Since joining the Coasters in May, Theo Richardson has grown into his position as a regular starter in Chris Beech’s side. As we head into the second half of Theo’s debut season, we sat down with the Coasters’ number 25 to talk all things football.

“I’ve settled into the side really well. It’s been a good start to life here. Results-wise we had a really tough start but now the mood in the camp is starting to pick up, so hopefully we can have a really good back end to the season and finish strongly.

“I found settling into the area pretty challenging at the start. I’m coming in from playing part-time so I’ve had to adapt to being in a full-time environment. I’ve had to work hard to cement myself as a number one. It’s all part and parcel of moving to a new club.”

 

Speaking on the transition from part-time to full-time, Theo said, “hasn’t been too difficult at all to be honest. I’ve been playing semi-pro for four years since I was last in full-time now, so it was on the offset a bit of time to get that balance right, but I’ve always been really active so it’s made the step back easier.”

The goalkeeper’s union is as strong as it is anywhere, as Theo spoke on his relationship with long-standing Fylde keeper, Chris Neal.

“Nealo is the perfect person for me to have with me. He’s been at such a high level for so much of his career. It’s someone I can bounce off and someone I can keep a high standard with. It’s the perfect scenario as I feel so comfortable speaking to him. He’s been excellent the whole time I’ve been here.”

After a mixed start to his time at the club, Theo reflects on his individual start to life on the Fylde Coast saying, “It’s been a weird one, individually. 

“As a goalkeeper, you’re always judged on how many goals you concede and for me I feel like I could’ve done better with that, but in myself, I feel like I have done quite well. It’s just not reflected in clean sheets at times.

“On a personal level, I think I’ve done really well. Considering it’s a new club, a new team and I’ve settled in well.”

The task at hand for the next four months is simple, and that feeling is shared throughout the squad as Theo well knows.

“It’s pretty simple as to what we want to do for the rest of the season. We started 2024 in the best way we possibly could. We’ve just got to carry that on. Since Beechy’s taken over we’ve played fast football, which suits me really well.”

Speaking on playing for Chris Beech, Theo shared his feelings on Beehy’s style of football.

“I really enjoy playing for Beechy as it’s a style of football he’s implemented that really suits me and as a team I feel like it suits us too. I’ve really enjoyed it and if we have a good back end of the season, you never know what may happen.

“First thing’s first, we’ve got to stay up. To do that, we’ve just got to win as many games as we can until we do that.”

Following on from a tough 2023, it’s been a positive start to league life in the new calendar year, with two wins from two at Mill Farm.

“The confidence around the group is really good. It’s always been good but when we’re not winning games, it’s obviously frustrating. When you’re winning there’s a spring in everyone’s step and it just gives us more to work on, like I mentioned, momentum is huge.

“There’s been plenty of games we should’ve won but didn’t. So we’ve known that we’re good enough to get results. But the last few weeks, have given us a boost.”

Next up for the Coasters is a trip to Yorkshire to face York City, and Theo is fully aware of the task at hand,

“York is going to be a very tough test. We know they’re going to be stern opposition. When we played them at Mill Farm before Christmas they were better than us on the day. They’ve got a strong forward line, but we’ve got a strong game plan to face them, and we’ll be ready for the challenge they give us.”