I was Premier League club’s record scorer, then I went into local Government and formed a turf company
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Sponsored by. JOHN RICHARDS has been front page news in Wolverhampton again this week after being awarded the freedom of the city. The former striker was rewarded for his outstanding contributions to Wolves, supporting ex-players and his charity work. When it comes to club legends, there are few greater than the man fans call ‘King John’ at Molineux.
![[John Richards, former Wolverhampton Wanderers striker, at a match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/former-wolverhampton-wanderers-striker-john-964241164.jpg?strip=all&w=747)
Richards spent 14 years at Wolves between 1969 and 1983 and became their record goalscorer with 194 until fellow forward Steve Bull passed his mark in 1992. He was the club’s leading scorer in eight out of nine seasons between 1972 and 1981, helped them to two League Cup wins — even scoring the Wembley winner in the 1974 final against Manchester City.
![[John Richards of Wolverhampton Wanderers dribbling the ball.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NINTCHDBPICT000465453081.jpg?strip=all&w=730)
After packing away his boots and going into local government in 1985, he returned to the club in 1995 during the Jack Hayward era, first as a non-executive director and then as the club’s managing director. Last year he was named Wolves’ third vice-president alongside Bull and Robert Plant following the death of Ron Flowers.
In his pomp, Richards was a match for any striker in English football. He was a ‘fox in the box’ with speed and pace but with an intelligence and sharp instinct of always being in the right place at the right time. Now 74, Richards takes a deep breath and says: “It’s 56 years ago when I first joined Wolves. Man was just walking on the moon in 1969 when I signed a contract here. There’s been a few steps taken since then!.
