Justin Richards was one of a select few that survived a mass cull of first team players upon the arrival of Graham Westley in early 2003. It was perhaps as unnerving as the situation the one that greeted his signature was desperate after Richard Pacquette‘s loan spell at Boro’ ended in 2002. At that time, Wayne Turner was in desperate need of an effective forward; the decision to let Kirk Jackson leave not proving a sharp one.
Justin Richards came in from Bristol Rovers on loan, with a hattrick against Farnborough just after Turner had been sacked helping his cause. Soon after GW’s arrival, he penned a permanent deal here. But chances became fewer in number. Dino Maamria and Anthony Elding took top billing in the forward ranks. And few strikers who miss out in that situation are ever happy about it.
Justin Richards: After Boro’
As inevitable Richards’ departure may have become, the striker was yet another player to cross partisan lines for Woking. But he’d soon be moving on to bigger and better things than Kingfield. That may not sound a lot at first because anything is bigger and better than Woking. Richards did, however, get a fresh shot at the Football League with Peterborough United, Cheltenham Town and Port Vale among others.