AFTER 10 years at the Swindon Wildcats veteran Lee Richardson says it would all be for nothing if he didn't have a trophy to show for it.

Richardson first joined the club in for the 2000/2001 season, before brief spells with Coventry Blaze, Slough Jets and Bracknell Bees He then returned to the Cats in 2007 and the utility man has remained there ever since.

But he told the Advertiser his aim remains the same, to win some silverware.

“My aim is still to win a trophy here, I still haven’t done it. I got spoilt in my first five years in hockey we won a trophy nearly every season and then I came here and I knew it would be different but for me it’s the main aim,” said the utility man.

“It doesn’t matter if I score five points or 500 points if you don’t win a trophy it’s not really been successful.”

Richardson has cast his eye over the new signings and believes they will provide a pivotal role if the team is to be successful.

“I think with the imports going up it was the right thing to do (signing Mark Smith). British team men are very hard to find and we are lucky we have young guys coming up,” added the 33-year-old.

“It makes us a bit more solid at the back with more experience which I think we missed a little bit last year.

“Max Birbraer is just very explosive, very direct and I think that is the way Aaron Nell wants us to be this year, very direct and rigid.

“It’s going to be a massive bonus because he plays the same way every night it is exactly what we need.

“Ben Davies is here short term, but he is a fantastic player he’s small, but he is so strong on the puck. He is very professional he wants to win and works hard, he’ll be a good influence on the younger lads.

“He is something to aim at, you can see what a young 25 year-old does Ben (Davies) is nearer their age and is where the younger players will want to be in a few years time.”