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‘Whippet’s’ a record-breaker at Angle!
Terry Richards has played football for Angle AFC for almost 35 years and he has played a record-breaking 813 times for the club, and at the time of writing has no plans yet to stop turning out for his home village club.
Angle is a team known for having very loyal players and there are at least ten who have played 500+ matches for the club, and previous record-holder Haydn Phillips, who played a mammoth 799 times, suggested we should write about a great club man, known to all as ‘Whippet’ since he was a teenager because he was so fast running up and down the wings. Haydn told us,
“Terry is not only a great club man but an example to other footballers because in all those games he has never been sent off and shown the yellow card only once. He just gets on with the game, enjoys a few pints afterwards, and really loves playing for his club.”
Defeat in his debut and cup finals galore
Terry made his debut for Angle as long ago as the 21st August 1977, when he scored a goal in a 3-2 defeat by Neyland and in the intervening time he has been a regular, playing now up front after many seasons playing in midfield, scoring 265 goals, which puts him behind Kenny Chadwick as the club’s top scorer. He has played in 11 Cup Finals for Angle in his long career, missing out only on the most recent one, and that yellow card came in a cup final against Clarbeston Road at the Bridge Meadow Stadium, where his cardinal sin was to tug the shirt of an opponent’s who was tugging his!
Ask Terry about his favourite final and he would unhesitatingly nominate a 3-2 victory against Hubberston where he scored a good goal from a left-footed free kick. Most of his goals have come from his trusty left boot but he chuckles when he says that he has scored a few with his right foot and they were usually spectacular long-range efforts where he didn’t have time to get on the other side!
Richards’ family affair at the club
It is very much a Richards’ family affair at the club because Terry is joined in the current team by his sons Gareth (21) and Chris (19), like him both left-footers. Gareth plays at left back whilst Chris plays wide on the left, like his dad did at his age – and youngest son Josh is the only right-footer, a central defender who plays for Lamphey under 14s because there is no junior team in the village. But ask Terry and he admits that he would love to still be involved when Josh can play senior football because he would love to finish off in style by playing alongside all three sons!
Wife Kay has always been Terry’s biggest supporter and Terry’s brothers Hughie (goalkeeper), Ray (centre half) and Tony (left back) all served the club brilliantly in their time – and there are others from the wider Richards’ family who play for Angle in Scott and Luke.
High praise from Hon Sec Mike
Mike Hughes is another who typifies the loyalty that seems to keep players at the club and has been involved since the inception of Angle AFC, not only doing the normal jobs of Hon Secretary and groundsman for a number of years but also keeping the most exact records of everyone who ever played for the club. It was he who provided us with information regarding Terry’s record and he told us,
“Terry has not only been a brilliant servant of the club on the pitch but an example to others who have joined the club, not only with his skills but his determination to train hard and accept referee’s decisions on the pitch. He could have played for other clubs in the area who asked him to leave us and play at a higher level but he was only interested in Angle AFC.”
Still loves being involved
It seems the admiration is mutual because Terry would list Mike Hughes and Peter Thomas, the club’s long-serving chairman, as wonderful men at Angle.
“We have had so many great characters at Angle,” said Terry, “that I am afraid to mention them in case I miss someone out. I still enjoy training as much as ever and look forward to floodlit sessions at Pembroke School’s Astroturf on Wednesday evenings. I think working on the farm has also helped keep me fit and I intend carrying on for as long as I enjoy it. When it’s time for me to pack it in the boys will be quick to let me know.”
