Kevin Richardson

Part of the successful Everton squad of the mid-1980s, Kevin Richardson is now using his wealth of footballing experience and winning mentality in the role of a coach at the Newcastle United Academy, developing the next generation of footballers on Tyneside.

- Darren Griffiths

Kevin Richardson is a Geordie, born and bred. He was brought up in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne but slipped through the North-East net and joined Everton as a scholar in 1978, aged 16. Now 54 years of age, he is back in his hometown helping to provide the players that will one day wear the famous black-and-white stripes in the first team.

“I am at the Newcastle United Academy working with another ex-Evertonian, Dave Watson,” he said. “We do the Under-18s and I like to encourage and develop the younger lads coming through and improve them. Hopefully, they will get something out of the game.”

After leaving Everton in 1986, Richardson had spells at Watford, Arsenal, Real Sociedad, Aston Villa, Coventry City, Southampton, Barnsley and Blackpool before moving into player development.

“I started in the year 2000 when I was 37 and had finished playing. Football is all I know, so I went into coaching and the first job I had was at Sunderland with the Under-17s and it just went on from there.

“There’s a bit of all the managers who I played under in my coaching style. I played for a lot of good managers and it was from them that I learned about the game.”

Needless to say, there’s a bit of Howard Kendall in Richardson’s methods.