YOUR MEMORIES OF BILLY WRIGHT These are among the memories of Billy Wright that our website visitors have kindly shared with us. If you wish to have your memory or tribute included, please email here: mailto:tributes@billywright.co.uk One hundred of the special memories will be published in Billy's authorised biography, A Hero for All Seasons. You can order the book here and also get a unique free souvenir. |
| I saw Billy play for
the first time when I was a schoolboy supporter of
Wolves. It was the last year of the war and Sergeant
Billy Wright, as he was then, scored a hat-trick inside
20 minutes while playing at inside-left against
Nottingham Forest at Molineux. To my young eyes he looked
a giant of a player, and I was surprised to find some
time later that he stood only 5ft 8in. He remains a giant
in my memory, and I feel privileged to have watched him
throughout his wonderful career with Wolves and England.
What I would like to know is why on earth he was not
knighted. England had no more loyal player. TOM BEVIN Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton |
When Billy was
captain of Wolves in their first championship-winning
season, I used to wait outside the dressing-room at home
matches to see my idol. There used to be long queues of
us kids waiting with autograph books, and he used to
patiently sign every single one. No boy was ever allowed
to leave disappointed. He was a wonderful ambassador for
Wolves and also for the England football team. There is
nobody around today to touch him as a sporting competitor
who never ever cheated. ERIC HALLINGTON Lichfield, Staffs |
| Not too many
people will remember Billy for his goals, but I saw him
score an extraordinary one for England against Italy at
Highbury in 1949. He collected the ball on the centre
line, ran forward and then let fly from fully 40 yards.
There was a strong following wind and the ball seemed to
do a tour of the penalty area before curling into the top
of the net past an amazed Italian goalkeeper. I think
Billy was even more amazed! Billy never had the best of
luck as manager of my club, Arsenal, but he was always
pleasant and he once opened a fete for me without asking
for a penny piece for his time and trouble. A true
gentleman, and a great footballer. A.E. JACOBSON Finsbury Park, London |
My memory of Billy
Wright was of seeing him and my idol Nat Lofthouse
knocking ten skittles out of each other during a First
Division battle at Burnden Park in the 1950s. Then, at
the final whistle, they cuddled each other and went off
the pitch laughing and joking. It typified the approach
of both players. They gave 100 per cent to their team,
but never lost sight of the fact that sportsmanship is an
important part of the game. They could give lessons to
today's spoilt, pampered and over-paid players. Billy was
a wonderful servant to England, and his 105th cap was the
same size as his first one. He was always modest and a
model professional. GEORGE BIRTLES Bolton, Lancs |
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