 Brindley withRotherham United in July 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Richard Michael Brindley | ||
| Date of birth | (1993-05-05)5 May 1993 (age 32)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Norwich, England | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Right-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Eastleigh | ||
| Number | 2 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2011 | Norwich City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2012 | Norwich City | 0 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | Chelmsford City[2] | 10 | (0) |
| 2013 | Chesterfield | 12 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Rotherham United | 18 | (1) |
| 2014–2015 | →Scunthorpe United (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2015 | →Oxford United (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2015 | →Colchester United (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2015–2017 | Colchester United | 62 | (2) |
| 2017–2018 | Barnet | 18 | (1) |
| 2018–2019 | Bromley | 33 | (2) |
| 2019–2024 | Notts County | 137 | (1) |
| 2024– | Eastleigh | 0 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:51, 8 July 2024 (UTC) | |||
Richard Michael Brindley (born 5 May 1993) is an English professionalfootballer who plays as aright-back forNational League clubEastleigh.
Brindley progressed through the academy atNorwich City, but was released in 2012 after failing to break into the first-team. He joinedChelmsford City, where his performances attracted the attention ofChesterfield. He signed for theLeague Two side in January 2013, where he would make his professional debut. He was then signed byRotherham United, but struggled to hold down a regular starting berth, his one and only goal came in a 5–1 defeat to Bournemouth in the FA Cup in 2015. He was subsequently loaned out during the2014–15 season toScunthorpe United,Oxford United andColchester United. Following his release from Rotherham in the summer of 2015, he joined Colchester United on a permanent basis. He signed forBarnet in July 2017, who he left at the end of the season following relegation.
Born inNorwich,[1] Brindley began his career atNorwich City, where he played as either acentral midfielder or as afull-back. He joined the club at the age of nine, and it was announced in October 2008 that he would be offered a scholarship that would begin in June 2009. He broke into the youth team in 2009, scoring againstAston Villa after coming on as a substitute.[3]
In May 2012, a year after turning professional at Norwich City, it was announced that Brindley would not be offered a new contract and would be released by the club, yet to make a first-team appearance.[4]
Brindley signed forConference South sideChelmsford City in the summer of 2012 following his release fromCarrow Road.[3] He made his debut on 18 August in their 1–1 draw withHavant & Waterlooville at West Leigh Park.[5]
During his time with Chelmsford, Brindley played one game for the UK Football Finder Elite Development Squad on 12 September in a match against aLeatherhead XI, with his side coming out 4–2 victors.[6]
Brindley scored his first and only goal for Chelmsford on 10 December when they defeatedHampton & Richmond Borough 3–2 in theFA Trophy. He scored after only one minute of play.[7] He played his final game for the club on 12 January 2013, starting in a 3–0 defeat toHalifax Town atThe Shay in the FA Trophy.[8] He made ten Conference South appearances and three FA Trophy appearances in addition to his one goal. He also featured in theFA Cup four times,[2] including starting in the first round 3–1 win overColchester United,[9] and the 3–0 second round defeat toCrawley Town.[10] He made 24 appearances in all competitions for Chelmsford, and was also awarded with threeman of the match awards during his time at the club.[11]
League Two sideChesterfield signed Brindley on 17 January 2013, with the deal running until the end of the2012–13 season.[11][12] His first outing for the club was in theDerbyshire Senior Cup on 29 January in Chesterfield's 4–2 win againstBelper Town. CoachJohn Dungworth was pleased with Brindley's debut, saying that he was "energetic and full of confidence".[13] Prior to making a first-team appearance, Brindley said that his chance with the club showed "great opportunity to progress" and that he would "like to stay longer [than the end of the season]".[14]
Brindley made hisFootball League and professional debut on 9 February, where he came on as a substitute forDanny Whitaker in the final minutes of a 2–0 home win overAFC Wimbledon.[15] Though he only had limited playing time on his debut, Brindley said that he was "grateful" for the opportunity.[16] He provided an assist forMarc Richards to score the only goal in a 1–0 win overOxford United on 16 March.[17]
After making nine appearances for the Spireites, Brindley was dropped from the squad ahead of a match againstBarnet in April over contractual issues, where negotiations between both parties broke down concerning the extension of his deal with the club.[18] He would eventually end the season having played twelve League Two games,[19] but his long-term future was still not resolved by the end of the campaign.[20]
_2013-07-28_00-25.jpg)
Following the expiry of his contract at Chesterfield, Brindley joinedLeague One sideRotherham United on 23 May 2013. He signed a two-year deal at theNew York Stadium. His new managerSteve Evans said that Rotherham had "watched him [Brindley] at Chesterfield on four occasions and we knew then that he was a top talent".[21] Following the move, Brindley added that he was determined to prove himself at League One level, setting himself a target of getting "first-team experience and experience in League One".[22]
Brindley made his Rotherham debut in the opening game of the2013–14 season, starting in a 3–3 draw withCrewe Alexandra.[23] During the first few weeks of the season, Brindley held down the right-back spot following an injury toUtility playerMark Bradley, who provided competition for the position across the season,[24] and on-loanNewcastle United right-backJames Tavernier.[25]
