A versatile midfielder, the young Richardson often had to be content with deputising for the likes of Paul Bracewell, Peter Reid and Kevin Sheedy.
[8] After making one appearance for Everton early in the 1986–87 season, he was sold to Watford for £225,000, helping the Hornets finish ninth in the First Division and reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Now a Championship winner at two different clubs, Richardson continued to be a regular the following season at Arsenal; however, he never totally got on with Gunners manager George Graham[13] and he was transferred to Real Sociedad for £750,000 in the summer of 1990, where he was paired up with new signing Dalian Atkinson and former Liverpool striker John Aldridge.
[1] Atkinson was sacked as Villa manager in November 1994, with the club struggling near the foot of the Premier League, and his successor Brian Little signed midfielder Ian Taylor the following month.
[18] He left Coventry in September 1997, having scored once in the League Cup against Hull City,[19] and had spells at Southampton, Barnsley[20] and finally Blackpool.
[22] Incoming manager Roy Keane initially retained Richardson in this capacity before replacing him with former Manchester United coach Neil Bailey.