Richard Wilmot shared goalkeeping duties with Des Gallagher during Boro’s halcyon Conference title-winning days of the mid-1990s. It’s a big reason why he probably should’ve made more than his 161 recorded appearances for us. But Dessie was a tough man to shift from between the sticks. Even so, Wilmot took his chances when they came his way; turning out 60 times during our 1991-2 campaign. The following campaign saw him play 47 times. And it was his form while Boro’ were ascending through the Diadora League that caught the eye of Scunthorpe United.
Away he moved, then, at the end of that 1992-3 season. And the stopper would enjoy a decent spell with the Iron. But that time came to an end in summer 1995. As luck would have it, a chance to rejoin Boro’ came about and what timing! Now understudy to Gallagher, he still managed to record 25 starts and two sub appearances as we climbed to the top of the non-league summit. A return to the Football League was only denied by archaic ground regulations. Over the next two seasons, there’d be 17 and 10 appearances respectively – before Wilmot left us in summer 1998 for Halifax Town.
Richard Wilmot: After Boro’
Wilmot’s career was far from over at this point. After his time at The Shay, there would be spells at clubs including St Albans City, Dagenham & Redbridge, and Hendon. He returned to Hitchin Town for at least two more spells, before he eventually wound down his career. We last tracked him as a player at Barton Rovers in 2010. Still, football remained a part of him and Wilmot would move into coaching; taking up the post of goalkeeping coach at Hitchin Town. So, does that make him a Canaries legend? A Boro’ legend? Or both?
And, yes – we all know he has a son who turned out for Boro’ before going onto bigger things.
