Richard Stearman: The Adventurous Defender
Brady Frost, Feature Writer
Twitter: @brady0894
Source for image above: HTAFC
The experienced centre back joins with nearly 500 first-team appearances to his name, but is he the answer for Town’s defensive frailties?
His arrival might not have caused much of a splash, but Richard Stearman’s presence at Huddersfield Town could create a ripple effect on team morale.
He signed on what proved a busy Friday for the terriers, with Arsenal loanee Emile Smith Rowe joining earlier in the day. Since then, another experienced head has joined in midfielder Andy King.
The 32-year-old centre back arrives on an 18-month deal, with former club Sheffield United releasing him by mutual consent as a goodwill gesture. With Tommy Elphick out for the season, Terence Kongolo angling for a move, and now youngster Rarmani Edmonds-Green joining Swindon on loan, this defensive reinforcement will prove essential. Will he work his way in the starting XI or just provide cover to Schindler and Stankovic?
To find out more, we spoke to Ben Meakin of Sheffield United podcast Blades Pod, and Richard Hobbs from Wolverhampton Wanderer’s podcast Wolves Fancast about Stearman’s time at the clubs, and what we can expect to see over the coming months.
Cowley’s Comments
Source: HTAFC
It seems to be another shrewd free agent signing from Danny Cowley, whose comments on the HTAFC website indicate how he feels Stearman’s experience will be vital. He said:
“Richard brings experience and leadership qualities that will definitely add to our dressing room. He was a key component of creating an outstanding culture at Sheffield United and he’ll provide a fantastic example for our young professionals day in and day out."
With some defensive frailties costing us in the 2-1 defeat at Barnsley, Town could certainly do with another experienced head in the backline, and although Schindler and Stankovic have performed admirably together, it can be argued that they are similar ball-playing centre backs.
How does the veteran’s performances on the pitch differ from our current defensive duo?
‘Getting Stearmanned’ at Sheffield United
Source: Sheffield United
Ben Meakin, founder of BladesPod spoke to us about his time in Sheffield and it seems to be largely positive, referring to his playing style, he said: “He’s a reliable centre-back who reads the game well. He's comfortable passing it out of defence, but don't expect any mad runs or fifty-yard passes - at this stage of his career, he just knows his own game really well.”
Meakin, says that we’re getting a proper professional: “The term gets bandied about a lot but Stearman is the first name that springs to mind for me whenever I see or hear that term.
“He was displaced as a starter in his second season here by John Egan, and only featured occasionally after that - but never complained, always did a great job when called on, and presented himself really well on social media.
“He always felt like a part of the whole team that got promoted which is partly why his celebration scenes were so well received.. and he'll always be fondly remembered, which I think says it all.”
He’s known to be quite a character and is loved by his Sheffield teammates and fans alike.
The video of his raucous celebration at the pub following Aston Villa’s draw at Leeds United, the game which secured Sheffield United’s promotion to the Premier League, caused quite a storm on social media.
At the final whistle, Stearman was captured throwing his pint over himself and delighted teammates. “His off the pitch antics celebrating our promotion will go down in Blades legend, with "getting Stearmanned" entering the local lexicon,” Meakin said.
“On the pitch, I think he can still cut it in the Championship. In some ways, being part of a back four again instead of a back three might be good for him. Our defenders have to play in such a specialised way, even Egan (who's done this role magnificently) has talked at length about how difficult it can be.”
Adventurous Defender at Wolves
Source: HTAFC
For the eagle-eyed among you, you may have seen that Stearman was in the Wolves Fancast’s Wolverhampton Wanderers’ team of the decade. We spoke to Richard Hobbs from Wolves Fancast about why he’s held in such high regard.
He said: “Richard Stearman has always been an adventurous defender, keen to get in the ball and play the ‘right way’. He was integral to our promotion back to the Championship in 2014, showcasing his leadership and defensive prowess.”
It’s long ago in the memory, but Wolves in 2013 were a completely different side to the Europa League contenders they are now. For many Town fans, the 2013/14 season finishes with good memories. It’s where Huddersfield famously stayed up on the last day, drawing 2-2 with Barnsley, much to the annoyance of Peterborough. Wolves weren’t so lucky.
They finished 23rd on 51 points, sealing back-to-back relegations. Stearman was on loan at Ipswich that season but came back to a very different club. Kenny Jackett arrived in the summer of 2013 and made the centre back a key figure in his bid to climb back up the table.
At the end of the season, Wolves had won the League One title. The following season, he remained at the heart of Wolves backline, winning Fans' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year Awards for his performances.
Stearman’s got experience of joining a team at a low ebb, with a lack of morale following relegation. This player’s got the leadership qualities to pull a team together and help them rediscover their competitive edge. Whether’s that over the course of the season or in a single game.
“Stearman came on at half-time after we suffered an injury, and not only did well defensively but crashed in a header from a freekick to win us the game 1-0 and get the promotion push back on track,” says Ben Meakin, on Sheffield United’s crucial win against Middlesborough last season.
He might be in the latter stage of his career but he’s still proved that can still be a dynamic player on the pitch and might be the missing link for team morale or the back four. Whether he is a backup or becomes a mainstay in the first-team, it seems that on paper we have a great addition to the Terriers.
How do you think Richard Stearman will do at Town? Let us know in the comments.
