David Matthew Richards (born 31 December 1993) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for National League club Kidderminster Harriers.
Club career
Cardiff City Richards started his career with Cardiff City spending time out on loan to Llanelli in 2012 and with Chippenham Town in 2013. In October 2013, Richards joined Bristol City on a loan deal which was made permanent in January 2014.
Bristol City Richards spent the majority of his career at City on the bench. During this time Bristol City won League One and Richards received a winners medal as an unused substitute as City beat Walsall to win the Football League Trophy.
Crewe Alexandra In July 2015, after his release from Bristol City, Richards signed for Crewe Alexandra. Richard spent two years acting as understudy for Ben Garratt before making his senior debut in English football in September 2017 as Crewe lost 1–0 at Coventry City.
In April 2017, Richards signed an extended Crewe Alexandra contract until at least 2019, with a year option. That year option was automatically exercised by Crewe at the end of the 2018–19 season. On 13 August 2019, Richards saved a vital penalty at Middlesbrough as Crewe beat the Championship side 4–2 on penalties after a 2–2 draw, earning the Cheshire side an EFL Cup second round home tie against Premier League side Aston Villa. He also saved a penalty in his first league start of the season, at Grimsby Town on 7 September 2019, helping Crewe to a 2–0 win.
Richards was offered a new contract in June 2020, and agreed a two-year deal.
He signed a new deal in May 2022, but missed Crewe's opening games of the following season due to a finger injury and resulting operation, being replaced by Arsenal loanee keeper Arthur Okonkwo as Crewe won their first two games. Okonkwo made 26 appearances and kept ten clean sheets for Crewe before he was recalled by Arsenal in mid-January, with Richards making his first league appearance of the season in a 1–1 draw at Mansfield Town on 14 January 2023. He played in a further eight league games, but was replaced for spells by on-loan Brighton keeper James Beadle and then, for the final four games of the season, by Crewe Academy graduate Tom Booth. Richards was made available for transfer by Crewe at the end of the season.
St Johnstone (loan) On 11 August 2023, Richards joined Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone on a season-long loan, but made no first-team appearances.
Dundee United On 7 June 2024, Richards joined Scottish Premiership club Dundee United on a two-year deal."United add keeper Richards on two-year deal", BBC Sport, 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024. He was promoted to first choice for the last two games of the season, as United secured 4th place in dramatic scenes at the new firm derby at Tannadice. He played 17 league games in the 2025-26 season but turned down a new contract at the end of the season.
Kidderminster Harriers Richards signed a short-term deal with newly-promoted National League side Kidderminster Harriers on 5 August 2026, as their signing of Jack Wint from Manchester City was delayed.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCardiff City2012–13Championship00000000002013–14Premier League0000000000Total0000000000Llanelli (loan)2012Welsh Premier League50———50Chippenham Town (loan)2013Southern League20———20Bristol City (loan)2013–14League One00———00Bristol City2014League One00000000002014–15Championship0000000000Total0000000000Crewe Alexandra2015–16League One00000000002016–17League Two00000000002017–18League Two1102000101402018–19League Two40001000502019–20League Two20002030702020–21League One1500010402002021–22League One3201000203502022–23League Two900000301202023–24League Two0000000000Total7303040130930St Johnstone (loan)2023–24Scottish Premiership0000000000Dundee United2024–25Scottish Premiership20002000402025-26Scottish Premiership170100000180Kidderminster Harriers2026-27National League0000000000Career total99040601301220
Honours Bristol City Football League Trophy: 2014–15
References
External links Dave Richards profile on the Crewe Alexandra F.C. website