Richard signed a one-year contract with Wednesday in May 2007 after stepping up from scholarship level. He was offered a further contract in the summer of 2008 following the departure of fellow goalkeeper Rob Burch and saw that deal extended 12 months later.

The local lad travelled with the first team squad to the USA in the summer of 2006 and played at the friendly at Burton Albion later that month, before being called onto the bench for the Carling Cup tie with Wrexham in August 2006. He has since enjoyed three fruitful loan spells in which he gained valuable first team experience, with York City, Rotherham United and Oldham Athletic.