Newspaper Article 2

Express and Star article

(Express and Star, 1st December 1998)

"One of the most memorable days in the history of Walsall Football Club was Saturday August 19, 1961. It was the opening day of the 1961-62 Football League season and marked the return of the Saddlers to the old Second Division after a period of 60 years. It is history now that on a lovely summer day, a crowd of 18,420 assembled at Fellows Park to watch Walsall's opening fixture against big-spending Sunderland, whose centre forward was Brian Clough. No Saddlers supporter of that generation will forget that game, which Walsall won by a 4-3 margin, and three of those goals were scored by Tony Richards.
It is a wonderful memory, and must have been one of the key factors in deciding the outcome of the quest to find the Walsall Legend when Tony Richards emerged in first position ahead of a list of other Walsall FC folk-lore heroes. The voting was: 1 Tony Richards 31%; 2 Alan Buckley 25%; 3 Gilbert Alsop 15%; 4 Ken Gutteridge 12%; 5 Colin Taylor 11%; 6 Harry Wait 6%.
While perhaps the hat-trick against Sunderland was the red letter day in the career of Tony Richards there were many other magical moments in a playing career with the Saddlers starting in 1954 after he had completed his National Service, and had been rejected by the likes of Birmingham City, Wolves and Tottenham Hotspur. In nine years with the club, he made 354 appearances for Walsall scoring 195 goals.
He was one of the greatest goalscorers ever to play for the Saddlers, and was the spearhead of the attack throughout the late 1950s, helping the club win the Fourth Division title in 1959-60, scoring 24 goals, and then in the 1960-61 season contributing a massive 36 goals during the club's successful promotion season to the Second Division.
Supporters will have many fond memories of Tony Richards. There was one memorable match in the 1957-58 season - an away game at Swindon - when Saddlers goalkeeper John Savage was sent off and Richards donned the keeper's jersey. He saved a penalty and helped Walsall to an against-the-odds 3-2 victory.
Other magical moments include four goals in a 6-4 thriller against Port Vale in December 1960, and two goals at Craven Cottage in an FA Cup fourth round tie against an all-star Fulham team led by Johnny Haynes that earned Walsall a 2-2 draw, and so the memories flood back.

Tony Richards provided enormous pleasure to Walsall supporters of that era, and made a major contribution to the playing fortunes of the club. He is truly a Walsall legend and will receive his trophy prior to a forthcoming match at Bescot Stadium when fans will be able to show their appreciation to a truly great Saddler."

^{(Thanks to the Express And Star for permission to reproduce this article)}