| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gary Richards | ||
| Date of birth | 2 August 1963 | ||
| Place of birth | Swansea, Wales | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Swansea City | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1981-1985 | Swansea City | 66 | (1) |
| 1985 | Jönköpings Södra IF | ||
| 1985-1986 | Lincoln City | 7 | (0) |
| 1985-1986 | Cambridge United | 8 | (0) |
| 1986-1987 | Torquay United | 25 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Gary Richards (born 2 August 1963) is a former Welsh footballer. Richards began his career with hometown club Swansea City, turning professional in August 1981. He made his first team debut at the end of the 1981-82 season in Swansea's 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa. He would appear 15 times the following season as Swansea suffered relegation from the First Division and would also feature in Swansea's 1983 Welsh Cup final success when the Swans defeated Wrexham 4-1. Richards was a regular the following season, appearing 34 times, but Swansea slipped to a second successive relegation. He reached only 16 appearances in the 1984-85 season, departing Swansea at the end of the season for a spell in Sweden with Jönköpings Södra IF.
Returning to the Football League, Richards linked up with Lincoln City, making his debut in the 1-1 home draw with Bristol City on 6 November 1985. Following the sacking of Lincoln's manager John Pickering in December, Richards found himself out of favour with the new manager George Kerr and moved on to Cambridge United.
In July 1986 he moved on to Torquay United where a serious injury caused the end of his professional career. He moved into the non-league ranks and played for Newport County in their ill-fated 1988-89 season before enjoying spells with Llanelli, Saltash United, Stroud, Barry Town and Haverfordwest County.
He resides in Swansea where he has been employed as a postman.[1] He has been involved with youth football coaching for a number of years, particularly with the Swansea City Bravehearts, a football club for children with disabilities. Richards was involved with the club from its beginning in 2000 and is presently Head Coach and Chairperson.[2] In 2003 he was awarded City of Swansea Coach of the Year for his work with the Bravehearts.[3] He is also a coach within Swansea City's Centre of Excellence. In the 2007-08 season he was responsible for the Under 16 side.[4]