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.
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. He remained an unused substitute during the 2–1 defeat and had to wait until 3 September 2005 to make his debut, which came with a start in a 0–0 draw with Bristol City. He made 19 appearances during the 2005–06 season and helped the Us to automatic promotion to the Championship. 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. Richards departed Layer Road in August 2007, after making 24 appearances and scoring one goal for the club.
Gravesend & Northfleet (loan) On 29 January 2005, Richards joined Conference Premier club Gravesend & Northfleet on a one-month loan. He failed to make an appearance before his loan expired.
Brentford (loan) On 9 February 2007, Richards joined League One strugglers Brentford on a one-month loan, which was later extended until the end of the 2006–07 season. He made 10 appearances and scored one goal, which came with the opener in a 2–2 draw with Oldham Athletic on 25 March, before his spell came to an end due to a pelvic injury suffered during a match versus Cheltenham Town on 7 April.
Southend United Richards joined League One club Southend United on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee on 4 August 2007. After making just 14 appearances during the first half of the 2007–08 season, Richards departed Roots Hall on 25 January 2008.
Gillingham On 25 January 2008, Richards joined League One strugglers Gillingham on a -year contract for an undisclosed fee. 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. Despite suffering ankle ligament damage and a broken toe in April 2010, Richards signed a new two-year contract in July 2010, but his Gillingham career was ultimately ended by a fractured fibula suffered during a 3–1 victory over Barnet on 6 March 2012. Richards was released in May 2012 and made 122 appearances and scored six goals during seasons at Priestfield.
Luton Town On 25 June 2012, Richards dropped into non-League football to join Conference Premier club Luton Town on a two-year contract. 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. Richards' departure signalled his retirement from football.
Honours Colchester United Football League One second-place promotion: 2005–06 Gillingham Football League Two play-offs: 2009
Career statistics +Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsColchester United2004–05League One00000000002005–0615010003Appearances in Football League Trophy01902006–07Championship5100000051Total201100030241Gravesend & Northfleet (loan)2004–05Conference Premier00———00Brentford (loan)2006–07League One101———101Southend United2007–08League One100102010140Gillingham2007–08League One141———1412008–09League Two362301043 appearances in League Two play-offs, 1 appearance in Football League Trophy04422009–10League One1600010201902010–11League Two1700000001702011–12241310011283Total10746120711226Career total147681401111708
References
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