Frazer Richardson

Frazer Richardson (born 29 October 1982 in Rotherham, South Yorkshire) is an English professional footballer who plays for Southampton. He had been Leeds' longest-serving player, and in 2009 was the only member of the Leeds squad who was with the club when relegated from the Premiership in 2004.

Career

Leeds United

Richardson made his Leeds debut as a second-half substitute against Hapoel Tel Aviv during the 2002–03 UEFA Cup campaign. He made his full debut against Arsenal at right full-back, a position he was tipped to have on a permanent basis after the retirement of first team regular Gary Kelly. Richardson suffered Premiership relegation with Leeds in 2004. Since then, Richardson covered a variety of roles for Leeds. He spent two spells on loan at Stoke City in 2003, scoring once against West Ham.

Richardson scored his first ever Leeds goal on his second start for the club, the goal turning out to be the winner against Derby County in Leeds' first game of the 2004–05 campaign (because the game was a 12:15 kick-off on Sky Sports, this was actually the first ever goal in the newly rebranded "Coca-Cola Football League Championship"). Richardson was then replaced on the right of midfield (from where he scored his debut goal) by John Oster. However, an injury to Stephen Crainey meant Richardson was given a chance to establish himself at left full-back. However, his spell was short lived after Manager Kevin Blackwell chose to play the likes of Danny Pugh and Matthew Kilgallon in that position.

Prior to the 2005–06 campaign, Richardson was subject to two bids from Sunderland, both which were rejected immediately by Leeds' chairman, Ken Bates. Several months later, Richardson signed a new contract with Leeds, pledging his future to the club until August 2008.

That season, Richardson infrequently played on the right of midfield - competing for his position with Ian Moore (himself preferring to play as a forward), Jonathan Douglas, and David Healy (who preferred to play out of position rather than as a substitute). Richardson scored in the Play-Off semi final away leg win against Preston North End for Leeds in May 2006, playing in an unusual attacking wide right position, though he reverted to a more familiar role for the Play-Off final defeat against Watford a few weeks later. In the 2006–07 season, Richardson hardly featured under Blackwell in the Leeds team at all due to injuries. Under new manager Dennis Wise, Richardson played more regularly in the Leeds starting lineup, replacing the injured Gary Kelly at right back.

On the retirement of Kelly, Richardson was given the number two shirt and finally became the club's first choice right back. Despite rumours of a transfer away from Elland Road to Wolverhampton Wanderers or Burnley, it is apparent that Richardson stayed at the club, having started all the club's matches in the 2007–08 season until injury ruled him out on February 2, scoring a wonder goal at Elland Road in the January thrashing of Northampton Town.

Under former Leeds manager Gary McAllister, Richardson also played in the left-back position, playing a few games there as a replacement for on-loan Leicester City defender Alan Sheehan. After a poor performance in this position against Cheltenham Town, Richardson was booed off the pitch by Leeds fans and didn't play for a few weeks after. He returned in his usual right-back position as a replacement for the injured Darren Kenton in their 1–0 win over Doncaster Rovers, and played well.

Frazer was appointed Leeds captain in August 2008 by McAllister, and remained club captain despite injury under new manager Simon Grayson. Richardson made his final appearance for Leeds as a late substitute against Northampton Town, this was to be his first game for Leeds for several weeks, and also it proved to be his last appearance for the Elland Road side.

Leeds United confirmed on 16 June 2009 that they would not continue contract negotiations with him due to the signing of former Northampton captain Jason Crowe. Frazer was released due to his contract ending on June 30, 2009. In July 2010 Lloyd Sam revealed that Frazer had never wanted to leave Leeds.

Charlton Athletic

On 9 July it was announced that Richardson had signed for Charlton Athletic on a free transfer on a two-year deal. He scored his first for the club in a 2-2 draw with Gillingham on 20 March 2010. In May 2010 he was selected in the Football League One PFA Team of the Year for the 2009-10 season. Richardson was part of the Charlton side which reached the League 1 playoffs, they were knocked out of the playoffs after losing on penalties to Swindon Town, Richardson managed to confidently score his penalty, but Charlton captain Nicky Bailey's penalty miss proved decisive and banished Richardson to his 4th playoff campaign defeat in his career.

Southampton

On 6 July 2010, Richardson signed for League One club Southampton for an undisclosed fee, in a deal reportedly worth £450,000. After the club's second pre-season game, against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard on 17 July 2010, the club revealed that Richardson had suffered an injury in the form of a dislocated shoulder "during a routine training session as he went to make a headed clearance and landed awkwardly". The new signing was flown back to England immediately for treatment, and the club estimate that he will be out of action for approximately three months, ruling him out of the beginning of the season. He made his debut in a 3-1 victory away at Notts County

Career statistics

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- ! colspan=18|England |- !rowspan="2"|Season !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Division !colspan="2"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Football League Trophy !colspan="2"|Play-Offs !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Total |- ! Apps !! Goals !! Apps !! Goals !! Apps !! Goals !! Apps !! Goals !! Apps !! Goals !! Apps !! Goals !! Apps !! Goals |- | 2002–03 || rowspan=1|Leeds United || Premier League | 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 ! 1 !! 0 |- | 2002–03 || rowspan=1|Stoke City (loan) || Division One | 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ! 7 !! 0 |- | 2003–04 || rowspan=1|Stoke City (loan) || Division One | 6 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ! 6 !! 1 |- | 2003–04 || rowspan=6|Leeds United || Premier League | 4 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ! 5 !! 0 |- | 2004–05 || Championship | 38 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ! 41 !! 1 |- | 2005–06 || Championship | 23 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 ! 28 !! 3 |- | 2006–07 || Championship | 22 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ! 24 !! 0 |- | 2007–08 || League One | 39 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 ! 45 !! 1 |- | 2008–09 || League One | 23 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ! 29 !! 0 |- ! colspan=3|Club Total ! 162 !! 4 !! 5 !! 0 !! 11 !! 1 !! 2 !! 0 !! 5 !! 1 !! 1 !! 0 !! 186 !! 6 |- | 2009–10 || rowspan=1|Charlton Athletic || League One | 15 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 !15 !! 0 |- ! colspan=3|Club Total ! 15 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 15 !! 0 |- | 2010–11 || rowspan=1|Southampton || League One | 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ! 1 !! 0 |- ! colspan=3|Club Total ! 1 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 1 !! 0 |- ! colspan=3|Total ! 178 !! 4 !! 5 !! 0 !! 11 !! 1 !! 2 !! 0 !! 5 !! 1 !! 1 !! 0 !! 202 !! 6 |}

References

External links

Category:1982 births Category:People from Rotherham Category:Living people Category:English footballers Category:Association football defenders Category:Association football utility players Category:Leeds United A.F.C. players Category:Stoke City F.C. players Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. players Category:Southampton F.C. players Category:Premier League players Category:The Football League players