Ian Wright (footballer, born 1972)

Ian Matthew Wright (born 10 March 1972) is an English former footballer [2] who played as a central defender. He started his career at Stoke City and later played for Bristol Rovers and Hull City before dropping down into non-league football with Hereford United.[1]

Ian Wright
Personal information
Full name Ian Matthew Wright[1]
Date of birth (1972-03-10) 10 March 1972 (age 52)[1]
Place of birth Lichfield, England[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
1988–1990 Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1993 Stoke City 6 (0)
1992Corby Town (loan)
1993–1996 Bristol Rovers 54 (1)
1996–1998 Hull City 73 (2)
1998–2003 Hereford United 171 (22)
2003–2004 Burton Albion 22 (2)
2005–2006 Hednesford Town 12 (1)
2006–2007 Chasetown 9 (0)
Total 347 (28)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Wright started his career at Second Division side Stoke City's youth team. He passed through the youth ranks at City and was handed a professional contract with the club in 1990.[1] He made his debut against Swindon Town on the final day of the 1989–90 season with Stoke already relegated to the Third Division.[1] He struggled to establish himself in the first team and joined non-league Corby Town in 1992. He made just nine appearances for The "Potters" before he was released in 1993.[1] He joined Bristol Rovers and spent three years with The "Pirates" and then joined Hull City in 1996. At Hull he became a regular in the side and made 73 league appearances.[1] He is also remembered at Hull for scoring a crucial goal as they knocked Premier League side Crystal Palace out of the 1997–98 League Cup.[3]

Wright joined Hereford United in 1998 and became club captain and was a solid, first choice centre back through some of Hereford's most troubled times. He scored several vital goals for the club, including two in the 2001–02 FA Cup against Wrexham and Swindon. He played almost 200 competitive matches for the club, scoring almost 30 goals. He left in 2003, having trained as an electrician and wishing to play part-time. He joined Burton Albion, where he scored on his debut, until a persistent ankle injury forced him to retire. However a year later he was back in action as defensive cover at Hednesford Town.

Wright signed for Chasetown but in February 2007 he announced his retirement from the game due to a serious injury to his cheekbone/eye socket which could have caused him blindness if he had carried on playing.[4]

Career statistics

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Source:[5]

Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Stoke City 1989–90 Second Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1990–91 Third Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1991–92 Third Division 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 0
1992–93 Second Division 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 3 0
Total 6 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 9 0
Bristol Rovers 1993–94 Second Division 29 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 33 0
1994–95 Second Division 7 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 8 1
1995–96 Second Division 18 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 21 0
Total 54 1 1 0 2 0 6 0 63 1
Hull City 1996–97 Third Division 40 0 3 0 2 0 2 1 47 1
1997–98 Third Division 33 2 1 0 5 1 1 0 40 3
Total 73 2 4 0 7 1 3 1 87 4
Hereford United 1998–99 Football Conference 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
1999–2000 Football Conference 33 6 4 0 0 0 1 0 38 6
2000–01 Football Conference 34 3 0 0 0 0 5 1 39 4
2001–02 Football Conference 37 4 2 2 0 0 0 0 39 6
2002–03 Football Conference 28 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 29 1
Total 133 15 7 0 0 0 6 1 146 16
Burton Albion 2003–04 Football Conference 19 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 2
2004–05 Conference National 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 20 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 2
Career Total 286 20 12 0 11 1 10 1 325 23
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Lowe, Simon (2000). Stoke City The Modern Era – A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN 1-874287-39-2.
  2. ^ SoccerBase Database retrieved December 2017
  3. ^ "Hull City reign at the Palace". irishtimes.com. 1 October 1997. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  4. ^ Ian Wright forced to call it a day Chasetown FC, 23 February 2007. Retrieved on 8 March 2007
  5. ^ Ian Wright at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)