*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Richard Corbyn
Appearances: 22+7 Goals: 1
Date / Year of birth: 21st February 1977
Position: Right-back / Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 1995/96
Season of last appearance: 1996/97
Also played for: Gillingham (0), Welling United and Dartford
Versatile player who started his career as a trainee with Gillingham during the 1992/93 season and captained their Under-16's as they won the Kent Cup Final in 1993. Richard stayed with the Gills for the 1993/94 and 1994/95 campaigns, mainly playing for the youth team, but was released in the summer of 1995.
He joined Margate for the 1995/96 season along with his former Gills team-mates Karl Emerick and Danny Francis and impressed the Thanet Times when he played in a friendly against his old club Gillingham on 22.7.95. The paper said Richard had an "impressive debut" and "looked razor-sharp at right-back". He made his first competitive appearance on the opening day of the new campaign, playing at right-back as Margate lost 3-1 at Trowbridge on 19.8.95. Richard then played twice more in the number two shirt before suffering the first of what would be a succession of injuries.
A knee problem kept him out for nine matches and although Richard attempted a comeback in October 1995 the injury flared up again and after making three more appearances he missed Margate's next 11 games. In December 1995 he made three substitute appearances and when Richard lined up in midfield for a 1-1 draw with Witney at Hartsdown Park on 30.12.95 it was his first start for over two months.
At the start of 1996 he finally managed a run in the side, starting six consecutive matches in midfield from January to the start of March 1996. The Isle of Thanet Gazette said that Richard "sprayed out a stream of intelligent passes" in a 4-0 win at Waterlooville on 13.1.96 whilst the Thanet Times said he was "a revelation in midfield" during a 1-0 home win over Weston-Super-Mare on 17.2.96. The paper praised Richard's "strength in the tackle and dogged running" and added "virtually every 50-50 ball was his". On 30.3.96 he started in a 3-2 defeat at Witney but suffered a serious ankle injury which finished his season. Caretaker manager Mark Weatherly expressed his sympathy for Richard and said "his strength is a major asset to the side". He'd made a total of 18 appearances (four as sub) during 1995/96 without scoring.
Richard made his first appearance of the 1996/97 campaign on 31.8.96 as Margate lost 1-0 at home to Banstead in an FA Cup tie. He then made sporadic appearances over the next few weeks before enjoying a run in the side in midfield. After featuring in a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Aldershot on 19.10.96 Richard started each of Margate's next five games. The last of them was a Southern League match against Buckingham at Hartsdown Park on 16.11.96. Richard wore the number 11 shirt and scored in a 2-0 win. It was his first goal for Margate and it came in what turned out to be his last outing for the club as he was released shortly afterwards having made 11 appearances (three as sub).
After leaving Margate Richard initially joined Welling but a knee injury soon finished his spell there.
After a few years out of senior football he attempted a comeback with Dartford during the 2002/03 season before deciding to retire.
In 2010 Richard was living in Sidcup.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1995/96 (MFC) |
14 (51) |
4 |
0 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (11TH OF 22) |
2QR |
1QR |
2R |
1R |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
FAC |
FAT |
SLC |
KSC |
| |
|
1996/97 (MFC) |
8 (48) |
3 |
1 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE SOUTHERN DIV. (5TH OF 22) |
PR |
1QR |
2R |
1R |