“LEGENDARY” Wolverhampton Wanders footballer, John Richards, is set to be honoured by the city.
Councillors in Wolverhampton are being asked to consider bestowing Freedom of the City to Richards for his outstanding services to football and his wider contribution to the city.
Richards, who dedicated almost his entire career to Wolves, joined the club in 1969, moving to the Midlands from Warrington, and has never left.
Over his 14 year tenure at Wolves, Richards made 487 appearances in Old Gold winning two league cups, appearing in the first UEFA Cup Final and representing the England national team.
He remains the second-highest scorer in Wolves history netting an impressive 194 goals, all of which were scored in the top flight. He holds the record for the most FA Cup goals with an outstanding total of 24.
Richards was inducted into the Wolves Hall of Fame in 2010, and his commitment to Wolverhampton extends well beyond the pitch, the council said.
He has been described as a “passionate advocate for the Wolves Foundation, having participated in numerous charitable events, even abseiling down the Billy Wright Stand at the Molineux last year, despite being in his seventies.
Freedom of the City is the highest honour a council can bestow on a person. The last person to receive the Freedom of Wolverhampton was machete attack heroine Lisa Potts in 2022.
Richards said the news came as a “complete surprise” and he is “very flattered and very honoured”.
He said: “From the outset, I was made to feel very welcome and that helped me to settle in.
“Mind you, it took me a while to adjust to the language difference, but I’m quite proficient in Black Country now!
“Wolverhampton is a great city; like the football club, it has had its ups and downs, but that spirit and determination of the community keeps shining through.
“When you look around, there are so many good things happening in the city, so many good people doing so much good work to help others. It makes me feel proud to be a member of this community and I’m happy to play a part in whatever way I can.”
Council members will give the final approval for the hour on January 29 and Richards will be presented with a badge and scroll at a dinner hosted by the Mayor in February.
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