“Great club with great people”, exclusive interview with former Barnsley striker Marc Richards

A name that will be familiar to supporters of Northampton, Barnsley and Port Vale respectively, 38-year-old striker Marc Richards proved to be a prolific goal scorer during his time in the EFL.

The Wolverhampton born striker, now of St. Ives Town in the Non-League, recently spoke to me, as we discussed Chris Wilder, his time with Port Vale and the highlights of his career.

You started your career with Blackburn, and had loan spells with Crewe, Oldham, Halifax and Swansea respectively. How beneficial were these loans to your career?

“Playing regular first team football at a young age is vital to accelerate learning. Playing youth /reserve team football can only teach you so much, so to have the experience of playing 1st team football at a young age can only benefit a players game, as it did mine.”

In 2005 you joined Barnsley. How do you look back on your time at Oakwell?

I absolutely loved my time at Barnsley, a great club with great people. I left Northampton that summer from League Two to join Barnsley in League One and that season we won promotion to the Championship. It is was a whirlwind two year stint!

You then moved to Port Vale where you had five successful seasons. Reaching double figures in the goal chart in four out of the five campaigns, did you feel comfortable there? Would you say that’s where you found the best form of your career?

“Yes without a doubt. I was comfortable at every club I was at but I particularly enjoyed my time at Vale, as it was a club local to where I was from and a club many of my family support.”

“I had good form at Vale but I wouldn’t say it was my best. My best came at Northampton later in my career where I was more consistent with my performances.”