Richie Powling
Encyclopedia
Richie Powling is a former English
professional footballer who played as a central defender, and who later became a manager.
, Powling began his career at Arsenal
, signing on apprentice terms in September 1971. A regular for the club's reserve teams while still just fifteen, he turned professional in July 1973. He made his first-team debut in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Queens Park Rangers
on 27 October 1973, but only played once more that season; he went on to win three England youth
caps during the 1973–74
season.
A bit-part player during 1974–75
, making only nine appearances, in the 1975–76
season he established himself in the first team, playing 29 matches and scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw at Coventry City
's Highfield Road
. However, following the arrival of a new manager, Terry Neill
, and two new defenders (Pat Howard
and Willie Young), as well as a series of injuries, he lost his regular place in the first team, playing just 11 times in 1976–77
.
After appearing against Nottingham Forest
in September 1977, he suffered an ankle injury, then knee damage, causing him to miss the rest of the 1977–78
and 1978–79
seasons. He made a comeback in the reserves at the end of 1979–80
but never fully recovered and never played for the first team again. In total he played 59 times for Arsenal, scoring three times. He left the club in 1981, signing for non-League Barnet
and went on to play for Grays Athletic
before retiring.
in 1984, before moving to Harwich & Parkeston
. Between 1992 and 1997 he managed Sudbury Town
, leading them to their greatest period of success; the club were promoted to the Premier Division of the Southern League
and reached the FA Cup
second round for the first (and only) time in their history.
After leaving Sudbury he took over as manager of Braintree Town
in April 1999, but was sacked in December that year. After returning to Harwich on the coaching staff in 2000, he joined Clacton Town in 2002, and became the club's Director of Football
in 2003.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who played as a central defender, and who later became a manager.
Playing career
Born in BarkingBarking
Barking is a suburban town in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, in East London, England. A retail and commercial centre situated in the west of the borough, it lies east of Charing Cross. Barking was in the historic county of Essex until it was absorbed by Greater London. The area is...
, Powling began his career at Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, signing on apprentice terms in September 1971. A regular for the club's reserve teams while still just fifteen, he turned professional in July 1973. He made his first-team debut in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
on 27 October 1973, but only played once more that season; he went on to win three England youth
England national under-18 football team
-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Slovakia.-Recent call-ups:The following players have also been called up to the England under-18 squad and remain eligible.-References:...
caps during the 1973–74
1973-74 in English football
The 1973–74 season was the 94th season of competitive football in England.-First Division:Don Revie marked his last season as Leeds United's manager by guiding them to league championship glory, before taking over from Sir Alf Ramsey as the England national football team manager, with England...
season.
A bit-part player during 1974–75
1974-75 in English football
The 1974–75 season was the 95th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Dave Mackay guided Derby County to their second league title in four years having overcome strong competition from Liverpool, Ipswich Town, Everton, Stoke City, Manchester City, Sheffield United and...
, making only nine appearances, in the 1975–76
1975-76 in English football
The 1975–76 season was the 96th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won their first major trophy under Bob Paisley by narrowly winning the league title after heated competition from Queens Park Rangers. They also lifted the UEFA Cup for the second time in their...
season he established himself in the first team, playing 29 matches and scored his first goal in a 1–1 draw at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
's Highfield Road
Highfield Road
The Highfield Road Stadium was a football stadium in the city of Coventry, England. It was the home ground for Coventry City F.C. until the club moved to the new Ricoh Arena after the 2005-06 season...
. However, following the arrival of a new manager, Terry Neill
Terry Neill
William John Terence "Terry" Neill is a Northern Ireland former football player and manager.-Playing career:Born in Belfast, Neill played as a youth for Bangor, before moving in December 1959 to Arsenal. He spent a year in Arsenal's youth side, before making his debut against Sheffield Wednesday...
, and two new defenders (Pat Howard
Pat Howard (footballer)
Patrick "Pat" Howard is an English former professional footballer who played as a central defender.Born in Dodworth, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Howard made more than 500 appearances in the Football League. He started his career at Barnsley, spending seven seasons there before signing for Newcastle...
and Willie Young), as well as a series of injuries, he lost his regular place in the first team, playing just 11 times in 1976–77
1976-77 in English football
The 1976–77 season was the 97th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League revamped the tie-breaking criteria for teams level of points, replacing the traditional goal average tie-breaker with one based on goal difference to try to encourage more scoring...
.
After appearing against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
in September 1977, he suffered an ankle injury, then knee damage, causing him to miss the rest of the 1977–78
1977-78 in English football
The 1977–1978 season was the 98th season of competitive football in England, from August 1977 to May 1978:-First Division:Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest side took on the First Division by storm, by winning the League Cup on 22 March and confirming themselves as league champions the following month...
and 1978–79
1978-79 in English football
-FA Cup:Manchester United had seemingly pulled off a remarkable comeback against Arsenal in the 1979 FA Cup Final to make the score 2–2 after being two goals down, but a last-minute goal from Alan Sunderland saw Arsenal lift the trophy with a 3–2 scoreline...
seasons. He made a comeback in the reserves at the end of 1979–80
1979-80 in English football
The 1979–80 season was the 100th season of competitive football in England.- FA Cup :Second Division West Ham United, managed by John Lyall, won the FA Cup, beating Arsenal 1–0 with a Trevor Brooking goal...
but never fully recovered and never played for the first team again. In total he played 59 times for Arsenal, scoring three times. He left the club in 1981, signing for non-League Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
and went on to play for Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
before retiring.
Managerial career
He began his management career at Tiptree UnitedTiptree United F.C.
Tiptree United F.C. was an English football club based in Tiptree, Essex. Established in 1933, the club was absorbed into Maldon Town in 2010, creating Maldon & Tiptree.-History:...
in 1984, before moving to Harwich & Parkeston
Harwich & Parkeston F.C.
Harwich & Parkeston F.C. is an English football club based in Harwich, Essex. The club are currently members of the Essex & Suffolk Border League and play at the Royal Oak ground.-History:...
. Between 1992 and 1997 he managed Sudbury Town
Sudbury Town F.C.
Sudbury Town F.C. was an English football club based in Sudbury, Suffolk. Established in 1885, the club merged with Sudbury Wanderers in 1999 to form A.F.C. Sudbury.-History:...
, leading them to their greatest period of success; the club were promoted to the Premier Division of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
and reached the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
second round for the first (and only) time in their history.
After leaving Sudbury he took over as manager of Braintree Town
Braintree Town F.C.
Braintree Town F.C. is an English football club based in Braintree, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference National and play their home matches at Cressing Road.-History:...
in April 1999, but was sacked in December that year. After returning to Harwich on the coaching staff in 2000, he joined Clacton Town in 2002, and became the club's Director of Football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
in 2003.
External links
- Richie Powling Sporting Heroes