A minute’s silence and bucket collection is to be held before kick off to pay tribute to former midfielder, Richie Jordan with proceeds of the bucket collection going to Jordan’s family. It’s set to be an emotional afternoon at Sunderland RCA’s Sunderland LGV Park ground as both sides pay their respects with former teammates and friends in attendance.
Richie played for both sides whilst under current RCA manager Martin Swales, scoring his first goal for Ryhope when winning their first cup for over 40 years against Cleator Moor Celtic in 2010. Tributes from both clubs were posted on their respective social media accounts.
RCA tweeted: “All at Sunderland RCA are shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of our good friend and old teammate Richie Jordan. All our thoughts are with his family. RIP”
And Ryhope paid an emotional tribute on Twitter saying “All at Ryhope CW are deeply saddened and shocked to hear about the passing of Richie Jordan. He was talented, fearsome in the tackle but more importantly, he was a great lad, always with a cheeky smile and he will be truly missed.
Former RCW Manager Chris Lindstedt paid tribute to Richie
I took over as manager of Ryhope CW for the season 2003-04 and stayed for six seasons. Unlike recent seasons, there was no money whatsoever to attract players to the club so we had to go out and find players or rely on recommendations from people in the game. This usually meant signing youngsters, trying to develop them and, a lot of the time, asking boys to do men’s jobs. Richie Jordan was recommended to us in my second season in charge. I believe that it was Anth Shields who was playing in the same Sunday side as Richie who flagged him up and I believe it was a third/fourth division side they were playing for but I could be mistaken. We signed Richie on and threw him straight into the side. He could only have been 20 years old at the very most but, Jesus, could he play football. He took to Wearside League football like a fish to water and was totally comfortable playing against players who had years on him. Richie could do anything on the football field. He was quick, could pass the ball, was great in the air, could score goals and had a great sense of balance. He was almost impossible to knock off the ball and would glide past players and also run straight through them if he had to. Richie was also hard as nails. He was fearsome in the tackle and would back down from nobody. The bigger the challenge, the bigger he became on the field. He could be unreliable and his punctuality was shocking. He was almost always the last player to turn up on matchday BUT once he arrived, I knew that we would be strong that day and that he would give me 200% once he crossed those lines. We beat Washington, who were then in the top half of the Northern League 1st division, 4-0 away from home in the Durham Challenge Cup and he was simply magnificent that night so it was of little surprise to me that we lost him to Sunderland RCA the following season. What did surprise me, however, was the fact he struggled to make it past the bench once he got there which allowed me to lure him back to the CW. He made his second CW debut away to Belford House on the same day as Phil Hall made his debut and those two boys were undoubtedly the best signings I made whilst in charge of the club. We won 2-0 that day and I really thought we had the basis of a very strong side. By the end of that season, my time at the club had come to an end and one of my proudest achievements was the quality of the players that Swaz was left with when he took over as manager. He really did fantastic over the following seasons at the CW but I like to think that he had some good foundations left for him to build from. I attended, as a supporter, the following season’s Monkwearmouth Charity Cup Final at the CW against Cleator Moor Celtic when Richie scored the winner in a 1-0 victory to see the club lift its first trophy in many a season. To see him score the winning goal and Phillie Hall lift the trophy for the club was a really proud moment for me and I was delighted for and proud of both lads. My final game in charge of Ryhope CW was a tough home game against Easington CW. We drew 1-1 that day, Richie scored our goal and I remember him almost decapitating one of their players with a trademark tackle. I shook his hand after the game and thanked him for the effort and commitment he had always given me. He just smiled and said “Chrissy, there was no way I was letting you lose that game mate.” That was Richie all over. Fantastic player but also a diamond of a kid off the park. I will miss him immensely but am eternally grateful that our paths did cross and that I could class him as a friend.
God bless Richie! Until we meet again mate. Thanks so much for the memories kidda!
We also have memories from Dougie Benison, Ryhope CW Treasurer and Committee Member
My 1st memories of Richie are back in 2005 when he signed for Ryhope CW are of a quiet, very polite young man, a credit to his parents, who would rather use 5 words than 50.
In his early days the two people with the greatest influence on Richie’s football career was Chris and Ronnie. Chris was team manager who later became a good friend to Richie’s mam, and Ronnie was kitman (soaked the kit in the bath every Saturday night, as you do), coach driver to Cumbria (a duty shared with Chris), Chairman, fund raiser and anything else that needed doing around the club.
Some of my memories of the early days include:
- Richie running around the cricket field to the ground as he was late – this became part of his pre-match warm up. In fact, that was his pre-match warm up.
