The trials and tribulations of supporting Bradford City may have been as difficult as ever these past few weeks, but they were put into very stark context this morning, with the tragic news of the very untimely death of former defender Dean Richards. Coming so soon after the passing of another defender Norman Corner, it represented the loss of two fans' favourites for two different generations.
Dean Richards was clearly a classy defender as soon as he first pulled on a City shirt. During four seasons with the club, he played just over 100 games; he was head and shoulders above the rest of the squad and it was no surprise when he went on to better things. Dean was not just a solid defender, but a superb footballer and a true gent, who put in stellar performance after performance.
Despite playing for City during a period of underachievement, false dawns and mid-table Division Three obscurity, he did manage to play a part in one of the club's greatest days. Dean had gone on to Wolverhampton Wanderers, commanding a big fee with plenty of add-ons loaded in City's favour. Wolves may have been an ambitious and consistent club but they struggled to achieve their dream of reaching the Premier League, and ironically, Dean played in City's 3-2 win at Molineux which elevated them into the top flight ahead of Wolves - during which it was his foul that brought down Jamie Lawrence for the penalty which Peter Beagrie missed.
I prefer to remember Dean as the fantastic defender he was. He earned the move into the Premier League he rightfully deserved, playing first at Southampton and then under Tottenham Hotspur, when he moved with Glenn Hoddle, so impressed was the gifted former England international with Dean.
Sadly, in 2005, Dean was forced to retire because of health problems including dizzy spells and headaches. Little was the footballing world to know it would lead to today's tragic news.
Dean Richards, 1974 - 2011. Rest in peace.
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