Tributes pour in for Richards

Tributes are pouring in for Walsall legend Tony Richards who has died aged 75.

News of the Saddlers great's passing last Thursday evening emerged shortly before Saturday's game with Millwall and a minute's silence was held before kick-off at the Banks's Stadium in memory of the former striker.

Richards is widely regarded among the Saddlers' greatest ever players, scoring 185 goals in 338 league games for the club during a nine-year spell between 1954 and 1963.

The former striker was instrumental in Walsall's Fourth Division title triumph in 1960, finishing top scorer with 26 goals, as well as their promotion to the Second Division the following season – again leading the Saddlers scoring charts with 36.

Walsall manager Chris Hutchings said: "It's very sad news. I never saw him play but I think his goals record speaks for itself. He was a great player and he will be sorely missed around the place. Our condolences go to his family."

Walsall super fan Stan Blandford watched Richards during his heyday and knew him on a personal level.

Stan said: "He was one of the great players during Walsall's really excellent period during the late fifties and early sixties. He was a great goalscorer and I got to know him after he finished playing and he was a really nice man.

"It is a very sad day for Walsall Football Club."

Richards began his career at Birmingham, turning professional in December 1951, but soon found himself carrying out two years of National Service.

He managed to carry on playing football, however, skippering the Battery and Regimental team while serving in Egypt – netting a double hat-trick in one game.

After demobilization, he had failed trials with Wolves and Tottenham and was on the verge of giving up the game when he wrote to Major Frank Buckley, then manager of Walsall, requesting a trial.

The rest was history and he went on to earn legendary status during one of the most successful spells in Walsall's history.

After suffering a leg injury in 1963, he joined Port Vale, scoring 30 league goals in 63 appearances there during a two-year stay.

Recently, he was named honorary life president of the club to mark his cult status.