Dave Richards

David Matthew Richards (born 31 December 1993) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone, on loan from club Crewe Alexandra.

Richards was born in Abergavenny in Wales.

Richards is a self-professed Leeds United fan, following the club as he has family in the Leeds area.

Richards started his career with Cardiff City spending time out on loan to Llanelli in 2012 and with Chippenham Town in 2013.

In October 2013, Richards joined Bristol City on a loan deal which was made permanent in January 2014.

Richards spent the majority of his career at City on the bench.

During this time Bristol City won League One and Richards received a winners medal as an unused substitute as City beat Walsall to win the Football League Trophy.

In July 2015, after his release from Bristol City, Richards signed for Crewe Alexandra.

Richard spent two years acting as understudy for Ben Garratt before making his senior debut in English football in September 2017 as Crewe lost 1–0 at Coventry City.

In April 2017, Richards signed an extended Crewe Alexandra contract until at least 2019, with a year option.

That year option was automatically exercised by Crewe at the end of the 2018–19 season.

On 13 August 2019, Richards saved a vital penalty at Middlesbrough as Crewe beat the Championship side 4–2 on penalties after a 2–2 draw, earning the Cheshire side an EFL Cup second round home tie against Premier League side Aston Villa.

He also saved a penalty in his first league start of the season, at Grimsby Town on 7 September 2019, helping Crewe to a 2–0 win.

Richards was offered a new contract in June 2020, and agreed a two-year deal.

He signed a new deal in May 2022, but missed Crewe's opening games of the following season due to a finger injury and resulting operation, being replaced by Arsenal loanee keeper Arthur Okonkwo as Crewe won their first two games.

Okonkwo made 26 appearances and kept ten clean sheets for Crewe before he was recalled by Arsenal in mid-January, with Richards making his first league appearance of the season in a 1–1 draw at Mansfield Town on 14 January 2023.

He played in a further eight league games, but was replaced for spells by on-loan Brighton keeper James Beadle and then, for the final four games of the season, by Crewe Academy graduate Tom Booth.

Richards was made available for transfer by Crewe at the end of the season.

On 11 August 2023, Richards joined Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone on a season-long loan.