Richard Wilkins (footballer)
{{Short description|English footballer and manager}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Richard Wilkins
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Richard John Wilkins{{Hugman|21099|accessdate=23 September 2020}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|5|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lambeth, England
| death_date =
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1985–1986 | clubs1 = Haverhill Rovers | caps1 = | goals1 =
| years2 = 1986–1990 | clubs2 = Colchester United | caps2 = 152 | goals2 = 22
| years3 = 1990–1994 | clubs3 = Cambridge United | caps3 = 81 | goals3 = 7
| years4 = 1994–1996 | clubs4 = Hereford United | caps4 = 77 | goals4 = 5
| years5 = 1996–2000 | clubs5 = Colchester United | caps5 = 127 | goals5 = 11
| totalcaps = 437
| totalgoals = 45
| manageryears1 = 2000–2014
| managerclubs1 = Bury Town
| manageryears2 = 2014–2016
| managerclubs2 = Leiston
| manageryears3 = 2017–2020
| managerclubs3 = Needham Market
| manageryears4 = 2023
| managerclubs4 = Stowmarket Town
}}
Richard John Wilkins (born 28 May 1965) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Career
Born in Lambeth in London, Wilkins began his career at non-League club Haverhill Rovers in 1985. On 20 November 1986 he signed for Colchester United. After 150 appearances, he was signed by Cambridge United in July 1990 for £60,000.{{soccerbase|id=8509|name=Richard Wilkins}} In 1994, he moved to Hereford United on a free transfer, before being re-signed by Colchester in 1996 for a fee of £30,000. He retired from professional football in 2000 before becoming manager of non-League club Bury Town. He led the club to two promotions, in 2005-06 from the Eastern Counties League, and in 2009-10 from the Southern Football League Division One Midlands. Wilkins stepped down from the role at the end of the 2013–14 season. In July 2014, Wilkins joined fellow Suffolk side Leiston as Steve Ball's assistant. He then took over as manager shortly after and led the side to the top half of the Isthmian League Premier Division in his first season. In his second season the side were challenging for promotion. He then left the club by mutual consent before joining Needham Market as the assistant manager. He became manager of Needham Market at the end of the 2016–17 season,[http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/sport/15403412._I_know_they_will_be_pushing_for_a_higher_finish____Colchester_United_promotion_winning_skipper_Richard_Wilkins/ "It's a big test for my players and a daunting one" - former Colchester United skipper and Needham Market boss Richard Wilkins] Daily Gazette, 11 July 2017 remaining at the club until February 2020.[https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/29054/kevin-horlock-doubling-up-as-new-needham-market-manager-and-academy-boss/ Kevin Horlock doubling up as new Needham Market manager] The Non-League Paper, 4 February 2020
He was appointed assistant manager of Stowmarket Town in April 2021. {{cite web|url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/21280697.richard-wilkins-back-non-league-game-joins-suffolk-club-assistant-manager/|title=Richard Wilkins back in the non-league game as he joins Suffolk club as assistant manager|publisher=East Anglian Daily Times|last1=Bacon|first1=Mike|date=26 April 2021|accessdate=18 May 2023}} At the end of the 2022–23 season, he became the club's manager. {{cite web|url=https://stowmarkettownfc.co.uk/richard-wilks-wilkins-stowmarket-town-fcs-new-manager/|title=RICHARD 'WILKS' WILKINS: STOWMARKET TOWN FC'S NEW MANAGER|website=stowmarkettownfc.co.uk|date=16 May 2023|accessdate=18 May 2023}} He resigned in December 2023 after the club's budget was cut.{{cite web|url=https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/stowmarket/sport/we-ve-got-nothing-to-lose-new-stowmarket-boss-on-answeri-9345747/|title=David 'Bart' Lorimer focusing on positives after answering Stowmarket Town's SOS call after Richard Wilkins and Alex Rossis depart over budget cut|date=21 December 2023|website=Suffolk News}}
Honours
Colchester United{{cite web|url=http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerAssociateMembersCup.html |title=Associate Members Cup Finalists |work=Coludaybyday.co.uk}}{{cite web|url=http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerLeagueTwoPlayoff.html |title=Division Three (League Two) Play-Off Finalists |work=Coludaybyday.co.uk}}
Individual
- Colchester United Player of the Year: 1998{{cite web|url=http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerPOTS.html |title=Colchester United Player of the Season |work=Coludaybyday.co.uk}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Colchester United F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilkins, Richard}}
Category:Footballers from the London Borough of Lambeth
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Haverhill Rovers F.C. players
Category:Colchester United F.C. players
Category:Cambridge United F.C. players
Category:Hereford United F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:English football managers
Category:Isthmian League managers
Category:Bury Town F.C. managers
Category:Leiston F.C. managers
Category:Needham Market F.C. managers