Scouted | Lewis Richardson

Declan Weliczko
42 minutes ago
5 min read

Boreham Wood had a fantastic return to the National League last season. Finishing 4^th with 90 points and scoring 95 goals, bettered only by Champions York City, before losing out in the play-off final to Rochdale on penalties.

Amongst the squad there were several standout performers. These notably include Matt Rush, who has scored 26 goals in the league, Zak Brunt who recorded 15 goals and 13 assists and Abdul Abdulmalik who managed 12 goals and 6 assists. Regan Booty and recent arrival James Clarke also get mentioned, but there is one player, who, in my opinion, gets overlooked: Lewis Richardson.

Having started his career at Burnley and spent several seasons in their academy set-up, Richardson made his first senior move, scoring twice in 15 appearances for Grimsby, with one coming in the league and one in the FA Cup. His loan lasted from September 1^st, 2022 to January 26^th, 2023.

In 2024-25, Richardson made another loan move, this time to York City, who would eventually finish 2^nd under Adam Hinshelwood. He joined York on January 31^st, 2025 and in 14 appearances, scored 4 goals and assisting twice. In this loan spell, he made 10 starts.

Having been released by Burnley last summer, Richardson joined The Wood on a free transfer. He started the season mostly making appearances from the bench. In his first 13 appearances in the matchday squad, Richardson started twice, scoring against Morecambe, and in his bench appearances he contributed another goal (against Eastleigh) and 2 assists (against Sutton and York).

He forced his way into the starting lineup after a brace against Leicester in the National League Cup. Since then, he has made 21 appearances, with 14 being starts, contributing 8 goals and 2 assists, all of which have come from the wing, which he has been played in, during his spell at York and his current spell at The Wood.

Having been a striker more prominently before joining The Wood, Richardson likes to drift in centrally from the wing to his former position. This is showcased in his goals against Morecambe and Brackley.

Richardson scores the first goal of the game after drifting inside from the wing and approaching the edge of the 18-yard box, picking up the pocket of space in-between the holding midfield and the central defenders. Whilst the space left here by Morecambe is very generous, this is still a key aspect of his game, effectively taking up a second striker role.

The way he takes his chance is the most impressive part. Many attackers would just hit the ball first time, but Richardson deceives the defender by dropping the shoulder, making room to shoot and slotting the ball in, low at the near post, past the keeper to give Boreham Wood the lead. Such composure and quick decision making will go very far into making him an excellent attacking option, either is a winger, or a striker.

Match Highlights: Boreham Wood 3 - 0 Morecambe - YouTube

Another example of this is against Brackley, similarly to his goal against Morecambe is his ability to drift inside, into a position on the edge of the 18-yard box or just inside the penalty area.

What’s impressive is his starting position at the point of this attack till the moment he takes up his place ready to strike. In the space of 10 seconds, he goes from just inside his own half, to ready to score. The second picture is just before the ball is played across to him.

Once again, his decision making is top notch. Richardson is presented with a great scoring opportunity, but the box is packed with players. In this instance, he places the ball high into the top corner, out of the reach of the keeper, who is slightly readjusting his position to face the centre of the box when the ball is played across. This finish is places to perfection as well, completely out of the way of everyone to make it 2-0 to Boreham Wood.

HIGHLIGHTS | Boreham Wood v Brackley Town (H) | Enterprise National League | 7 March 2026 - YouTube

A crucial ability to have as a striker is to play on the shoulder of the last defender, something Richardson is very much capable of. He has brilliant energy and pace, which has allowed Luke Garrard to convert him to the wing this season.

As said before, he likes to drift in centrally, sometimes dropping into the half spaces to make runs into the gaps in-between the centre-back and full-back. An example of this is the goal he scored against Eastleigh in a 2-2 draw.

Richardson breaks the offside trap, taking up position in the space between centre-back and full-back. Yet again, his composure and decision making is on full display as he waits for the defender to engage him whilst still carrying some speed, at which point he checks himself, takes another touch, steadies himself and placing the ball at the near post, fooling the keeper in the process, as many strikers in this position would place the ball in the far corner.

Eastleigh 2-2 Boreham Wood | Match Highlights 🎬 - YouTube

He scored the opening goal for The Wood in a 2-1 win against Halifax. The Shaymen are sat in quite a bit, with 7 players (+ the keeper) behind the ball in an attempt to try and defend the box. Richardson takes up position in the centre of the penalty area. Whilst he was still being played as a winger, we are seeing yet again the traits of a striker, somewhere where he has played for the majority of his career.

He times his run to perfection and when he receives the pass, his touch allows him to take the ball away from the defender and finish instinctively, so the defender has no chance in being able to block the shot.

HIGHLIGHTS | Boreham Wood v FC Halifax Town (H) | Enterprise National League | 29 November 2025 - YouTube

The final goal I will show is the opening goal in Boreham Wood’s 1-1 draw with Forest Green Rovers. This is an example of Richardson’s potency in the penalty area and his effectiveness in the air.

It starts with The Wood taking a short corner and within the congested penalty area, Richardson takes his place as the nearest Wood player to the penalty spot, battling with his marker.

When the ball is delivered, Richardson reads the movement of the ball and the game fantastically, getting himself into position just beyond the onrushing Harry Isted in the FGR goal. From here, he times his jump perfectly to head home to give Boreham Wood the lead.

Match Highlights | Boreham Wood 1-1 Forest Green - YouTube

His reading of the game, timing of his runs and his positioning in and around the penalty area are huge assets in his game and sets him up brilliantly to become a more prolific, on the shoulder striker.