From Top Scorer in Premier League History to Local Government Official and Owner of a Turf Company

JOHN RICHARDS has once again captured the spotlight in Wolverhampton this week by being granted the freedom of the city.

The former striker has been celebrated for his outstanding contributions to Wolves, his unwavering support for ex-players, and his philanthropic efforts.

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When it comes to club legends, the player affectionately known as ‘King John’ at Molineux stands out.

Richards devoted 14 years to Wolves from 1969 to 1983, becoming their all-time top scorer with 194 goals—a record he held until fellow forward Steve Bull broke it in 1992.

He was the club’s leading scorer for eight out of nine seasons between 1972 and 1981, playing a vital role in securing two League Cup titles, including scoring the decisive goal in the 1974 final against Manchester City.

After he hung up his boots in 1985 and transitioned into local government, he returned to Wolves in 1995 during the Jack Hayward era as a non-executive director, eventually becoming the managing director.

In 2022, he was appointed as Wolves’ third vice-president, joining Bull and Robert Plant following the death of Ron Flowers.

During his peak, Richards was a formidable presence among English forwards.

Known for his speed and tactical intelligence, he had a knack for being in the right place at the right moment, earning him the nickname ‘fox in the box.’

At 74, Richards reflects: “It’s been 56 years since I first joined Wolves. The man had just walked on the moon in 1969 when I signed my contract here. A few milestones have been reached since then!”

“I feel privileged to return to the club as vice-president. It means the world to me.”

Richards also chairs the Wolves Former Players Association, a position he cherishes.

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He added: “It allows me to connect with players from different generations who have become lifelong friends and, in a sense, a larger family for me.”

It’s remarkable that, despite being one of the most talented scorers of his time, Richards played at Wembley only twice during his 16-year career and received just a single England cap.

He remarked: “For me, playing at Wembley was monumental. During my era, there were relatively few matches at the national stadium. Many remarkable players from my generation never had that opportunity.

“I consider myself very fortunate that my two appearances at Wembley were both finals, and we won both.

“Last year, we gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our 1974 League Cup triumph against Manchester City, where we achieved a 2-1 victory. I was thankful to score the final goal with just five minutes on the clock.

“It was wonderful to relive that moment with supporters who shared stories about celebrating that victory, not returning home until Monday!”

The Beginning

“Ultimately, I found myself more captivated by their stories than by our accomplishments on the field.

“Competing against Nottingham Forest six years later felt like an eternal challenge, but the victory remains a moment that gives me goosebumps to this day.

“As for England, I played across various levels but only received one senior cap. I never fully grasped the chance.”

Richards was discovered as a young player while representing Lancashire Grammar School against a team that had a Wolves scout among its coaching staff.

He reminisced: “The scout inquired if I was involved with any club and invited me to a trial. I attended, and from there, I was offered a one-year contract, moving up from the third team to reserves and then to the first team in just over a year.”

Richards made his first-team debut for the silver and gold at West Brom in February 1970.

A Promising Start

He recalled: “Derek Dougan was nursing an injury, but I only found out on Friday that I would be stepping in. I was so naive that I didn’t even know where West Bromwich was, let alone the rivalry between the clubs.

“I quickly learned about how fierce it was. I felt I played reasonably well; it finished in a 3-3 draw, and I thought we were somewhat unlucky not to win.

“I netted my first goal for the first team a year later against Huddersfield. It might not have been a spectacular strike, but it went in, making it a memorable moment.

“That Wolves team in the early to mid-seventies was fantastic, and I was lucky to play alongside so many gifted individuals.”

After 14 years, he was loaned to Derby in 1982 before spending a couple of seasons with Portugal’s Maritimo.

He stated: “I transferred because I wasn’t getting enough playing time at that stage. Though Derby struggled when I joined, I’m happy they managed to stay in the league.

“Playing in Portugal was also a wonderful opportunity.”

Despite scoring 23 league goals in 44 appearances for Maritimo, Richards and his family returned to England in 1985 as his eldest daughter was about to begin secondary school.

He became Wolves’ managing director in 1997, and from 2001, he co-founded Pitchcare— a sports turf service provider — with Wolves groundsman Dave Saltman.

They sold the business to Agro-vista UK in 2020, with Richards commenting: “It was an incredibly satisfying 18 years. I think Dave felt it was the right moment to step down, and I shared that sentiment.”