- Itching for Chris to finish his team talk so him and Calla could get outside have a couple of smokes each and check what’s won the 2.30 at Newbury because Richie had had to leave the bookies before the race finished.
- Ronnie standing with his arm round Richie giving him some words of wisdom and Richie asking if he knew the half time scores so he could check his coupon.
The Club at the time had no money – players paid to play for the team. It was a family club. Ronnie’s son David played, along with my son Kevin & Davey Halls son Phil, as did George Routledge’s son Liam. All great players and great boys too, but to Chris and Ronnie, Richie was their son. They both loved him, anybody in with the club knows this to be true.
The trips to Cumbria were legendary with the above players and others, like Burlo & Shaun Godfrey. Ronnie pulling the bus over on top of the A66 so Richie and Calla could have a fag in a snow drift. Not forgetting the Shiney Row taxi. All great memories that are so important for us all at this sad time.
Richie was also an integral part of the clubs most successful time in its 127-year history when managed by Martin Swales and assisted by Sean Butler and Gee for most of the time, and also others that included Steve Riley and Alan Hall. The club won 7 cups and 2 Wearside league titles, including its 1st trophy in 44 years winning the Monkwearmouth cup in 2010, when a Richie Jordan scored the winning goal in a 1-0 win against Cleator Moor, watched by his Mam.
The club also gained promotion twice to the Northern League, the 2nd time with Phil Hall and James ‘Jimbob’ Dunn player/managers of the team.
Today’s game will include many players who have played both with and against Richie, the two who played under both Chris and Swaz were Chris Trewick and Greg Swansbury, but also others like Michael Charlton & Nathan ONeill.
Its fair to say that anybody who has played local football in the last 14 years will at sometime played with or against Richie and some even fouled by him, then helped to their feet by him with a’ sorry mate’, ‘sorry ref’, and that cheeky smile.
Richie had this season re-signed for Grangetown Florists on a Sunday morning who are managed by Ryhope CWs most successful club captain Philie Hall and assisted by ex-Ryhope player Martin Metcalfe.
It’s only fitting that after all the tributes on social media this week that the last word should go to Phil who posted this on the clubs Facebook account on Monday: “He loved playing for the CW. Great days they were. Love you Rich”
And Finally RCW Assistant Manager in 2010 when Richie scored the only goal in the Monkwearmouth Cup Final Sean Butler
Richie was already a RCW player when we got there in 2009 and it was easy to see he would be a big player for us. Two huge goals stand out for me that he scored, away to windscale that sent us on a unbeaten run to win the league, and the only goal in the Monkwearmouth charity cup final in 2010.
A great lad off the pitch and a great player on it, he will be a huge miss to everyone that knew him.
RIP mate
This is the Match Report form the Monkwearmouth Cup Final
Easter Monday 5th April 2010
RYHOPE CW v CLEATOR MOOR
Monkwearmouth charity cup final
Result 1-0
Goal scorer RICHARD JORDAN 43 mins
Not much goalmouth action to report during a tight, tense first half. Ryhope skipper Phil Hall headed a Jonathan Davis corner wide, and Celtic’s Leigh Dunn was equally close with a similar effort. The deadlock was broken two minutes before the break. The Cumbrians failed to clear their lines, and Richard Jordan smashed a volley into the top left-hand corner of Craig Devine’s net from the edge of the penalty area.
Inevitably, the game opened up in the second period. Ryhope’s Martin Metcalfe somehow sliced wide from inside the six-yard box with the goal at his mercy. James Farrell almost doubled Ryhope’s lead with a thumping 16-yard drive which hit the underside of the bar and bounced down just the wrong side of the goal line. Ryhope, who looked the steadier throughout, finished strongly. Jordan crashed a shot on the turn from the edge of the box against the inside of a post, and was later denied a penalty after tumbling in the box twice in quick succession.
The Wearside League may not be the most prestigious in the country, but boy, do they have nice trophies. The Monkwearmouth Charity Cup is a beauty, though Ryhope’s players, unused to dealing with success, needed a bit of persuading from fans and photographers before celebrating their victory with any animation. Still, the practice could come in handy because they are in pole position in the race for the league crown. A visit to rivals Scarborough Town, where they won 4-3 in the second round of the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup, on May 8th might prove decisive. A treble is on, with a home tie against Easington Colliery Welfare to come in the semi-finals of the League Cup. Quite a debut season for new manager Martin Swales.
The best was still to come.
Remembered By Many
The North East Football community have paid tribute to Richie over the past week. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Many Northern League Clubs will also be making the own mark of respect before today’s games.
RIP Richie
Never Forgotten