RailHawks Re-Sign Gregory Richardson
Official Press Release
Richardson returning to RailHawks
Guyanese midfielder had 17 points in 14 matches last season
CARY, N.C. (Feb. 5, 2009) - Guyanese midfielder Gregory Richardson has re-signed with the Carolina RailHawks on a one-year deal with a club option for 2011, the club announced Friday.
Richardson joined the RailHawks in mid-season 2009 and made an immediate impact. Though he rated 17th on the team in minutes played (971), he tied for the team lead in assists (five) and was second in goals scored (six) and points (17).
“Signing Gregory is a huge bonus for us,” said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie. “In the second half of the season, he was involved in so many of the goals that we scored. He’s got something a little bit different in the final third of the field where he can beat players and he can score. Those kinds of players are hard to find. Now that he knows his surroundings and he knows where he is, I think he can have a big season and I’m excited to have him back.”
Richardson made his RailHawk debut while on trial with the team in a July 3 friendly against Wilmington and assisted on Kupono Low’s 35th-minute goal. On July 26, he registered the third hat trick in club history when he scored three goals in a 4-0 win over Miami. Against Miami on Aug. 26, he had a goal and two assists. On Sept. 12, he scored the fastest goal in club history when he tucked one in in the second minute against Puerto Rico, and he had an assist in that game.
Richardson began his professional career in 2005-06, playing with Beacon and Pele FC in his native Guyana. In 2007, he signed with Joe Public FC of the Trinidad & Tobago Pro League. He led the team to the 2008 First Citizens Cup, scoring four goals in four games, and he was the top goal scorer and MVP of the tournament. He made a name for himself and Joe Public in the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League when he scored five goals in four matches - including a hat trick plus an assist in a 4-0 romp over the New England Revolution - to lead Joe Public to the tournament’s group stage. In January 2009, Richardson went on trial with Toronto FC and appeared in three preseason matches for TFC. In February, he was traded to the Colorado Rapids, where he remained until his midseason transfer to the RailHawks.
1 comments:
Richardson was the best attacker for the Railhawks last season, even though is was only with the team for half of the year. I am glad to see that Carolina and the NASL were able to keep him for another year. I think it is only time before he jumps to the MLS or a European league.
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