Richard Eckersley

Manchester United

Eckersley was born in Salford, Greater Manchester. and grew up in Walkden. He made his first appearance for Manchester United in February 2004, when he played for the under-17 side as a 14-year-old against Manchester City. He joined the club as a trainee in July 2005, and started playing for the under-18s soon after. However, a long-term injury kept him out of contention for almost eight months, and he only made three appearances in the 2005–06 season. In 2006–07, he established himself as a regular in the under-18 side, making 25 appearances in all competitions. He also made his first appearance for the reserve team on 15 February 2007, when he played in a goalless draw away to Bolton Wanderers. On 8 May 2007, he was named at right back for the final of the Manchester Senior Cup against Manchester City; the team lost the match 3–1. The following season saw Eckersley emerge as a regular reserve team player, making 23 appearances in all competitions as the team reached the final of the Lancashire Senior Cup and the final of the Manchester Senior Cup for the second year in a row. Eckersley played in both matches, and finally got his hands on a Manchester Senior Cup winners' medal at the second time of asking. He also got his first taste of first team football in December 2007, when he was named as an unused substitute for United's dead rubber Champions League group stage match against Roma. He continued in the reserve team in 2008–09, and was also…

1.^Includes FA Cup, Canadian Championship, and U.S. Open Cup. 2.^Includes Football League Cup. 3.^Includes CONCACAF Champions League. 4.^Includes MLS Cup playoffs. 5.^Played four matches in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2011. 6.^For the 2012 season, he played in four matches in the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League and three in the 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League.

He is the younger brother of footballer Adam Eckersley and younger brother of Mike Eckersley. He now runs a zero waste shop in Totnes.

Manchester United

Football League Cup: 2008–09 Toronto FC

Canadian Championship: 2011, 2012 Individual

Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year: 2007–08 Red Patch Boys Player of the Year: 2012