|
|
| Billy Wright signed image leading out England |
|
|
Billy Wright signed image leading out the England team. This came from the Noel Cantwell autograph collection and the coa will confirm this.17 3/4cm X 11cm.Captain of England, married to a pop star, endorsing hair products – Billy Wright was blazing a trail almost 50 years before a man named Beckham.
Although the enduring image of the ‘Ironbridge Rocket’ (after the Shropshire town where he was born) is of a no-nonsense centre-half, Wright began as a centre-forward and won his first 60 England caps at right-half, before converting to defence.
When he first arrived at Molineux, he struggled to make an impression. The Manager Frank Buckley was initially reluctant to gamble on a youngster lacking height and shorter on talent than his peers, but his faith was rewarded.
Wright burst into the team during the war and in 13 glorious years for Wolves after peace resumed, he won three League titles and an FA Cup.
Wright made his England debut against Northern Ireland in 1946 and was captain through three unsuccessful World Cup campaigns. He was the first player in the world to make 100 international appearances and the outstanding England defender of his generation – calm and never booked in almost 650 games.
Off the pitch, Wright was arguably Britain’s first football superstar. He became a household name, for both his exploits in the game and his marriage to Joy Beverley of the chart-topping Beverley Sisters. “It’s easy to forget just how idolised he was,” said George Best.
Following his retirement, Wright had a disappointing stint as Arsenal manager, before working as a television sport executive in the Midlands. He died in 1994, but a giant statue of him still greets visitors to Molineux. This image shows him leading out England against Hungary 1953. Puskas led out Hungary at Wembley England went down 6-3 |
| |
£ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
