After last Summer when the Spireites failed to sign their targets and didn't replace Craig Davies, which led to the Club being relegated, the Board needed to show the fans that they wouldn't make the same mistakes. Last night they signed their target a 20 goals a season Striker, they beat 11 other clubs including Preston and Rotherham to sign Port Vale Forward Marc Richards.
He started his career at Blackburn Rovers making his debut in a 2-0 league Cup defeat at home to West Ham, never made a league appearance. After 3 years at Ewood Park he signed for Northampton in 2003 scoring 11 goals in his first season including 4 goals in the opening 39 minutes against Macclesfield. His second season at Sixfields was blighted by injury, he was out most of the season, he was loaned out to Rochdale to help his recovery where he scored two goals in five games. On returning he found out he was no longer needed by the Club.
He was signed by Barnsley and he was described by the Manager Andy Ritchie as "a young Neil Shipperley". He helped the Club reach the Championship in his first Season through the play offs, scoring 12 times from 41 League One apperances. Despite making 37 appearances the following season he was released. In total he made 69 league appearances for the Tykes scoring 18 goals.
He then went to Port Vale scoring 67 goals from 181 league appearances, including a hat-trick against the Spireites at Saltergate in 2010 in a 5-0 victory for Port Vale. He scored 17 goals from 36, making him the teams top goalscorer for four seasons running. Richards also Captained the club since February 2011, Sheridan is looking for leaders, he has just signed one.
Richards holds the ball up well and he wins headers and can bring others into play and score goals. He works hard running the channels and getting himself involved in the game. This will be a new start for Marc, having had to lead Port Vale for a number of seasons. He can be part of a team that will be competing for Promotion, so the pressure will be off him, he should see more of the ball, and have more scoring oppurtunities. Well done to the Club for signing a player that can help us to Promotion.
