Nick Richardson
Encyclopedia
Nicholas John "Nick" Richardson (born 11 April 1967 in Halifax
, Yorkshire
) is a former English
professional footballer, who played in the Football League between the 1980s and 2000s.
for £35,000. During his first season he won both a Division Three title and a Welsh Cup
winners medal, after the Bluebirds beat Rhyl
5-0 in the final. Unfortunately he suffered from several injuries and, despite loan spells at Wrexham
and Chester City
, struggled to recover the early form he showed at the club.
He left to join Bury
in 1995 where he spent just one month before moving permanentley to Chester City for £40,000. His second season at the club ended in disaster as he suffered a serious knee injury against Hartlepool United
and was forced to undergo a lengthy rehabilitation programme to return to action. He recovered to be the club's player of the season in 1997–98
and remained involved in the first-team squad at Chester until shortly after they were relegated to the Conference National
in 2000.
Richardson returned to The Football League
with York City
for a year before joining Harrogate Town
. He later spent time with clubs including Ossett Town
, Spennymoor United
and Frickley Athletic
.
Nick's younger brother Lee
was also a professional footballer and played alongside him during his time at Halifax.
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
) is a former English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional footballer, who played in the Football League between the 1980s and 2000s.
Career
Richardson began his career playing non-league football for Emley before joining Halifax Town in 1988. He quickly established himself in the side and was a regular for three and a half seasons before signing for Cardiff CityCardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
for £35,000. During his first season he won both a Division Three title and a Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
winners medal, after the Bluebirds beat Rhyl
Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
5-0 in the final. Unfortunately he suffered from several injuries and, despite loan spells at Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
and Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
, struggled to recover the early form he showed at the club.
He left to join Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
in 1995 where he spent just one month before moving permanentley to Chester City for £40,000. His second season at the club ended in disaster as he suffered a serious knee injury against Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
and was forced to undergo a lengthy rehabilitation programme to return to action. He recovered to be the club's player of the season in 1997–98
1997-98 in English football
The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title...
and remained involved in the first-team squad at Chester until shortly after they were relegated to the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
in 2000.
Richardson returned to The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
with York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
for a year before joining Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Conference North division of the Football Conference.-History:...
. He later spent time with clubs including Ossett Town
Ossett Town F.C.
Ossett Town Football Club are an English football club based in Ossett, in the City of Wakefield district, West Yorkshire, playing in the Northern Premier League in the 2011-12 season.-History:...
, Spennymoor United
Spennymoor United F.C.
Spennymoor United F.C. was an English association football club based in Spennymoor, County Durham.In 1905, they joined the Northern League and won the league title six times in their history. In the 1936-37 season, they reached the third round of the FA Cup, where they lost to top-flight side West...
and Frickley Athletic
Frickley Athletic F.C.
Frickley Athletic F.C. are a football club based in South Elmsall, in West Yorkshire, England. They were established in 1910 as Frickley Colliery F.C., and changed to their present name in 1974.-History:...
.
Nick's younger brother Lee
Lee Richardson (footballer)
Lee James Richardson is a former professional footballer and until 6 May 2009 he was manager of Chesterfield...
was also a professional footballer and played alongside him during his time at Halifax.