Vale Seal Richards Deal

Micky Adams has added to his attacking ranks by swooping for 29-year-old striker Justin Richards on a free transfer from Cheltenham Town. After retaining the services of his key out of contract players, Adams has wasted no time in securing the signature of the well-travelled hitman as a potential partner for last season’s leading scorer, Marc Richards.

Beginning his career at home town club West Bromwich Albion, Richards made a solitary appearance before a £75,000 move to Bristol Rovers. Further spells at Colchester United and Stevenage Borough followed before a successful period at Woking, where he enjoyed the most prolific spell of his career, netting 22 goals, which led to a move to then League Two Peterborough United. A return of 1 goal in 13 appearances saw the bustling front man return to the Conference with Kidderminster Harriers. During the 2008-9 season, Richards netted 20 times in 38 starts, in the process becoming the first Kidderminster player since “Bomber” Bo Henriksen to score 20 goals in a season.

Signed by then Cheltenham manager Martin Allen on a one-year contract last summer, Richards later teamed up with former Harriers boss Mark Yates after Allen’s dismissal, scoring 15 goals in a side battling relegation for large periods of the season.

Richards made two appearances against Vale last season, appearing as a second half substitute in the 1-1 draw at Vale Park in October, before starting in the reverse fixture at Whaddon Road and will sign a two-year contract on the expiry of his current deal at Cheltenham on 1 July.