Richard Horsington, an outside-right, played football for Swindon Town. In 1889 he moved to London to work at at Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, one of the government's main munition factories.

Horsington made his debut for Woolwich Arsenal in the 1888-89 season. He joined a team that included J. M. Charteris, Peter Connolly, David Danskin, Humphrey Babour, Fred Beardsley, Joseph Bates, John McBean and W. Scott.

Woolwich Arsenal continued to make good progress and won the London Charity Cup in 1890. He scored 10 goals in 33 games before leaving the club.