Ray Richards

Raymond 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. Playing career Club career Richards started his football career at the semi-professional club Croydon F.C. in London, England. At the age of 16 in 1963, he was offered a professional contract with Leyton Orient F.C., but decided to emigrate to Australia, to play with the Latrobe Soccer Club, based in Brisbane. In 1968, he moved to Hollandia-Inala Soccer Club, also in Brisbane, then in 1969 he moved to Sydney to play for Sydney Croatia in Division 1 (at that time, the top tier in the New South Wales competition), before moving to the Marconi Club in Division 2 for the rest of that season. Marconi was then promoted to Division 1 after winning the Division 2 premiership in 1969. Richards continued playing for the club, up to and including the first year of the National Soccer League in 1977. In 1979 Richards played five NSL matches for Sydney club APIA Leichhardt before becoming coach of the team in May. International career In all Richards played 31 times for the Australian national team and scored 5 times from 1967 to 1975.