I can remember as a young child playing footie with my uncles in our back garden in Underhill Estate dashing around like someone possessed. 'Carry on like that and you'll end up like Billy Wright,' one of them said. and I've never forgotten it and the name Billy Wright. Although I dreamed of playing at Molineux of course I never did. All I can say is that for at least forty-six years Wolverhampton Wanderers and the name Billy Wright have been close to my heart and they always will be.

TERRY BARLOW Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury


During the early to mid 80's I lived opposite to Joy and Billy in New Barnet, he often passed the time of day with me. On one occasion my friend was working on my front wall, he had his young son with him, who was mad on soccer. Billy took him over to his house and showed him his caps and medals, he was thrilled. Billy was a nice man and a great footballer.

GEORGE THOMAS Brookmans Park


I was at Stamford bridge in the late 50s or early 60s, standing in an area in front of the old main stand. Just before the game started people began to cheer, clap and shout, 'Good old Billy.' I Iooked behind me and saw the great man taking a seat to watch the game. Just then a father lifted his small son up who was holding an autograph book, and tried to pass the boy into the stand to get Billy's autograph. At that moment a 'jobsworth' in a peak cap stepped forward to stop the lad being passed into the stand. Billy immediately stopped the 'jobsworth' and lifted the small boy up and into the area where he was sitting. He signed the lad's book, patted him on the head and passed him back to his father. What a contrast to the present day prima donna's.

DAVE KENDALL The Cato Street Irregular


Billy was a gentleman in all aspects of his life. I was privileged to see him play on many occasions. He always played fairly and many of the current overpaid players could learn from him on how to conduct themselves both on and off the field. Despite being small in stature for a centre half, to me he was (and remains) a giant.

MIKE BUCKMASTER A Wolves fan for 51 years


Billy Wright's record as a footballer speaks for itself – he was without doubt one of the best footballers ever to play for England. I met him twenty-plus years ago. As we were introduced and warmly shook hands, exchanging greetings, I then watched Billy meet my colleagues similarly. It struck me then, and I often recount this story, that I had just met 'a really nice man'. He had a presence that made one warm to him immediately.

Our meeting was at a Lords Taverners 6-a-side Cricket Tournament at Blenheim Palace. I was part of M J K Smith's Six and we were drawn to play against a team from television's Tiswas programme. represented by, among others, Chris Tarrant, Trevor East and Billy Wright. The game was short but terrific fun and I managed to bowl out both Chris and Billy with my donkey-drop deliveries. Billy's face as I bowled him was a picture and he gave me the biggest grin I have ever seen from that day to this. What a fabulous man.

BILL FAULKES Stratford upon Avon


My father, Dennis Manns was in the Army with Sir Billy (whom he always called Ambrose) and this began his life-long passion for Wolves. Tickets were always left for my father at The Molineux Hotel, and I do remember meeting him on several occasions when I was young and starting out on my own passion for Wolves, also inherited by my younger brother and my own two sons.

My father was involved in a serious car crash in l990, sustaining severe head injuries resulting in brain damage. Whilst in a coma after the accident and during his subsequent very limited recovery, my wife wrote to Sir Billy, care of Wolves, asking if he could organise a tape of all the players, which we hoped would aid his recovery. This was subsequently done and we also received a personal letter, complete with his home address, signed photograph of Sir Billy and free tickets to the next home match.

This was the last game my father ever went to and despite the difficulties encountered because of his injuries, we were so happy to be able to take him to his beloved Wolves for one last time.

He subsequently passed away six years after the accident, but we still have the letter and the photograph hangs in the hall of my own home. Billy was always a true professional and a lovely human being and what a shame these over-paid so-called super stars of today can't be more like him.

PHIL MANNS Hereford


I got Jimmy Greaves to sign a sports book I'd been given at Christmas 1959. It was titled 'The Boys Book of All Sports.' In it was a photo sequence of Jimmy scoring one of the five goals he got against Wolves on August 30 1958 in a 6-2 home win for Chelsea. Wolves were defending Champions and went on to win the title that season by six points from Man United. I started life as a Wolves fan but used to go to Chelsea as it was closer, so I had mixed feelings that day. The point to make about that game was that it probably brought Billy's retirement from the international team a bit closer as Greaves destroyed him, making Billy look slow and past it. However Billy never resorted to foul means to stop Jimmy playing. Even in such adversity his sportsmanship shone through.

Billy was also credited with being a principal contributor to this 1959 sports book, and there are photos of him introducing MacMillan to Johnny Haynes before the Scotland international at Wembley, his 100th cap. W J (Bill) Hicks, the News Chronicle sports editor, in a foreword, pays tribute to Billy and comments on his 'highest qualities of conduct and character both on and off the field. Let Billy be your inspiration and example as well as your hero.'

MIKE MARTINEAU Biggin Hill, Kent

20 TRIBUTES

BACK TO THE TOP

RETURN TO THE MENU PAGE

PLACE YOUR BOOK ORDER HERE