Was Richard Liburd any good for us and why did he go?

alanmoodysdog

alanmoodysdog

Well-known member
Was 20 year old and we signed him from Eastwood Town. for 72K in March 1992 and sold him to Bradford for 200k just over a year later. Had a season or so with us making 41 apps. Known for his languid walk (reminded me of Alec Smith from the late 60s) he seemed to have a regular position as FB and I thought he was decent .... Anyone know why he left? Maybe just a good offer? He went on to play 150 plus games for his hometown club Notts County

Jermaine Jenas is his cousin
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I remember going to the club shop on Warwick Street and seeing Liburd get dropped off at the ground in a Lada taxi. Definitely not a big-time Charlie, I liked him.
 
Growing up I have a small recollection of him being sent off at Ayresome Park for retaliation, I’d have only been 8 or 9 at the time and couldn’t understand why the other player hadn’t been sent off.
 
He and Alan Moore both broke into the team at the same time and for a while were absolutely fantastic. Liburd had a very laid back look to him (almost Spence like without the attitude). I just think the cold hard reality of the championship caught up with him eventually and he moved on for more game time.
 
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He was our regular left back in Lennie Lawrence's last reason but he never played for us again after Bryan Robson arrived probably due to him having an ungainly style similar to Alec Smith is a good comparison but being right footed at times struggled on his left foot and often got caught in possession trying to dribble out from the back.He had great athleticism and never shirked a challenge but BR obviously thought he lacked the attributes needed to move us forward.
 
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Born in Nottingham, Liburd started out his football career as a youth trainee with Nottingham Forest. Released at the end of his two-year training period, he joined Eastwood Town. Rapidly making an impression at Eastwood, he joined Middlesbrough, on trial, in early 1993, completing a £72,500 transfer in March 1993.[1] He played 41 games for 'Boro' until his next move was to join Bradford City for £200,000 in July 1994. He was a key member of the Bantams for more than three years, helping them to promotion from Division Two in 1995–96 before he left to join Carlisle United after 79 games at Valley Parade. His career took him to Notts County and Lincoln City before he returned to Eastwood.[2]

His return lasted less than a season and Liburd was out of regular football until he joined Nottinghamshire Senior League club Boots Athletic in September 2006.[3] He moved on to Basford United before departing in January 2007.[4] In July 2007, he had an unsuccessful trial with Hucknall Town, appearing in a pre-season friendly against Carlton Town.[5] However, in November 2008 he was signed for Hucknall by the new director of football Brian Chambers.[6]
 
Did he not have off the field issues? Memory failing me, could be completely wrong.

I quite liked him, bit inconsistent, but not the worst player to play for Boro.
 
Teesste said:
He and Alan Moore both broke into the team at the same time and for a while were absolutely fantastic. Liburd had a very laid back look to him (almost Spence like without the attitude). I just think the cold hard reality of the championship caught up with him eventually and he moved on for more game time.
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he played 41 games in just over 1 year, thats pretty much every game
 
Strange season the one he played all those games in. We got off to a great start then had an injury crisis which resulted in a lot of youngsters being given a chance that were never heard of again. Some of the crowd turned on Lennie, but he got us back in the play off mix only to fade at the end. Remember Graham Kavanagh having to play as a loan striker away at Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup. Liburd was decent going forward but often caught out defensively, Robbo replaced him with Clayton Blackmore and also tried Derek Whyte at left back.
 
weststandwally said:
I'm pretty sure he ended up in prison a couple of years after leaving us.
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from 1998

Liburd was handed a four-month prison term just before Christmas following a serious assault and had his contract terminated by Bradford City.

The former Middlesbrough defender, who signed for the West Yorkshire club for £200,000 in 1994, had fought the club's decision and won the backing of the Football League when the Bantams originally tried to show him the door after he was charged.
 
Remember he replaced Jimmy Phillips when him and Falconer were sold in the summer after relegation. Kernaghan soon followed

Lennie might have finished top 6 if he hadnt lost those experienced players, Robbo took on a 1/2 decent squad then added Pearson, Cox, Blackmore and obviously himself to the squad
 
There was a great quote from Harry Pearson's book 'The Far Corner' about Liburd. Although I can't remember it verbatim, it was along the lines of "Liburd would do mazy dribbles through his own six yard box while staring at his own goalkeeper in the whites of his eyes".
I also remember Ron Atkinson saying "this young man will give his managers a few grey hairs during the course of his career".
 
Was Neil Cox his direct replacement? I think he probably was, and being Robsons first signing, with a big fee, was always going to be picked ahead of Libird. That probably did it.
 
Hap said:
Was Neil Cox his direct replacement? I think he probably was, and being Robsons first signing, with a big fee, was always going to be picked ahead of Libird. That probably did it.
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Yes, our 1st £1m signing
 
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