Happy Birthday King John.

[Frank Lincoln]

Happy birthday to John Richards, who is 72 years old today. King John played close to 500 games for Wolves, scoring 194 goals, most of them in the first division. He formed a great partnership with the Doog, and was one of the the finest centre forwards of his generation. It is scandalous that John only played once for England. I wonder how many caps he would have won had he played for one of the London clubs.

Happy birthday King John, have a great day.

 

[Thank you Sir Jack]

Many happy returns of the day to a Wolves legend.

 

[Wednesbury Wolf]

Truly a legend and has been said if he'd have played for Chelsea or Arsenal he'd have had many many caps.
He had a remarkable ability to turn a defender with rapid speed.

 

[Arcadius]

Wonderful player

 

[Stourport wolf]

He was an unbelievable player.
Happy Birthday King John.

 

[Alienwolf]

The greatest in the land

 

[SingYourHeartsOut]

I'm not sure those of us who saw Richards and the Doog have ever really believed there's a better way to play football.

 

[Jonzy54]

Lived by him when he first came to the club
Idolised him as a player
Worked with him at the Council
Happy Birthday

 

[grumpy old wolf]

many happy memories of seeing him play , great days , happy bithday and many more

 

[Mutchy]

For anyone who wants to leave a message, I can make sure your greetings are brought to John's attention.

 

[berwickwolf]

Richards runs through defenders quicker than watneys pale ale

A badge from back in the day

Happy birthday and thanks for some great memories!

 

[Scallywolf]

I'm not sure those of us who saw Richards and the Doog have ever really believed there's a better way to play football.

With Waggy out wide as well.

Dougan, Richards and Wagstaffe. It just rolled off the tongue!

 

[northnorfolkwolf]

With Waggy out wide as well.

Dougan, Richards and Wagstaffe. It just rolled off the tongue!

McCalliog, Hibbitt, Richards, Dougan, Wagstaffe. My favourite forward line of all time and will never be bettered.
Happy Birthday King John!

 

[SuperGran]

Happy birthday king John

 

[tonto]

Happy birthday Mr Richards you gave my so much pleasure and lifted the mood in some dark times
What a team what a time for Wolves
Thank you and all your team mates
Memories never fade

 

[Frank Lincoln]

McCalliog, Hibbitt, Richards, Dougan, Wagstaffe. My favourite forward line of all time and will never be bettered.
Happy Birthday King John!

Younger people, my sons included, have said that us older fans look at things through rose coloured spectacles. That might be true, but anyone who saw that Wolves side in full flow will know just how good they could be. The players you mentioned were all forwards of the highest quality, and remember we also had Mike Bailey, the skipper, behind them urging them on.

 

[crocos]

Great memories of him when I were a young kid; always seemed a real gent too.

Happy Birthday, KJ :~}

 

[WickedWolfie]

McCalliog, Hibbitt, Richards, Dougan, Wagstaffe. My favourite forward line of all time and will never be bettered.
Happy Birthday King John!

Firstly happy birthday John.

They were a great combo and may well be your favourite forward line of all time. To say that they will never be bettered, other than in your opinion, is laughable though. Objective evidence suggests that our 50s forward line was better.

 

[Frank Lincoln]

For anyone who wants to leave a message, I can make sure your greetings are brought to John's attention.

Yes please. Could you send John my very best wishes for a happy birthday. A great player who will never be forgotten by those who saw him play

 

[Mutchy]

Yes please. Could you send John my very best wishes for a happy birthday. A great player who will never be forgotten by those who saw him play

I'll send him a link to the thread Frank.

 

[Thank you Sir Jack]

If John does read this......
What could any little boy (or girl) want? - to be a superb footballer, possess super good looks and be a decent chap (or chapess).
John had them all.

 

[northnorfolkwolf]

Firstly happy birthday John.

They were a great combo and may well be your favourite forward line of all time. To say that they will never be bettered, other than in your opinion, is laughable though. Objective evidence suggests that our 50s forward line was better.

