| I
have been a supporter of Wolverhampton Wanderers since
the age of five (1933), when my father used to carry me
into Molineux on his shoulders and sit me on the barrier,
on terraces that were standing areas. I had the privilege
of seeing William Ambrose Wright for the first time at
the end of the 1941 season. He was 16 and playing at
inside-forward. It was during the following season when
he was switched to right-half that Billy's ability shone
through. He always gave 100 per cent and never seemed to
stop running. Billy was a human dynamo, outstanding in recovery, brilliant in interception and underestimated in his distribution. His skill in the air for such a small man, no taller than 5ft. 8in., was a credit to his total, dynamic fitness that enabled him to out-jump almost every centre-forward he played against, I witnessed all of Wolves floodlit friendlies against overseas teams, including Moscow Spartak, Honved, Moscow Dynamo and Real Madrid. One vivid memory for me as I stood behind the goal at the terrace end of Molineux was when Simoniou, the Russian captain and centre-forward, beat Billy on the penalty spot but before he could shoot past Bert Williams, Billy had got up and taken the ball off his foot, demonstrating fantastic recovery. This memory of Billy will remain with me forever. Billy was my hero, a true sportsman and a gentleman, in every sense of the word. He always wanted to win, but to win fairly. My only regret was that he never received a well-earned knighthood, and he certainly deserved the Freedom of Wolverhampton. HAROLD WHITEHOUSE Finchfield, Wolverhampton In the early 1950s Billy came to our village to open a harvest festival at the Old Bulls Head in Lower Gornal. I am one of triplets, all boys, and we waited with a scrum of other boys more in hope than expectation of getting the great man's autograph. He did not disappoint us, and patiently gave his signature to every youngster in the queue. It would be impossible to convey to today's overpaid, less talented players just how nice and humble he was, despite having the exalted position of Wolves and England captain. He won our devotion and support for ever. DEREK W. HADEN Gornal Wood, Dudley When Billy was in his prime in the 1950s, he kindly gave up his time to appear on a Brains' Trust panel at the Congregational church in Lea Road, Wolverhampton. I was in the chair and I always remember an answer he gave to a question about his attitude and approach to football: "I would never ever do anything to risk my fitness as a professional footballer," he said. "I do not drink, I do not smoke and I do not keep late nights." You could see by the shining light in his eyes that he meant every word of it. He was truly a model professional and a wonderful example to the younger generation. I was a season ticket holder at Wolves for thirty-two years before I moved from the area, and Billy represented all that was best about that golden era. LIONEL MORIATY Weoley Castle, Birmingham |