Simon Richman

Simon Richman

Personal information
Full name	Simon Andrew Richman[1]
Date of birth	2 June 1990
Place of birth	Ormskirk, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Altrincham
Number	8
Youth career
2000–2006	Bolton Wanderers
2006–2008	Port Vale
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2008–2010	Port Vale	48	(5)
2010–2011	Worcester City	37	(4)
2011–	Altrincham	136	(14)
Honours Competitor for  Great Britain Football Universiade 2013 Kazan Football
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:24, 27 April 2015 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Simon Andrew Richman (born 2 June 1990) is an English semi-professional footballer who plays for Altrincham as a midfielder.

A former youth player with Port Vale, he was a regular in the first team throughout 2008–09, picking up the club's young player of the year award. He was released in the summer of 2010, at which point he joined Worcester City for a season. He signed with Altrincham in June 2011, and helped the club to win promotion out of the Conference North via the play-offs in 2014.

Playing career

Born in Ormskirk, Lancashire, Richman attended Maricourt Catholic High School.^[2] A former member of the Bolton Wanderers Academy, Richman worked his way up the ranks from the Port Vale youth team to the Reserves and broke into the main team in the 2007–08 season, signing his first professional contract in April 2008.^[3]

At the beginning of the 2008–09 season he established himself as a first team regular, earning eight consecutive starts and also got his first league goal. However, as the season went on the Valiants made numerous loan signings and Richman went out of favour. On 6 December 2008, he came on as a substitute against Grimsby Town, scoring an 88th-minute winner.^[4] This gave manager Dean Glover a selection headache as the youngster battled with more experienced players for a first team slot.^[5] Following that match he played another 21 games that season, his consistent performances earning him the club's Young Player of the Year Award.^[6]

He picked up a groin injury in pre-season which sidelined him for several months. He was later transfer listed in late September, despite being injured, along with the entire Port Vale squad, after manager Micky Adams saw his team slip to a third consecutive defeat.^[7] In January 2010 he received interest off League Two club Grimsby Town and Scottish First Division side Ayr United.^[8] His agent, former Vale legend Phil Sproson, believed a loan move would be in the player's interests.^[9] On 20 February he made his first appearance in four months, replacing Tommy Fraser in a 2–0 defeat by Barnet.^[10] In April 2010 he learned that he would not be offered a new contract by manager Micky Adams.^[11]

In July 2010, Richman enjoyed a trial at Conference National club, and Conference North title holders Southport.^[12] The next month he was on trial at Worcester City, where former teammate Danny Glover had found a home.^[13] He signed a contract with the club soon after.^[14] He enjoyed a solid start to his career, and claimed that the club helped him to rediscover his passion for the game.^[15] Throughout the season he earned praised for his energy levels and work-rate.^[16]

Offered a new contract by Worcester, Richman instead opted to sign with league rivals Altrincham.^[17] He took this decision as his new club lied closer to his Liverpool home, and because he had played under new manager Lee Sinnott at Port Vale.^[18] Richman made his Altrincham debut as a substitute in a 1–1 draw against Workington. He scored his first Altrincham goal in his second appearance, again as a substitute, in 3–0 win over Histon.^[19] The club missed out on the play-offs by 11 points in 2011–12, before securing a play-off spot by an 11-point margin in 2012–13. They were beaten 4–2 by Brackley Town in the play-off semi-finals, despite Richman scoring in a 2–1 victory at Moss Lane. The "Robins" again qualified for the play-offs in the 2013–14 campaign, and Richman played in the final as the club secured promotion with a 2–1 extra-time victory over Guiseley.^[20]

Personal life

Richman is a Newcastle United fan.^[2] Studies Chemical Engineering in the University of Manchester.

Statistics

As of 11 May 2014.

Season	Club	Division	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other[21]		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2007–08[22]	Port Vale	League One	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
2008–09[23]		League Two	37	5	2	0	1	0	1	0	41	5
2009–10[24]			5	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	6	0
Total			48	5	2	0	2	0	1	0	53	5
2010–11	Worcester City	Conference North	37	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	37	4
Total			37	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	37	4
2011–12[25]	Altrincham	Conference North	30	2	0	0	0	0	2	1	32	3
2012–13[26][27]			35	8	3	0	0	0	5	1	43	9
2013–14[27]			37	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	38	3
Total			102	13	3	0	0	0	8	1	113	15
Career total			187	22	5	0	2	0	9	1	203	24

Honours

Altrincham

• Conference North play-offs: 2013–14

Individual

• Port Vale F.C. Young Player of the Year: 2008–09

References

1. "Search 1984 to 2006 – Birth, Marriage and Death indexes". Findmypast.com. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
2. "4 – Simon Richman". port-vale.co.uk. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 5 September 2009.
3. "Richman agrees new deal with Vale". BBC Sport. 18 April 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
4. "Port Vale 2–1 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 6 December 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
5. "Richman ready for midfield battle". BBC Sport. 7 December 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2008.
6. "Player of the Year Winners". Official Port Vale website. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
7. "Adams puts Vale squad up for sale". BBC Sport. 27 September 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
8. Shaw, Steve (20 January 2010). "Port Vale: Vale eye home improvements". The Sentinel. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
9. "Port Vale: Richman may have to ship out to step up". The Sentinel. 21 January 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
10. "Port Vale 0 – 2 Barnet". BBC Sport. 20 February 2010. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
11. "Port Vale release Lawrie, Howland, Richman & Edwards". BBC Sport. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
12. Kirkbride, Phil (10 July 2010). "Southport 0–1 Eastwood Town – Pre-season friendly". Southport Visiter. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
13. Carley, Steve (1 August 2010). "Worcester City 4 AFC Liverpool 1". Worcester News. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
14. Carley, Steve (6 August 2010). "Three new signings complete City squad". Worcester News. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
15. Carley, Steve (9 October 2010). "Richman rediscovers his passion for the game". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
16. Heeley, Carl (5 May 2011). "It was a campaign of mixed emotions". Worcester News. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
17. "Altrincham sign Simon Richman and Chris Lynch". BBC Sport. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
18. Reeves, Michael (27 May 2011). "Ex-Reds boss is handed City role". Worcester News. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
19. "Altrincham FC Match Reports". altrinchamfc.co.uk. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
20. "Altrincham strike late in extra time to beat Guiseley in play-off final". BBC Sport. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
21. Includes other competitive competitions, including the Football League Trophy.
22. "Games played by Simon Richman in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
23. "Games played by Simon Richman in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
24. "Games played by Simon Richman in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
25. "Stats". altrinchamfc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
26. "Stats". altrinchamfc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
27. "Stats". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 May 2014.

External links

• Simon Richman career statistics at Soccerbase