ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (April 4, 2016) – The Tampa Bay Rowdies have added a fourth forward to their roster, signing 24-year old attacker Eliot Richards, pending ITC approval. Richards has been signed for the 2016 Spring Season, with an option for the Fall and 2017 Season. Per club and league policy, further contract details were not disclosed.

Richards, who most recently played for Bath City on loan from Cheltenham Town in England, has had various stints with clubs throughout the England Football League. Most notably, Richards spent five seasons with Bristol Rovers, the team most closely associated with Rowdies Head Coach Stuart Campbell.

Richards and Campbell overlapped at Rovers, with Richards making 112 appearances for the club. Campbell made 288 appearances for Rovers, serving as captain and caretaker manager before departing to join the Rowdies. 

“Eliot is someone that we believe has a role to play with both our first team and Rowdies 2 in the NPSL,” Campbell said. “As we begin the process of building Rowdies 2, we looked at a few young players while we were in England and it just so happens that Eliot became available sooner than we expected. I know him well and he falls into both the NASL and NPSL categories for us.”

Richards’ best statistical season came in 2011-2012 when he made 32 appearances and 18 starts for Bristol playing in the English second league, scoring seven goals.

Originally from New Tredegar, Wales, Richards has represented his country at the youth international level.

The Rowdies opened up their 2016 NASL Spring Season with a 0-0 draw at home against Indy Eleven. Up next, they'll travel to face Miami FC on Saturday, April 9, before returning home to host FC Edmonton on Saturday, April 16. For tickets, call (727) 222-2000 or click here.