Brindley fell out of favour for the early part of 2014, starting only twice between December 2013 and May 2014. A host of injuries saw Brindley recalled to the starting line-up for Rotherham'splay-off first leg match atPreston North End on 10 May, but was substituted after only 23 minutes following an injury.[26] After Rotherham reached theplay-off final, Brindley started the match on the bench, but came on forWes Thomas after 54 minutes atWembley Stadium while Rotherham were 2–0 down toLeyton Orient. The Millers pegged the score back to 2–2, and secured promotion to theChampionship as they won 4–3 after apenalty shoot-out.[27] Despite helping his side to promotion, Brindley made just 16 League One appearances across the season, and 24 in all competitions.[28]
Brindley made his first appearance in the Championship on 23 August 2014, when he came on as an 89th-minute substitute forBen Pringle in Rotherham's 1–0 win overMillwall atThe Den.[29] He was to make his final appearance for the club on 3 January 2015, following his loan spell atScunthorpe United. The game saw Brindley score his first professional goal after 10 minutes of the FA Cup third round encounter withBournemouth, but his side were to eventually lose 5–1 at home.[30]
On 25 November 2014, Brindley made a return to League One, signing forScunthorpe United on loan until January.[31] He made his debut on 13 December, starting in Scunthorpe's 2–1 home win over Crewe.[32] He returned to Rotherham due to injuries after making just three appearances for Scunthorpe.[33]
Brindley signed on loan for one month forLeague TwoOxford United on 29 January 2015, with a view to a permanent move.[34] He played his first game for Oxford on 31 January as his side beatStevenage 2–0.[35] After the club brought inGeorge Baldock on loan fromMK Dons, Brindley returned to Rotherham after his short-term loan expired,[36] making just three appearances.[37]
Colchester United signed Brindley on 26 March 2015 on loan until the end of the season, followingIpswich Town loaneeElliott Hewitt's recall.[38] He revealed that he turned down other offers in order to join Colchester, and also revealed that his deal could later become permanent.[39]
He made his debut on 3 April in Colchester's 2–1 win overPort Vale atVale Park.[40] He made eight appearances for Colchester through to the end of the2014–15 season.[37]
Colchester United held talks with their former loanee Brindley in May 2015, following his release by Rotherham.[41] He then signed a two-year contract with Colchester on 2 June.[42] He made his second debut on 8 August in Colchester's 2–2 home draw withBlackpool.[43] He scored his first ever league goal on 25 March 2016 after being introduced as a second-half substitute forElliot Lee during Colchester's win againstDoncaster Rovers. His 87th-minute shot completed the scoring in a 4–1 victory.[44] He ended his first full season with the club with 25 appearances.[45]
Under new managerJohn McGreal, Brindley became a regular in Colchester's starting eleven in the2016–17 season, where he operated as a rightwing-back in a 3-5-2 formation. Brindley said "Last season wasn't a great one for myself with injuries and managers coming in and out but this season has been brilliant for me, I feel I'm playing well and that's all I want to do".[46] He later said that wing-back had become his "best position".[47] He scored his first goal of the season with afree kick in Colchester's 1–1 draw withMorecambe on 17 April 2017.[48] He ended the season with 43 first-team appearances.[49] He was offered a new contract at the end of the season, but opted to leave the club after refusing terms.[50]
On 10 July 2017, Brindley joined Colchester's League Two rivalsBarnet on a free transfer.[51] On 5 May 2018, Brindley scored his first goal for Barnet in a 3–0 win overChesterfield in a game that saw Barnet relegated from theFootball League.[52] He left the club by mutual consent on 7 July 2018.[53]
On 25 September 2018, Brindley signed forBromley, making his debut in a 2–1 victory away toEbbsfleet United, playing the full 90 minutes.[54] Brindley went on to score twice in 36 games before leaving at the end of the season.
On 5 September 2019, Brindley signed forNotts County.[55] Brindley signed a new two-year contract in May 2022.[56] On 28 April 2024 Brindley left Notts County at end of contract.
On 8 July 2024, Brindley joined National League sideEastleigh.[57]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Norwich City | 2011–12 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Chelmsford City | 2012–13[2] | Conference South | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 3[a] | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Chesterfield | 2012–13[19] | League Two | 12 | 0 | – | – | – | 12 | 0 | |||
| Rotherham United | 2013–14[28] | League One | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5[b][c] | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| 2014–15[37] | Championship | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | 4 | 1 | ||
| Total | 18 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 28 | 1 | ||
| Scunthorpe United (loan) | 2014–15[37] | League One | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | 3 | 0 | |||
| Oxford United (loan) | 2014–15[37] | League Two | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | 3 | 0 | |||
| Colchester United (loan) | 2014–15[37] | League One | 8 | 0 | – | – | – | 8 | 0 | |||
| Colchester United | 2015–16[45] | League One | 21 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
| 2016–17[49] | League Two | 41 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
| Total | 62 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 68 | 2 | ||
| Barnet | 2017–18[58] | League Two | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| Bromley | 2018–19[59] | National League | 33 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 2 |
| Notts County | 2019–20[60] | National League | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 1 |
| 2020–21[61] | National League | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5[e] | 0 | 26 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22[62] | National League | 32 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 2[f] | 0 | 37 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23[63] | National League | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[g] | 0 | 33 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24[64] | League Two | 27 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 31 | 1 | |
| Total | 133 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 155 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 300 | 6 | 21 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 347 | 8 | ||
Rotherham United
Notts County
