Full name Raymond Richards 1963-1967 Latrobe Soccer Club Name Ray Richards | Playing position Role Football player Years Team Position Midfielder | |
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Date of birth (1946-05-18) 18 May 1946 (age 69) | ||
Ray richards past wafl champion footballer
Raymond "Ray" Richards (born 18 May 1946) is an Australian former football (soccer) midfielder. He was a member of the Australian 1974 World Cup squad in West Germany and represented the country 31 times in total for 5 goals between 1967 and 1975 as well as representing Queensland and New South Wales.
Contents
- Ray richards past wafl champion footballer
- Club career
- International career
- 1974 World Cup
- Coaching career
- Honours
- References
Club career
Richards started his football career at Croydon in England before moving to Australia in 1963, to play with the Latrobe Soccer Club, based in Brisbane. In 1968, he moved to Hollandia Soccer Club, also in Brisbane. In 1969, he moved to Sydney to play for Sydney Croatia. Between 1969 and 1977 Richards played for Marconi in the New South Wales State League and in the first year of the National Soccer League in 1977. In 1979 Richards played four matches for A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers.
International career
In all Richards played 31 times for the Australian national team and scored 5 times from 1967-1975.
1974 World Cup
Richards played in Australia's three matches at the 1974 FIFA World Cup in Germany. Richards has the dubious honour of being the first Australian to be sent off in a World Cup match, being sent off in the game against Chile in 1974. He actually received three yellow cards. It wasn't until the reserve official, Clive Thomas, informed the linesman of the mistake four minutes after the third yellow card that the referee, Jafar Namdar, realised his mistake and ordered him off the field.
Coaching career
Between 1974 and 1976 Richards acted as a player/coach at Marconi Stallions.
Honours
Richards is a member of the Football Federation Australia Football Hall of Fame.