William Stanley Richards (born 18 December 1991) is a Welsh footballer who plays as a defender for Barry Town United. A product of the Shrewsbury Town youth system, he made just one senior appearance, before embarking on a career in non-league football in the West Midlands area.

Playing career

Richards began his career in the Shrewsbury Town youth team, and despite ultimately never signing professional terms with the club made one competitive appearance in a Football League Trophy fixture against Accrington Stanley on 20 October 2009 as a substitute. Having also been a regular for Shrewsbury's reserve team, on his release he was offered a trial and later signed up at non-league neighbours AFC Telford in June 2010, however he was sent out on loan to Market Drayton Town in September 2010 with then Telford manager Andy Sinton citing his sides good start to the season limiting Richards first team opportunities at the club. He was recalled from his loan to cover for suspension in January 2011 but was sent out on loan again to

Redditch United Redditch United Football Club is an English football club based in Redditch, Worcestershire. The club participates in the and play their home games at the V Trico Stadium. They are managed by former Captain and Assistant Manager Matt Clarke. ...

in February 2011. After the expiry of his contract at Telford, Richards later went on to sign for

Solihull Moors Solihull Moors Football Club is a professional football club based in Solihull, England. The club currently competes in the National League, the fifth tier of the English football league system, after achieving promotion from the National Leag ...

in August 2011, before spending further loan spells at Redditch and

Evesham United Evesham United Football Club are an English football club based in Evesham, Worcestershire. They reached the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in the 2008–09 season. In 2005, they entered the Southern League Premier Divisi ...

. He then spent the 2012−13 season on a permanent basis at Redditch United, before joining Stourbridge in June 2013. Whilst at Stourbridge, he notably scored in an FA Cup first-round tie against fellow Southern League Premier Division side Biggleswade Town in a 4−1 victory. He also played a full ninety minutes in the second round as they were knocked out of the competition by

Stevenage Stevenage ( ) is a large town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, about north of London. Stevenage is east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1(M), between Letchworth Garden City to the north and Welwyn Garden City to the south. In 1946, Stevena ...

of League One. Richards returned to Redditch for a fourth time, signing a one-year deal in June 2015. After being named in the

Southern Football League The Southern League is a men's football competition featuring semi-professional clubs from the South and Midlands of England. Together with the Isthmian League and the Northern Premier League it forms levels seven and eight of the English fo ...

team of the year for the 2015–16 season, he then signed for

Chippenham Town Chippenham Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club club based in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England. They are currently members of and play their games at Hardenhuish Park. History The club states it was established in 1873,

in July 2016, helping them to promotion to the

National League South The National League South, formerly Conference South, is one of the second divisions of the National League in England, immediately below the top division National League. Along with National League North, it is in the second level of the N ...

as champions of the Southern League Premier Division in April 2017. He agreed a contract extension at the club the following month. Will departed

after 4 seasons on 20 December 2019, and emigrated to Australia. In December 2023, Richards joined National League North club Gloucester City. He departed the club on 10 January 2024, joining Cymru Premier club Barry Town United two days later.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Richards, Will 1991 births Living people People from Radnorshire Footballers from Powys Welsh men's footballers Men's association football defenders Shrewsbury Town F.C. players AFC Telford United players Market Drayton Town F.C. players Redditch United F.C. players Solihull Moors F.C. players Evesham United F.C. players Stourbridge F.C. players Chippenham Town F.C. players Gloucester City A.F.C. players Barry Town United F.C. players Southern Football League players National League (English football) players