Richard John Landon is a retired English footballer who played as a striker.

Landon combined his job as a part-time player with an office job before entering the professional game. While at his desk, he was told he had phone call waiting from Peter Shilton

Peter Shilton

Peter Leslie Shilton OBE is a former English footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He currently holds the record for playing more games for England than anyone else, earning 125 caps....

, who had spotted him playing for Bedworth United

Bedworth United F.C.

Bedworth United Football Club is a football club based in Bedworth, Warwickshire, England, currently playing in the Southern League Division One Central....

. He almost didn't take the call, sensing it was a wind-up. He accepted an offer of a trial from Plymouth Argyle

Plymouth Argyle F.C.

Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...

 and impressed, which led to a £30,000 transfer. He scored five goals in his first eight appearances for the club, including a hat-trick

Hat-trick

A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...

 in their 8–1 win at 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...

 on 7 May 1994. The following season was a disappointing one for Landon, having suffered a number of injuries. He scored another seven goals before new manager Neil Warnock

Neil Warnock

Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....

 sold him to Stockport County

Stockport County F.C.

Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...

 for £50,000. Two spells with Macclesfield Town

Macclesfield Town F.C.

Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...

 and one with Rotherham United

Rotherham United F.C.

Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...

 followed before he finished his career back in non-league football

Non-league football

Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...

. He returned to Stockport County after retiring from playing as the club's kit man

Equipment manager

An equipment manager is a person who is in charge of a sports team's equipment. In professional and Collegiate sports, this is usually a full-time job....

.

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