RIP Dean Richards 1974-2011

[Ulysses31]

A great servant to the game and unlucky never to have played for England. He suffered from headaches and dizzy spells when at my team Spurs which forced his early retirement and no doubt played some part in his tragic death, 36 is way too young for an athlete to die and I only hope he didn't suffer too much in the end. RIP Mate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Richards_(footballer)

Tottenham and Wolves lead tributes to former defender Richards


Former Tottenham and Wolves defender Dean Richards has died after a long-term illness, it was announced today. He was 36.

Richards, who also played for Bradford and Southampton, was forced to retire from the game in March 2005 after suffering from dizzy spells and headaches while at White Hart Lane.

Tragic: Dean Richards saw his career at Tottenham cut short by dizzy spells


A statement on the Wolves website read: "Everyone at Wolves was saddened to hear of the death of Dean Richards, who passed away this morning at the age of 36 after a long-term battle with serious illness."

The statement continued: "Wolves would like to take this opportunity to send their condolences to the former Molineux defender's family and friends."

The Black Country club announced they were planning a tribute to Richards ahead of next Sunday's game with Spurs at Molineux.

Bradford-born Richards started his career with his hometown club where he made more than 80 appearances.

The club said today on www.bradfordcity.co.uk: "The club are truly devastated to hear of the death of former Bradford City fans' favourite Dean Richards."

From west Yorkshire, Richards moved to Wolves in 1995 where he made 145 appearances in a four-year spell and became a crowd favourite.

He subsequently moved on to Southampton who were then in the top flight where he spent two years before switching to White Hart Lane for £8.1million, despite the player not having earned any senior international caps for England.

Crowd favourite: Richards (right) in action for Wolves against Tottenham


Richards, who played four times at under-21 level, spent four years in north London although his time there was dogged by injury.

Richards was forced to give up the game in March 2005 after suffering dizzy spells and headaches which were reportedly initially diagnosed as an inner ear infection.

Richards made almost 350 appearances in a career spanning 13 years before his retirement and returned to the game in August 2007 as a youth team coach at Bradford.

A statement on the Tottenham website, www.tottenhamhotspur.com, read: 'Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur was saddened to hear of the death of our former player Dean Richards, who passed away this morning at the age of 36 after a long-term battle with serious illness.'

It continued: 'There will be a tribute paid to the defender ahead of our fixture next Sunday at Molineux against his former club Wolves.

'We extend our sincere condolences to the family of Dean Richards at this very sad time.'



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-Tottenham-Wolves-defender.html#ixzz1F51trFUJ

 

[Icewater Jones]

I am not familiar with Dean, but am intrigued to find out more on his condition and death. Peace be with his family and loved ones.

 

[FreeThugz]

Couldnt believe this when I heard it.

R.I.P Dean

 

[Ulysses31]

I am not familiar with Dean, but am intrigued to find out more on his condition and death. Peace be with his family and loved ones.

His transfer fee of £8.1m (astronomical in 2001) was the highest fee ever paid for a player who had yet to have played at international level and this has only recently been superceded by the transfer of Curtis Davis to Aston Villa for £8.5m (only £400,000 more despite todays inflated prices) in 2008 although Davis still has plenty of time to earn a call up to the England squad. Richards never fully realised his potential and now it seem it was illness holding him back although he remained professional throughout.

 

[busaguy79]

Oh damn that fucking sucks!!! Yeah hope he didn't suffer long and condolences to his family

Such a shame

RIP

 

[L3ggy]

This is a sad day for Football.


R.I.P Dean.

 

[feller469]

RIP Dean Richards

 

[MissHybrid]

What a sad story, RIP

 

[TheOrangeCat]

News reports say he had a brain 'abnormality'? Anyone know what he was diagnosed with (this question is more than voyeurism: something that takes down a vibrant athlete at that age must be one savage ailment.)

 

[domshooter]

never heard of him. therefor im not especially intrigued. sucks though

 

[Member442]

That's very sad RIP Dean.

 

[Ulysses31]

News reports say he had a brain 'abnormality'? Anyone know what he was diagnosed with (this question is more than voyeurism: something that takes down a vibrant athlete at that age must be one savage ailment.)

The cause of death hasn't been released yet although I suspect cancer or a brain tumour, makes sense with all those headaches and dizziness he used to have so it wasn't sudden as he started having those whilst he was still playing years ago. Unlike most footballers he completely disappeared after he retired not doing any commentaries or tv appearances or coaching work so I suspect he may have been battling what he had for some time and wanted it kept out of the public eye. I'd completely forgotten about him till I heard about this as he hasn't been mentioned or seen for years it seems, even when you google his name other than the death reports there is little info on him despite being such an expensive and promising footballer.

 

[24788]

The cause of death hasn't been released yet although I suspect cancer or a brain tumour, makes sense with all those headaches and dizziness he used to have so it wasn't sudden as he started having those whilst he was still playing years ago. Unlike most footballers he completely disappeared after he retired not doing any commentaries or tv appearances or coaching work so I suspect he may have been battling what he had for some time and wanted it kept out of the public eye. I'd completely forgotten about him till I heard about this as he hasn't been mentioned or seen for years it seems, even when you google his name other than the death reports there is little info on him despite being such an expensive and promising footballer.

His death kind of puzzles me. The nice ones or deserving ones always go out quietly...

 

[O85]

Always a player that could have and should have went on to bigger things. Great player. Couldn't believe it. RIP

 

[om3ga]

Heard it on "Soccer Saturday" this afternoon - really sad news.

RIP

 

[Johan]

RIP

Didn't know him very well but 36 is a very young age to die.
I know it's no good to say such things in such moments but still, when a sportman dies at such a young age, I alway find it strange and suspect. I can't help but thinking about the posibility that doping trigered his health problems...

 

[Ulysses31]

RIP

Didn't know him very well but 36 is a very young age to die.
I know it's no good to say such things in such moments but still, when a sportman dies at such a young age, I alway find it strange and suspect. I can't help but thinking about the posibility that doping trigered his health problems...

I doubt it in this case as he had symptons in his playing days where he would have been regularly tested, plus he was in and out of hospital because of his headaches and dizziness and with all the tests they do I'm sure they would have discovered if he was taking anything. Footballers can get cancer and brain tumours to and it's not uncommon for any person to die of a young age from either, only a couple of years ago Welsh striker John Hartson was struck down with cancer that had spread to his brain and he was younger at 33.

 

[rizwano]

tat's a tragic story, heard about him while he was at spurs.

 

[Ulysses31]

 

[BadNewsBewes]

I remember him from when I used to live in the UK. He was a highly rated player, I thought he must have retired for footballing injury reasons. He must have wanted to keep his illness private, away from the media.

RIP Dean Richards.