It is 10 years ago today (September 26) that Head Coach Alan Richardson played his last match for Worcestershire – and he ended in style and on a winning note.
Richardson walked off the field at New Road at the age of 38 after helping Worcestershire to a 115 run County Championship win over Northamptonshire with a day to spare.
His match return of 6-88 from 36 overs took his first class wicket tally for the 2013 campaign to 69 and a grand total of 254 in four superb seasons with Worcestershire at the tail-end of his career.
Richardson was the leading wicket-taker in Division Two in his final season – two ahead of Glamorgan’s Michael Hogan (67) – and his wickets came at an average of 19.82.
There was no indication at the time that Richardson was going to hang up his spikes after another prolific season.
It was not until after Christmas that he announced his retirement from playing to take up a coaching role with Warwickshire, before moving back to New Road initially as Bowling Coach in 2018.
Supporters greeted the news with concern as regards who would fill the enormous gap left in the Worcestershire attack.
But Charlie Morris and Jack Shantry stepped forward with 50 plus wickets apiece and Worcestershire gained promotion back to Division One in 2014.
