I was Premier League club’s record scorer, then I went into local Government and formed a turf company

JOHN RICHARDS has been front page news in Wolverhampton again this week after being awarded the freedom of the city.

The former striker was rewarded for his outstanding contributions to Wolves, supporting ex-players and his charity work.    

When it comes to club legends, there are few greater than the man fans call ‘King John’ at Molineux.

Richards spent 14 years at Wolves between 1969 and 1983 and became their record goalscorer with 194 until fellow forward Steve Bull passed his mark in 1992.

He was the club’s leading scorer in eight out of nine seasons between 1972 and 1981, helped them to two League Cup wins — even scoring the Wembley winner in the 1974 final against Manchester City.

After packing away his boots and going into local government in 1985, he returned to the club in 1995 during the Jack Hayward era, first as a non-executive director and then as the club’s managing director.

Last year he was named Wolves’ third vice-president alongside Bull and Robert Plant following the death of Ron Flowers.

In his pomp, Richards was a match for any striker in English football.

He was a ‘fox in the box’ with speed and pace but with an intelligence and sharp instinct of always being in the right place at the right time.

Now 74, Richards takes a deep breath and says: “It’s 56 years ago when I first joined Wolves. Man was just walking on the moon in 1969 when I signed a contract here. There’s been a few steps taken since then!

“I am honoured to be back at the club as vice-president. It means the world to me.”

Richards is also chairman of the Wolves Former Players Association, another role he talks about with great passion.

He added: “It gives me the opportunity to be part of a group of players from different eras, who have become lifelong friends and, beyond that, an extended family for me.”

For one of the most gifted scorers of his generation, it is baffling that Richards only ever played at Wembley twice in his 16-year career and won just one England cap.

He said: “For me, playing at Wembley meant everything. In my era, so few games were played at the national stadium. There were a lot of wonderful players of my generation who never played there.

“I consider myself very lucky that my two games at Wembley were both finals and we won them both.

“Last year we had a reunion to mark the 50th anniversary of that 1974 League Cup victory against Manchester City, winning 2-1. I was grateful to score the winning goal with five minutes remaining.

“It was a joy to share it with so many supporters, who wanted to tell me their stories of celebrating after the game and not getting back home until the Monday!

How it started

“In the end I was more absorbed by their anecdotes than what we did on the pitch.

“Against Nottingham Forest six years later, we always found them tough to beat but to win it I still get goosebumps  reliving that day.

“As for England, I played a few times at different levels but only had one senior cap. I never quite took the opportunity.”

As a teenager, Richards was spotted playing for Lancashire Grammar School against a team who had a Wolves scout among their staff.

He said: “He asked me if I was assigned to any club and offered me a trial. I went along and from there I was offered a one-year contract, moving up from the third team and then reserves before the first team in just over a year.”

Richards made his debut for the black and gold at West Brom in February  1970.

Successful debut

He recalled: “Derek Dougan was injured but I didn’t know until the Friday that I would be playing. I was so wet behind the ears I didn’t even know where West Bromwich was, let alone the rivalry between the  sides.

“I soon found out as it was quite hostile. I thought I played okay, it was a 3-3 draw and I thought we were unlucky not to win.

“I scored my opening first-team goal a year later against  Huddersfield. It wasn’t the best shot  but it went in and is one of those unforgettable moments.

“That Wolves side in the early to mid seventies was exceptional and I was lucky to play with so many  talented players.”

After 14 years he moved on loan to Derby in 1982 and then joined Portugal’s Maritimo for two seasons.

He said: “I moved because at that time I wasn’t getting any minutes. Derby were struggling when I joined but I’m pleased to say they stayed up.

“Playing abroad in Portugal was another great opportunity.”

Despite scoring 23 league goals in 44 games for Maritimo, Richards and his family headed back to England in 1985, with his eldest daughter due to move into secondary school.

He became Wolves’ managing director in 1997, then from 2001  formed Pitchcare — a sports turf service provider — with Wolves groundsman Dave Saltman.

They sold the business to Agro-vista UK in 2020 and Richards added: “It had been a richly rewarding 18 years. I think Dave felt it was the right time to step down and I felt exactly the same.”