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Richard John Poole (born 3 July 1957) is an English retired footballer who played as a centre forward in the Football League for Brentford and Watford and in France for Sporting Toulon Var.

Richard Poole

Personal information
Full name	Richard John Poole[1]
Date of birth	(1957-07-03) 3 July 1957 (age 65)
Place of birth	Heston, England
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
1969–1974	Brentford
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1974–1976	Brentford	21	(1)
1976–1977	Watford	9	(1)
1977–1978	Sporting Toulon Var	7	(2)
Total		37	(4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Brentford

Along with Kevin Harding, Poole was one of the first players recruited when the Brentford youth team was relaunched in 1972,[2] after joining the club at the age of 12.[3] Poole made his professional debut in a Fourth Division match versus Lincoln City in February 1974, while still an apprentice.[4] At 16 years, 7 months and 20 days old, Poole's league debut was at the time the club's second-youngest.[5] In the final home game of the 1973–74 season, Poole scored one and made another in a 2–0 win against Bradford City on 20 April, a result which saved the Bees from having to apply for re-election.[6] Poole still stands as Brentford's youngest league goalscorer.[7] He signed a professional contract during the 1975 off-season and made seven further appearances for the club,[4] before leaving in July 1976.[7]

Watford

Poole joined fellow Fourth Division club Watford in July 1976 and made 9 appearances and scored one goal during the 1976–77 season.[1][8]

Sporting Toulon Var

In 1977, Poole emigrated to France and joined Division 2 Group A club Sporting Toulon Var.[9] He made 8 appearances and scored two goals during the 1977–78 season, before a knee ligament injury brought his career to an end in April 1978.[3][10] He was a teammate of future France and Ivory Coast internationals Jean Tigana and Jean-Désiré Sikely respectively.[11]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Brentford	1973–74[4]	Fourth Division	6	1	0	0	0	0	6	1
	1974–75[4]		8	0	0	0	0	0	8	0
	1975–76[4]		7	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
	Total		21	1	0	0	0	0	21	1
Watford	1976–77[8]	Fourth Division	7	1	2	0	0	0	9	1
Sporting Toulon Var	1977–78[10]	French Division 2	7	2	1	0	—		8	2
Career total			35	4	3	0	0	0	38	4

References

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