Micah Richards Credits Colleague Mark Chapman for Support After Father's Death

Micah Richards, the former England footballer and current BBC pundit, has shared how his colleague Mark Chapman provided crucial support on the day his father, Lincoln, died unexpectedly.

Richards received the news of his father's death, at the age of 66, just before he was due to go live on air for the BBC's coverage of England's World Cup semi-final match against Argentina. He was in Atlanta at the time, preparing for his punditry role alongside Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Richards explained that he confided in Chapman, the presenter, about his grief. "On the day it happened my brother rang me, before the semi-final, and I’m going into it thinking how am I going to perform here? How am I going to act?" Richards recounted. "I was on the phone to Chappers (Mark Chapman) for an hour."

Chapman reportedly encouraged Richards to proceed with his broadcasting duties, emphasizing that his father would have wanted him to. "Your dad would have wanted you to do it. This is what you’ve worked for since you’ve come into punditry," Chapman told him.

Richards also expressed his desire not to upset his co-pundits, Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney, whom he had known for many years. Chapman offered to help if Richards faltered during the broadcast. "If in the first ten minutes you’re having a wobble let me know and we can just continue with the rest of the guys," Chapman said. Richards stated, "If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have got through it. One hundred per cent."

Observing footage from the broadcast, Richards noted his own subtle signs of distress, such as a constantly tapping foot, as he worked to maintain composure.

News of Lincoln Richards' passing was publicly shared by Micah Richards via social media after the broadcast concluded. In his post, Richards described his father as his "greatest fan" and "hero and inspiration," highlighting Lincoln's lifelong support and attendance at nearly every game he played.

He acknowledged the significance of the World Cup for fans and families, recognizing that his father, a "proud old-school Yorkshireman," would have wished for the show to go on. Richards also extended his condolences to his siblings and wider family.

Richards, whose middle name is Lincoln, has frequently spoken about his father's profound influence on his life and career. He previously described his father, who immigrated from St Kitts in the 1960s, as instrumental in keeping him grounded amidst the challenges of growing up in Leeds. His father, a Rastafarian, instilled strong principles and standards that Richards credited for shaping his character.

Lincoln Richards had reportedly missed only one game of his son's career prior to his death. In 2023, Richards had referred to his father as "my rock and my hero," though he noted a shift in their relationship following his parents' separation. Richards also mentioned in his interview that his father had experienced a decline after his playing career ended, having found a sense of purpose in attending his matches.