Richards Dai Image 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1935

Description

Abercanaid, Merthyr Tydfil born left half David “Dai” Richards played junior football for Riverfield in 1924 and Bedlinog in 1925 before spending 1926-27 on the books of Merthyr Town, for whom he didn’t make a first team appearance. He joined Second Division Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1927, making his Football League debut at Port Vale in February 1928. Initially a fringe player, he became a regular in the Wolves line up from September 1929, helping them to win the Second Division Championship in 1931-32. He won the first of his 21 caps for Wales in a 3-2 victory over Ireland at The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham in April 1931, winning his last cap against Scotland in November 1938.

In November 1935, after 5 goals in 228 appearances for Wolves, he joined First Division Brentford, playing two seasons for The Bees as they finished 5th and 6th in the First Division. He then transferred to Birmingham in March 1937 after 58 appearances, scoring twice in 66 appearances for The Blues and leaving them to join Walsall in the summer of 1939 after their relegation from the First Division. However he played only 3 times for The Saddlers before the outbreak of the Second World War forced the abandonment of peacetime football and effectively ended Richards’ career.

Dai Richards’ brother Billy also played in the Football League for Merthyr Town, Wolves, Coventry City, Fulham and Brighton, and was capped by Wales.