Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: spangley1812 on February 26, 2011, 01:44:13 PM
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Dean Richards, the former Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and Wolves defender, has died at the age of 36.
When Richards moved from Saints to Spurs in 2001 in an £8.1m deal it was the highest amount paid for a player with no senior international caps.
Just four years after that record switch, he was forced to end his 13-year playing career because of illness.
Since 2007, Richards had been youth-team coach at hometown club Bradford City, where he began his career.
In 1995 Richards was signed by Wolves and four years later moved to then-Premiership side Southampton, who were managed by current Cardiff boss Dave Jones at the time.
Richards also impressed under Jones's successor Glenn Hoddle, who took the centre-half with him to White Hart Lane in 2001.
Richards was dogged by injury at Spurs, however, making 73 appearances in his four years in north London.
After suffering dizzy spells and headaches, Richards was advised it would be harmful to his health to continue playing and hung up his boots in March 2005.
He had initially been diagnosed with an inner ear infection and underwent a scan for a brain tumour, which came back negative.
Richards played for England's Under-21s on four occasions but did not win any caps at senior level.
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Awful news. My thoughts are with you and your family Dean
Rest in peace
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RIP horrible.
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Thats shocking news,if he hadn't had his injury couldv'e become a great great player. Thoughts to his family,R.I.P.
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RIP
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36, no age at all, very sad.
RIP.
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Sad news, he was a decent player in his time.
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Scary, terrible news. I remember he once got a late winner for Southampton at VP in one of the most turgid Gregory-era games, late 1999 I think.
Very good player, the pressure of a big price-tag and injuries stopped him from being one of the best. Always seemed to come across as a decent bloke when interviewed.
Condolences to his family and friends, he was far too young.
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That is terrible, I had no idea he was ill.
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awful for such a young man to pass away...
rip...
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Really sad news.
He was class on his day.
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Afwul, 36 is no age! 3 years older than me!
Just goes to show you. Im surprised a test didn't show the tumour
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RIP
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Far too young. RIP Dean, thoughts to your family and friends
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very sad indeed. He had to quit his career early due to illness, and it's obviously got the better of him. Very young to go.
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That's terrible. Far too young.
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Afwul, 36 is no age! 3 years older than me!
Just goes to show you. Im surprised a test didn't show the tumour
Did he die of a tumour? The report didn't seem to mention if it was and just mentioned he had a test when he was having dizzy spells in 95?
RIP
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Some kind of brain abnormality diagnosed years ago that deteriorated over time.
Good player in his day.
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Tragic news, I think we were linked with signing him
at one time , rest in peace and condolences to deans family and friends.
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Dreadful news. RIP Dean, my thoughts are with his family.
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really sad news! RIP Dean
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Sad news.
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There but for the grace of God....
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I couldn't believe this when I heard this afternoon, I thought it must have a different one.
He was a big favourite in my family, even after he left Wolves they all held an affection for him.
R.I.P.
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R.I.P. too young
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Very sad. I'm guessing his parents may still be alive, their lives will never be the same again. Realise an expression of sympathy ie, RIP, annoys some posters, not sure what the alternative is, or if there should be an alternative.
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Balls to what some posters think. 36 is simply too young.
RIP Dean Richards.
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Balls to what some posters think. 36 is simply too young.
RIP Dean Richards.
Agree. I'm going to a funeral on Friday; the mother of the deceased is still alive.
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I always wondered how this chap wasn't a legend, he had a big rep and it never quite happened. Regardless, nobody deserves to die so young in life. RIP Dean.
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R.I.P
Far too young.
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Very sad news. 36 is no age.
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Hasn't even got to half-time yet and he's off.
Life really is short.
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Hasn't even got to half-time yet and he's off.
I'll admit i'm in a grumpy mood as my daughter had a friend for a sleepover last night but even Alan Partridge would think twice before saying that.
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Very sad news indeedl.
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RIP Dean
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RIP Dean, no age at all, younger than me.
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Sad news, no age at all.
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Hasn't even got to half-time yet and he's off.
I'll admit i'm in a grumpy mood as my daughter had a friend for a sleepover last night but even Alan Partridge would think twice before saying that.
I actually thought that was quite a fitting football related analogy. Whatever, very sad news.
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Puts it all into perspective and shows how fragile life is
RIP Dean
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RIP my condolences to his family at this sad time.
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Sad news.
RIP.
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As others have said, RIP and way too young.
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A quality player at Wolves, the player I wanted us to sign to replace Macca and play alongside Southgate and Ehiogu.
Terrible news, RIP.
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Funeral today. Tony Daley attended. Must have known him from their Wolves days.
Funeral for footballer Dean Richards in Bradford
Family and friends were joined by Dean Richards' former team-mates for the service in Bradford
Premier League stars joined hundreds of mourners at the funeral of former footballer Dean Richards in his home city of Bradford.
The ex-Bradford, Wolves, Southampton and Tottenham defender died, aged 36, last Saturday after a long illness.
The service at Bradford Cathedral was attended by former team-mates including Robbie Keane, James Beattie, Don Goodman, Tony Daley and Steve Bull.
Former Bradford City manager Chris Kamara also attended the service.
He said: "Deano was a giant. He played with elegance and composure and was a joy to watch. He was a star player with a Rolls-Royce engine.
"In the football community we're all stunned. You can't get your head round it. He was someone who brought joy to everyone and, if you knew him, played with him or worked with him, you knew what a character he was."
In 2007 Richards was made youth-team coach at Bradford City, his home town club and where he started his career.
West Ham's Robbie Keane, who played with Richards at Wolves, was at the funeral with his wife
Mark Lawn, Bradford City joint-chairman, said: "He was a nice guy and very down-to-earth.
"Players now would be a lot better men if they took a leaf out of his book.
"He came back in 2007 to coach the youth players, but I don't think we paid him. That was a mark of the man - he just wanted to give something back."
Wolves fans chanted Richards' name during their home match against Blackpool last Saturday following the announcement of his death.
In 1995 Richards joined Wolves where he became a firm favourite.
He went on to play for Southampton for two years before moving to Tottenham, who paid £8.1m for his services.
He spent four years in north London although his time there was dogged by injury.
In 2005 he was forced to retire from the game at the age of 30, when he was suffering from dizzy spells and headaches - an illness which was initially diagnosed as an ear infection.
Richards made almost 350 appearances in a career spanning 13 years before his retirement.
He returned to the game in August 2007 as Bradford youth team coach.
Bradford City said the club was "truly devastated" by his death.