Richard Wilkins (footballer)

Richard Wilkins

Personal information
Date of birth	(1965-05-28) 28 May 1965
Place of birth	Lambeth, England
Height
Position(s)	Defender/Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Leiston
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1985-1986	Haverhill Rovers
1986-1990	Colchester United	152	(22)
1990-1994	Cambridge United	81	(7)
1994-1996	Hereford United	77	(5)
1996-2000	Colchester United	127	(11)
Total		437	(45)
Managerial career
2000-2014	Bury Town
2014-	Leiston
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Richard Wilkins (born 28 May 1965) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He currently manages Leiston.

Career

Born in Lambeth in London, Wilkins began his career at non-League club Haverhill Rovers in 1985. On 20 November 1986 he signed for Colchester United. After 150 appearances, he was signed by Cambridge United in July 1990 for £60,000. In 1994 he moved to Hereford United on a free transfer, before being re-signed by Colchester in 1996 for a fee of £30,000. He retired from professional football in 2000, becoming manager of non-League club Bury Town. He led the club to two promotions, in 2005-06 from the Eastern Counties League, and in 2009-10 from the Southern Football League Division One Midlands. Wilkins stepped down from the role at the end of the 2013-14 season. In July 2014, Wilkins joined fellow Suffolk side Leiston as Steve Ball's assistant. He then took over as manager shortly after and has led the side to the top half of the Ryman Premier Division in his first season, in his second season the side are challenging for promotion.

Honours

Club

Colchester United

• Football League Trophy Runner-up (1): 1996–97
• Football League Division Three Playoff Winner (1): 1997–98

Individual

• Colchester United Player of the Year (1): 1998