I became a dedicated Billy Wright fan way back when I was just seven years old –1952. I remember seeing a picture of a footballer with fair hair and what appeared to be a dark grey shirt with black edging! I must have been impressed because from that day forth, Billy Wright was my hero and as he played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, I became a life long supporter. Not that I could go to games. I lived in Maidenhead, Berkshire, and Wolverhampton was a long way to go in the fifties. When I was a little older, we used to go to Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs etc., because it was closer to home. I remember my mum ordering my first Wolves shirt from 'Moores Gents Outfitters,' that was in 1954. I waited so long it seemed, but it finally arrived in a box with tissue, just like a gentleman's shirt!

That was it, I was King of the Heap. Down went the coats. My pals saying, "I'm Stan Mathews, I'm Tom Finney," and me - foot on the ball with arms folded - "I'm Billy Wright, captain of the Wolves." I felt so proud in my gold shirt. Mind you, I had to be Bert Williams as well as there was no goalie, but that is another hero story.

I have followed the Wolves ever since, now of course able to travel the hundred or so miles to see them, but when I get to the stadium, I still feel the hairs on my neck tingle as I look in awe at the statue of the great man - who was and still remains my hero. That man that inspired me to play football until I was 40 years old, an inspiration to us all of that era.

He may have been an England player one hundred and five times, but to me, old gold and Billy Wright belong together and I will always picture him in the '54 Championship team, and most of all, as in the statue at the Molineux Stadium. Billy Wright is my hero and has been for 50 years now, together a journey that has embraced Wolverhampton Wanderers, and another link with the modern day, footballers marrying pop-stars. It's all been done before!

I was in Monmouth, Wales, when I heard of his death. I was so sorry, but look at the memories he left us, this true gentleman of football.

PETER WELLS Didcot, Oxon


I come to your website as a privileged visitor. I am a Chelsea supporter, and only saw Billy play once. That was one August afternoon at Stamford Bridge. It was early in the season, and the young Chelsea team – Drake's Ducklings – ran Wolves silly, with teenager Jimmy Greaves skipping through the defence to help himself to five goals. Nobody could have held Greavsie that day. I reckon it was the greatest individual performance I ever saw. What I recall was the wonderful sportsmanship of Billy Wright. He did not once try to unfairly stop the youngster who was running him and his team-mates dizzy, and at the end he led the applause for Jimmy and warmly shook his hand. What a great sportsman. He had the last laugh, leading Wolves to their second championship in two years before announcing his retirement. Thank you for letting me have my say about a great English footballer and a great English gentleman. And good luck with the book. It deserves to be read by every member of the younger generation to find out how our heroes used to be.

MICHAEL SINGLETON Kensington, London


As I am thirty years old, I did not have the pleasure of seeing 'Sir' Billy Wright play. I have been a Wolves season ticket holder for fifteen years, and I have been a Wolves supporter for as long as I can remember. My Grandfather always took me to Molineux from the age of five, and we used to stand on the South Bank, Grandfather always making sure that I was in a position from where I could see the pitch. He always spoke of the great days, and used to compare every player with the great man but nobody was fit to clean his boots. My Grandfather is always in my thoughts and I recall how he used to tell me, "Billy Wright was the greatest man who ever lived. " My grandfather never lied.

JASON JONES (Jack Harris stand) Coventry


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