Richard Poole

Richard John Poole (born 3 July 1957) is a retired English football centre forward who played in the Football League for Brentford and Watford.

Brentford

Along with Kevin Harding, Poole was one of the first players recruited when the Brentford youth team was relaunched in 1972, after joining the club at the age of 12. Poole made his professional debut in a Division Four match versus Lincoln City in February 1974, while still an apprentice. At 16 years, 7 months and 20 days old, Poole's league debut was at the time the club's second youngest after Alan Hawley's in 1962. 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. Poole still stands as Brentford's youngest league goalscorer. He signed a professional contract during the 1975 off-season, but did not appear for the club again before leaving in July 1976.

Watford

Poole joined fellow Division Four side Watford in July 1976, making 9 appearances and scoring one goal during the 1976–77 season, leaving the club at the end of the campaign.

Sporting Toulon Var

Poole emigrated to France and joined Ligue 2 Group A side Sporting Toulon Var. 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. He was a teammate of future French international Jean Tigana and future Ivory Coast international Jean-Désiré Sikely at the club.