Billy Wright (footballer born 1958)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Billy Wright


fullname = William Wright
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1958|4|28|df=y
cityofbirth = Liverpool
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height = height|ft=5|in=11
position = Centre half
youthyears = 1974–1977
youthclubs = Everton
years = 1977–1983
1983–1986
1986
1986–1988
1988
clubs = Everton
Birmingham City
→ Chester City (loan)
Carlisle United
Morecambe
caps(goals) = 166 (10)
111 0(8)
006 0(1)
087 0(3)
013 0(1)
manageryears = 1988–1989
managerclubs = Morecambe
nationalyears = 1978–1979
1979–1980
nationalteam = England U21
England B
nationalcaps(goals) = 006 0(0)
002 0(0)

William "Billy" Wright (born 28 April 1958) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre half. He played 370 games in the Football League, appearing in all four divisions, and was capped six times at under-21 level [cite web
url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng-u21-intres76.html |title=England - U-21 International Results 1976-1985 - Details |publisher=RSSSF |author=Courtney, Barrie |date=2004-01-10 |accessdate=2007-11-14] and twice for England B. [cite web
url=http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/eng-b-intres-det.html |title=England - International Results B-Team - Details |publisher=RSSSF |author=Courtney, Barrie |date=2004-03-21 |accessdate=2007-11-14]

Born in Liverpool, Wright joined Everton as a junior. He went on to captain the side, [cite web
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/football/1492964.stm |title=Robbie's time runs out |author=McNulty, Phil |publisher=BBC |date=2001-08-17 |accessdate=2007-11-14] and made nearly 200 first team appearances before losing his place to Kevin Ratcliffe. [cite web
url=http://www.evertonfc.com/history/greatest-ever-everton-team.html?player=kevinratcliffe |title=Kevin Ratcliffe |publisher=Everton F.C. |accessdate=2007-10-14] He then moved to Birmingham City on a free transfer. He missed only two games in all competitions in his first two seasons, was appointed captain and penalty-taker, and helped the club to promotion back to the First Division in 1985. His form began to be affected by weight problems, and the club released him the following year. [cite book
author=Matthews, Tony |title=Birmingham City: A Complete Record |year=1995 |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |pages=pp. 136, 219–20 |isbn=978-1-85983-010-9] This followed a spell out on loan with Chester City, who he helped move towards promotion from Division Four in 1985-86.

He played two full seasons for Carlisle United before moving on to non-league Morecambe. After injury put an end to his playing career in 1988, he became Morecambe's caretaker manager and, six games later, given the permanent appointment, though his tenure was only a few months. [cite web
url=http://www.morecambefc-supporters.org.uk/billywright.htm |title=BILLY WRIGHT 1988 - 1989 |publisher=www.morecambefc-supporters.org.uk |accessdate=2007-11-14]

Honours

* with Birmingham City
** Second Division runners-up 1985.

References

* [http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/ Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database]

Notes

Persondata
NAME = Wright, Billy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Wright, William
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Professional footballer
DATE OF BIRTH = 1958-04-28
PLACE OF BIRTH = Liverpool, England
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =