Guy: Richard William (Dickie)

1908-1909 (Leeds City Player Details)

Outside Right

Born: Madeley, Shropshire: 04-08-1877

Debut: v Hull City (h): 12-09-1908

5’8” 11st 6lb (1908)

Guy started with Second Division Manchester City in the 1902-03 season but failed to make the first team. He joined Second Division Bradford City at the start of the following season following their election to the Football League. His debut came in the first game of the season on 1st September 1903 when 10,000 went to Blundell Park to see Grimsby Town defeat the Bantams by 2-0. His second game was in slightly happier circumstances, when he had the honour of scoring the first goal ever scored by Bradford City in the Football League and it came on 5th September 1903 in a 3-1 defeat at Valley Parade by Gainsborough Trinity, in front of a crowd of 11,000. According to the Bradford Daily Argus, the goal was greeted with "a shout which awoke babies on the distant hillsides of Bolton and Eccleshill". However, that was as good as it got and after he had finished the season by scoring one goal in six League appearances and one goal in three F.A. Cup games as an Outside Right, he joined Non-League Hastings and St Leonards. He remained there until the new Manager of Leeds City, Frank Scott-Walford, recruited him in May 1908, as one of the many signings he made soon after his arrival. He made his Leeds City debut in the third game of the 1908-09 season, in a 2-0 home win over Hull City on 12th September 1908. He laid on one of the goals for Adam Bowman with a fine cross and, according to Sportsman in the Leeds Mercury, it was "an exceedingly promising debut". He flattered to deceive, and he proved to be inconsistent making eighteen League appearances and registering three goals,while scoring once in four F.A. Cup ties. The three League goals commenced, probably his best performance for City, in a 5-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Elland Road in front of 14,000 on 12th December 1908. Linesman in the Leeds Mercury had this to say: "It was indeed a fortunate circumstance that led to the re-inclusion of Guy. Guy had already figured in the team without accomplishing anything brilliant, but he seized his opportunity on Saturday with both hands (and feet), and Richard Guy, as featured in Bradford City's first handbook in 1903, when he scored the Bantams' first goal in League football showed so much dash and skill as to make himself the most outstanding forward on the field. So big a part did he play that he had a large share in all the five goals scored for Leeds City. The three that were got in the first half were almost the direct result of his centres. In view of Guy's performance, the problems of the Leeds City right wing would appear to be solved, for the fair haired outside-right undoubtedly earned his place, and it is to be hoped he will keep it." His other League goals came in a 1-2 defeat at Oakwell in front of just 6,500 on New Year's Day 1909 and then he got City's second goal in a fine 2-0 win at home to Fulham in front of 10,000 on 27th March 1909, after Adam Bowman had given City a 1-0 half-time lead. His F.A. Cup goal came on 20th January 1909, when after a goal from the penalty spot from from Billy McLeod had sent City to the break with a one goal lead and Guy added a second as City defeated Oldham Athletic 2-0 in front of a crowd of 19,047 at Elland Road in a first round replay. However, despite that success, Guy had an inconsistent season and only stayed at Elland Road for one season. He moved to Non-League Portsmouth at the start of the 1909-10 season. He later rejoined Hastings and St Leonards in 1910 for £25. Guy enlisted in the Special Reserve in March 1908 and he served for a year on the Western Front in the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry during the First World War. He died in 1938.