For most professional footballers, it’s an arduous journey. From being spotted as a child, simply playing the game for fun, the competition and seriousness of a youth academy can be a daunting prospect. Blood, sweat and tears get shed, and some don’t even have a chance at their parents club. It’s a road full of trial and tribulations.
But for some, it’s even greater. After a several month saga, from summer until winter, Wycombe Wanderers announced the signing, subject to regulatory approval, of Richard Kone. Already this announcement tweet has gotten 500 likes and widespread approval, and a look at his history, and you start to understand why.
Richard Kones football journey started in the Ivory Coast, and at 17 he would be selected to play for his nation internationally. In the Homeless World Cup.
By 19, he would be trialing with Colchester United, but, more impressively, Premier League teams, as confirmed by Col U boss at the time, Hayden Mullins.
Yet no move arrived, and instead Kone found himself a home at Non-League club Athletic Newham, where he scored at an extremely productive rate, scoring 42 goals in the 21/22 season.
He also follows in the footsteps of fellow Non-League players plying their trade at Wycombe. Anis Mehmeti joined from Woodford Town in the 20/21 season, before leaving on a club record fee, whilst Chris Forino Joseph and Jasper Pattenden joined from Loughborough University and Worthing respectively, making themselves regular players in the team, the pathway exists for these talents at the Chairboys.
Whilst prospects are popular at Wycombe for this reason, Kone has found his way into fans hearts long before he stepped onto the pitch, largely due to his great road he traveled
He was kicked out at 16 due to his sexuality, whilst being gay is not a crime in the Ivory Coast, it’s still heavily stigmatised, and eventually found himself homeless, eventually managing to play in the aforementioned Homeless World Cup.
He will join Jake Daniels in being one of the first gay footballers in England since 1990, and many Chairboys will hope he’ll step onto the pitch in a league match. He’s already made himself a fan favourite.
He’ll follow in the wings of established strikers Sam Vokes and Lyle Taylor, with Brandon Hanlan set for a spell on the sidelines until the end of the season, and Dale Taylor on loan until the summer too. Many will hope he will make the transition soon