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RICHARD REYNOLDS
Born: 15 February 1948
Came from: Apprentice Went to: Portsmouth
First game: 09 January 1965 Last game: 20 February 1971
Appearances: 140 (132/8) Goals: 25
Born in Looe, Cornwall, Reynolds began his career as an Argyle apprentice, signing professional terms in February 1965, a month after making his first team debut aged just 16. He featured in the 4-2 FA Cup third-round victory over Derby County at Home Park in January 1965.
His rapid rise also brought England Youth recognition, with three caps and one goal in 1966.
A big, powerful player, Reynolds began as a forward before moving into midfield to good effect. Over six years at Home Park, he made 140 appearances and scored 25 goals, although he struggled to secure an extended run in the first team. After losing his place in 1970, he joined Southern League Yeovil Town on loan.
The following summer, he moved to Portsmouth, where his career was revived. A regular in the side, he became a popular figure and won the supporters’ Player of the Season award for 1971-72. However, Portsmouth were entering a period of financial difficulty, and Reynolds remained until late in their relegation season of 1975-76. A Football League tribunal subsequently awarded him substantial compensation for wages paid below the agreed rate and ordered Portsmouth to release him from his contract because the club could no longer meet its wage commitments. Like many of the club’s creditors, he never received the money owed. He finished his Portsmouth career with 160 appearances and 27 goals.
During his four seasons at Fratton Park, Reynolds also ran a successful fish and chip shop, ‘Richie’s Ocean Swell’, on Copnor Road in the Hilsea area of Portsmouth, helping to cover his mortgage amid the club’s financial troubles. He had begun developing his catering skills at Argyle, attending evening classes while an apprentice.
In the summer of 1973, Reynolds played for Dallas Tornado in the North American Soccer League (NASL), making 13 appearances and scoring eight goals. He helped the club win the Southern Division championship and reach the NASL Championship Game Final, where they lost 2-0 to Philadelphia Atoms. Former Argyle team-mate Nicky Jennings was also in the Dallas side.
Reynolds returned to Tornado for a second spell in the summer of 1975, adding 18 appearances and three goals. During this spell, he also faced Pelé’s New York Cosmos.
After leaving Portsmouth in 1976, he moved to the Netherlands to join HFC Haarlem. His time there was cut short after five games of the 1976-77 season when he suffered a serious knee injury against Ajax, forcing his return to England.
Unable to continue his professional career, Reynolds played for Carshalton Athletic before becoming player-manager of several clubs: Chichester City, Petersfield, Fareham Town and Wick, based in Littlehampton. He took charge of Isle of Wight club Newport for the 2002-03 season but lasted only five matches before being replaced. He then retired from football altogether and settled in Milton, Portsmouth.
YOUR CONTRIBUTION
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From John Pickford in Sainghin-en-Melantois, France on 10 Jan 2016 ...
On a bitterly cold Wednesday night in January 1965 what could be more tempting than a half an hour's walk up Wolseley Road to see Argyle play Bugle in the South Western League. I succumbed and was lucky enough to witness Richard Reynold's nine-goal exploit. The Herald said the attendance was 92 so for the first and only time I was over 1% of the crowd at Home Park! It was, of course not a very difficult game for the Greens but Richard Reynolds was strong, determined and persistent - he struck the ball sweetly and his control was good for a big lad on a bone hard pitch. There were some cracking strikes. Three days later Richard made his senior debut in the FA Cup against Derby County - 4-2. His first Football League goal came against Crystal Palace at Home Park a fortnight later.
1964-65 was, as they say, 'a funny old season' for Argyle. After almost getting relegated the previous season by the time the Manchester City '3-2 game' arrived in November with 'that penalty' grabbing the headlines they were looking genuine promotion candidates. In fact that was as good as it got with only five more wins to the end of the season, finishing 15th, which nevertheless was progress. The run to the League Cup semi-final was exciting with Johnny Newman's winner against Northampton Town in the quarter-finals a highlight. Northampton were on their way to the First Division that season; Argyle, of course, thumped them 5-2 just to show what might have been. Richard Reynolds scored one of the goals. He must have been pleased to have broken into the first-team, scored a few goals and looked the part in Division 2...and it all started against Bugle when I was one of the 92!
APPEARANCE DETAILS [reselect competitions]
The details below reflect appearances in all first-team competitions.
We are very grateful to many who have helped write GoS-DB's player pen-pictures, and to Dave Rowntree and the PAFC Media Team for their help with photos. Thanks also to staff at the National Football Museum, the Scottish Football Museum and ScotlandsPeople for their valuable assistance.
The following publications have been particularly valuable in the research of pen-pictures: Plymouth Argyle, A Complete Record 1903-1989 (Brian Knight, ISBN 0-907969-40-2); Plymouth Argyle, 101 Golden Greats (Andy Riddle, ISBN 1-874287-47-3); Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (Michael Joyce, ISBN 1-899468-67-6); Football League Players' Records 1946-1988 (Barry Hugman, ISBN 1-85443-020-3) and Plymouth Argyle Football Club Handbooks.
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