Place of birth Barking, England 1973–1981 Arsenal Playing position Name Richie Powling | 1971–1973 Arsenal Role Footballer Years Team Position Defender | |
Date of birth (1956-05-21) 21 May 1956 (age 59) | ||
Richie Powling (born 21 May 1956) is an English former professional footballer who played as a central defender, and who later became a manager.
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Playing career
Born in Barking, Powling began his career at Arsenal, signing on apprentice terms in September 1971. A regular for the club's reserve teams while still just fifteen, he turned professional in July 1973. He made his first-team debut in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Queens Park Rangers on 27 October 1973, but only played once more that season; he went on to win three England youth caps during the 1973–74 season.
A bit-part player during 1974–75, making only nine appearances, in the 1975–76 season he established himself in the first team, playing 29 matches and scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw at Coventry City's Highfield Road. However, following the arrival of a new manager, Terry Neill, and two new defenders (Pat Howard and Willie Young), as well as a series of injuries, he lost his regular place in the first team, playing just 11 times in 1976–77.
After appearing against Nottingham Forest in September 1977, he suffered an ankle injury, then knee damage, causing him to miss the rest of the 1977–78 and 1978–79 seasons. He made a comeback in the reserves at the end of 1979–80 but never fully recovered and never played for the first team again. In total he played 59 times for Arsenal, scoring three times. He left the club in 1981, signing for non-League Barnet and went on to play for Grays Athletic before retiring.
Managerial career
He began his management career at Tiptree United in 1984, before moving to Harwich & Parkeston. Between 1992 and 1997 he managed Sudbury Town, leading them to their greatest period of success; the club were promoted to the Premier Division of the Southern League and reached the FA Cup second round for the first (and only) time in their history.
After leaving Sudbury he took over as manager of Braintree Town in April 1999, but was sacked in December that year. After returning to Harwich on the coaching staff in 2000, he joined Clacton Town in 2002, and became the club's Director of Football in 2003.