Funny how on a harmonious thread like this people want to start an argument? The best forward line in my years of supporting Wolves. I stand by my comment 'will never be bettered' by evidence of the last 50 years. Have we produced a better mf than Hibbitt in that time? (Neves is the only one who comes close imo). Doog and Richards are about the perfect strike partnership ( Bully and Jimenez come close but of course they did not play together). And Waggy, arguably (and I'm biased!) the best genuine winger along with George Best ever to grace English football in my time. I accept that who knows what the future may bring but they will have to be a pretty special group to match the Wolves 70s forward line.

 

[Wednesbury Wolf]

One thing is pretty certain we haven't had a better front 2 since King John and Doog. Which is a bit sad considering how long ago it was. Bully and Mutch were very good but didn't play at the same level.

 

[Munro Munro]

King John simply magnificent

 

[Jack Russell]

Happy Birthday John and thanks for so many fabulous memories. Probably the greatest was the winner in the 1974 League Cup Final when you were struggling for fitness and, fortunately for us, you were in the right place at the right time to drive home the winner!

 

[johnnybetchas]

The best Wolves goal scorer I've seen in my long support. A nice bloke as well when he used to pop in the Western some years back, mostly with Willie Carr. Always had time for anyone who wanted to say hello. Happy birthday King John.

 

[JR WAS KING]

Echo everything said on here, a hero of mine to this day.
Most memorable goal was obviously the League Cup final winner in 1974, but a close second was his winner in December 1973 against a very strong Liverpool in the quarter final. Won the ball on the half way line, ran through and smashed into the top corner from the edge of the box, an absolute stunner. I was 15 at the time and had just broken up from school for Christmas so was able to go as match was played mid-week in the afternoon.
Happy days

 

[Rhoswolf]

One of my all time favourites, reason my first born was named John Richard

 

[Lawndog]

yeah, fantastic player!.....very rarely missed 'one on one's' with 'keepers!

My overriding memory was as a 10 year old in the old SB when we played Cov in the FA Cup 6th round in '73......Doog flicked the ball over CH Bobby Parker and JR ran in on goal....cos of the tall men in front of me that was all I saw but I knew JR would score so ended-up celebrating the goal about 2 or 3 seconds before everybody else!

 

[JR’s Boots]

I Idolised him as a youngster; he had such fine balance and grace along with a natural goalscorer’s instinct.

Happy birthday King John

 

[Puregold]

Happy Birthday King John, (RICHARDS) FOR ENGLAND)

 

[Oh Robbie Robie]

Playing against him was one of the highlights of my life. Such a gentleman as well.

 

[Mutchy]

Just received this from John.

I've just read the Molineux Mix threads - such lovely comments (and an age-old discussion as well!); I'm very humbled and fortunate to have played alongside some of Wolves greatest ever players. Waggy and Mike Bailey were the stand-outs for me.
Please pass on my thanks to all the Molineux Mix members.

 

[Guzeppi]

I declare an amnesty in the name of King John Richards.

 

[oldgolded]

He really oozed class. A superb player who should have won far more England caps. Would be worth a fortune these days.

 

[Ercall Wolves]

Great great player and a true gentleman off the pitch

 

[Beach Umbrella]

Really happy memories of that 70’s era and especially the forward line with John, Doog & Waggy.

Great to look back at those games. Skilful players on muddy pitches. No time wasting or gamesmanship

Hoping to go along to the book signing at Waterstones in Wolverhampton this afternoon to meet John, Kenny Hibbitt, Willie Carr & Steve Daley.

 

[reanswolf]

Another who idolised King John, along with King Kenny and that 70s team.

Happy birthday for yesterday !

 

[Frank Lincoln]

I could be wrong, but when John won his solitary England cap, wasn't he played on the wing.

If my memory has served me correctly, that was a terrible waste of his talent.

 

[wolvesjoe]

My all-time favourite wolves player. I must have seen 60 to 70 per cent of his games.

Natural athlete, fast, intelligent player who understood importance of not dwelling on the ball. Anyone who saw his hat trick against Everton would have an idea of just how good he was at his peak. Lost some pace with some bad injuries but remained a top striker.

Like Steve Bull, should probably have moved to a too club, but their loss was our immense gain.