Along with W. D. Stott and A. B. Craig, defender E. R. Richards came out of retirement to join the Great Britain squad for the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, but did not get to play. He played for South Manchester and also had the honour of captaining both The North and Lancashire, and in 1923 was in the side that beat Middlesex to retain the County Championship. Richards was appointed chairman of the North of England Lacrosse Association in 1924, and that same year he enjoyed his finest moment in club lacrosse when he helped South Manchester beat the invincible Stockport side 7-4 to win the Senior Northern Flags.