Richardson reveals softer side with FA Cup gesture

Published on Wednesday 10 December 2008 21:50

FOR some, Lee Richardson's credentials as a fair-minded individual were not always obvious in his days as a hard-tackling midfielder at Aberdeen, but the current Chesterfield manager distinguished himself on Tuesday night towards the end of his side's FA Cup meeting with non-league Droylsden Town.

The 39-year-old was among those who watched with growing unease as Jack Lester's shot, after Blue Square North side Droylsden had played the ball out in order for treatment to be given to one of their players, sailed into the net.

With the score at 1-1, Lester received the ball from the throw-in with 11 minutes left, and had been expected to return possession to his opponents. Instead, the player nonchalantly lobbed the goalkeeper, before being surrounded by furious Droylsden players. To be fair to the striker, it did not look like he had aimed to score, and he probably couldn't repeat the feat if he tried.

Not that this thought seemed to appease the Droylsden players, who, believing they had just seen the chance to claim a famous result slip through their hands, were in ferment. Some surrounded the player in question, while others made their way to the dug-out, where more ill-feeling flared.

This just wasn't cricket, was the gist of their argument. It is one which can be traced back to other recent examples where the spirit of the game has clashed with the burning desire to win. Often, these occur in knock-out cup games, when the result on the day is key.

An incident during the FA Cup fifth-round tie between Arsenal and Sheffield United in 1999 is perhaps the most memorable of these controversies. Arsenal were drawn at home against Sheffield United and beat the south Yorkshire team 2-1 thanks to goals from Patrick Vieira and Marc Overmars. However, the winning goal had come after the ball had been kicked into touch by a United player, in order for one of his team-mates to receive treatment.

Although the game continued, resentment still simmered after the final whistle, with Arsenal manager Arsne Wenger offering to replay the game, which the teams did after agreement from the Football Association. Arsenal won 2-1, which had been the original result.

More recent was another cup encounter involving Plymouth Argyle and Yeovil Town from 2004, and which included an incident closely resembling the one which caused such a furore on Tuesday night in Chesterfield. In the first half of the Carling Cup match, Plymouth player Graham Coughlan went down injured, and the ball, as is the increasing norm these days, was sent out of play. Yeovil took the throw, and the former Hearts player Lee Johnson received the ball. He turned and hit it in the direction of the Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick, who had strayed from his goal-line. The ball trundled into the net, leading Gary Johnson, the Yeovil manager, to instruct his players to let Plymouth equalise immediately. Steve Crawford, now of East Fife, was allowed a free run into goal from the kick-off. Johnson later revealed he had been more concerned about his opposite number – former Hibs and Kilmarnock manager Bobby Williamson. "He's a big guy and calming him down was my first job," he said.

There was an outbreak of aggression on the touchline at Chesterfield too, though Richardson is more than capable of looking after himself. "I can't condone what Jack did," Richardson said later, with reference to his striker. "Whether or not he was meaning to score only he will know. We can't let that happen, it's against the spirit of the game."

The upholding of this spirit saw Chesterfield stand aside for Droylsden's Steve Halford to score unopposed immediately from the restart. It means Chesterfield are forced to endure another appointment with fired-up Droylsden, whose FA Cup flame flickers on, and perhaps deservedly so. Their first match with Chesterfield was abandoned at half-time due to fog, with the non-league team ahead 1-0. Richardson – or 'Rico' as he was known at Pittodrie – was a tough customer, one who knew the meaning of competitive. For him the thought of collecting a victory that had been so tainted was a thought not to be borne, particularly at this time of supposed goodwill.