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Steve Richardson celebrates with his players after Basingstoke Town's Hampshire Senior Cup

BASINGSTOKE Town supporters are being urged to turn out in force as the club pays tribute to legend Steve "Rico" Richardson with a testimonial match at the Camrose on Saturday.

Richardson spent 13 years at the club as a player and coach, even having a brief spell as caretaker-manager at the end of last season.

He left in May to team up with former Town boss Francis Vines at Farnborough FC, but will return to the Camrose on Saturday for his testimonial (kick-off 3pm), which will see Basingstoke Town take on a side from another of his former clubs, Reading.

Richardson began his playing career at Southampton, spending three seasons at the Dell before moving to Reading in 1982.

The left-back soon became a crowd favourite at Elm Park, winning the fans' player of The year award in each of his first two seasons, making 457 appearances for the Royals and helping the club to two promotions and victory in the 1988 Simod Cup final.

After leaving Reading in 1993, Richardson spent time at Newbury before joining Basingstoke in 1995. He made nearly 200 appearances as a player before becoming first-team coach under Ernie Howe.

He was promoted to assistant manager when Vines arrived at the Camrose in 2006, and took over the managerial reigns when his boss resigned in March, guiding the team to victory in the Hampshire Senior Cup.

He left the club immediately after the final, but was awarded a testimonial by chairman Rafi Razzak in recognition of his time at the club.

Richardson said: "I am over the moon to have been given a testimonial because I did not expect anything like this to happen to me."

"I have got some great memories from my time at the Camrose. Playing Northampton in the 1997/98 FA Cup was one of the highlights, as was winning promotion to the Isthmian Premier the previous season."

Current manager Frank Gray is also looking forward to the match and would like to see a big crowd at the Camrose for what should be an entertaining afternoon of football.

"I hope a lot of people turn out to support Steve," Gray said. "He has been a loyal servant to the club and I hope he gets the reward he deserves.

With the Reading first team touring Sweden, the Royals side visiting the Camrose will be a reserve team, but Gray is looking forward to a tough test for his squad.

"It will still be a strong side regardless of the fact that it is Reading's reserves," he said. "It should be another good workout as we build up to the start of the season on August 9."

Admission to the match will cost £9 for adults, £6 for concessions and £3 for children.

11:43am Thursday 24th July 2008

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