Richard Eyre (footballer)

For other people named Richard Eyre, see Richard Eyre (disambiguation).

Richard Eyre

Personal information
Full name	Richard Paul Eyre [1]
Date of birth	(1976-09-15) 15 September 1976 (age 47)
Place of birth	Stockport, England
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) [2]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
	Port Vale
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995–2001	Port Vale	48	(1)
2001	Macclesfield Town	14	(0)
2002	Kidsgrove Athletic
2002	Hyde United	10	(1)
2002–2004	Kidsgrove Athletic
2004–2005	Leek Town	18	(2)
2005–2008	Kidsgrove Athletic
2008	Congleton Town	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Richard Paul Eyre (born 15 September 1976) is an English former footballer who played 62 league games in the Football League for Port Vale and Macclesfield Town between 1995 and 2001. The midfielder then went on to play non-League football for Kidsgrove Athletic, Hyde United, Leek Town, and Congleton Town. He helped Kidsgrove to top the North West Counties Football League in 2001–02.

Career

Eyre began his career as a trainee with Port Vale, turning professional in June 1995. He made one First Division appearance under John Rudge in 1997–98, as a late substitute in a 3–1 defeat to Ipswich Town at Vale Park on 20 December. He featured eleven times in 1998–99, becoming a regular in the first team after Brian Horton was appointed as manager in January. ^[3] He scored his first senior goal against Sheffield United in a 3–2 win at Bramall Lane on 23 November 1999, and finished the 1999–2000 relegation campaign with 33 appearances to his name. He played just six Second Division games in 2000–01, and switched to Macclesfield Town in August 2001. ^[4] He made 14 appearances for the Third Division club in 2001–02. However, after learning that his contract would not be renewed by new boss David Moss, ^[5] he left Moss Rose that December and joined Kidsgrove Athletic in March 2002. He helped Athletic to the North West Counties Football League title in 2001–02.

He joined Hyde United in August 2002, scoring two goals in eleven stars and three substitute appearances. ^[6] He rejoined Kidsgrove two months later. They finished 19th in the Northern Premier League Division One in 2002–03, and last in 2003–04. In June 2004 he joined Leek Town. ^[7] His final game for Leek was against Kidsgrove, who re-signed Eyre for a second time shortly after the match, which they lost 5–0. ^[8] Kidsgrove finished 10th in 2004–05, 17th in 2005–06, 8th in 2006–07, and 17th in 2007–08. He retired in May 2008. ^[9] However, he came out of retirement in November to play for Congleton Town.

Career statistics

Source: ^{[10] [11] [6]}

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Port Vale	1997–98	First Division	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	1998–99	First Division	11	0	0	0	0	0	11	0
	1999–2000	First Division	30	1	1	0	2	0	33	1
	2000–01	Second Division	6	0	0	0	2	0	8	0
	Total		48	1	1	0	4	0	53	1
Macclesfield Town	2001–02	Third Division	14	0	0	0	2	0	16	0
Hyde United	2002–03	Northern Premier League	10	1	2	1	2	0	14	2
Leek Town	2004–05	Northern Premier League Premier Division	18	2	5	1	4	1	27	4

Honours

Kidsgrove Athletic

• North West Counties Football League: 2001–02

References

1. Barry J. Hugman (1998). The PFA Premier and Football League Players' Records 1946–1998. Queen Anne Press. p. 176. ISBN   1-85291-585-4.
2. "FootballSquads – Port Vale – 2000/01". footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
3. "Port Vale pen pictures". BBC Sport. 18 April 2001. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
4. "Silkmen snap up quintet". BBC Sport. 7 August 2001. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
5. "Silkmen reward Wilson". BBC Sport. 17 January 2002. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
6. "Hyde United Football Club: Database". hydeunited.com. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
7. "Ogden wins race for Eyre". NonLeagueDaily. 17 June 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
8. "Eyre helps Leek beat 'Grove and then joins them!". NonLeagueDaily. 14 January 2005. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
9. "Eyre calls it a day at just 31". NonLeagueDaily. 13 May 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
10. Richard Eyre at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
11. "PlayerStats – LeekTownSE". leektown.net. Retrieved 11 April 2022.