
40/1 |
13 |
9 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
53/1 |
17 |
1981-82 |
30/4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1/1 |
1 |
- |
- |
32/5 |
4 |
1982-83 |
2/2 |
0 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2/2 |
0 |
Totals |
365/20 |
144 |
42/2 |
24 |
32/1 |
18 |
22/2 |
8 |
461/25 |
194 |
|