John Wright (footballer, born 1916)

John Wright (30 April 1916 – 1999) was an English footballer who made 37 appearances in the Football League for Darlington, playing mainly as a left half.[1] He was on the books of Hartlepools United and Derby County without playing for either in the League, and joined Midland League club Denaby United just before the start of the Second World War.

John Wright
Personal information
Full name John Wright[1]
Date of birth (1916-04-30)30 April 1916[2]
Place of birth Blackhall Colliery, England
Date of death 1999 (aged 83)
Place of death Doncaster, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Position(s) Left half
Youth career
19??–1934 Easington Colliery Welfare
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1933–1934 Hartlepools United 0 (0)
1934–1937 Derby County 0 (0)
1937–1939 Darlington 37 (4)
1939–194? Denaby United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Football career

At schoolboy level, Wright played for East Durham Schools and for the Durham County Schools team.[4][5] He made several appearances for Hartlepools United's reserve team in the North-Eastern League in the 1933–34 season,[4] and, after making the pass for the winning goal for Easington Colliery Welfare's junior team in the North East Divisional Junior Cup final,[6] he signed professional forms with First Division club Derby County in May 1934.[4] He remained with the club for three seasons,[7] but never made an appearance in the Football League.[1]

In 1937 he returned to his native north-east and signed for Darlington of the Third Division North.[8] He went straight into the starting eleven, making his club and Football League debut on 28 August in a 1–0 win at home to Southport. He soon lost his place to Joe Hodgson, but regained it because of injuries for a home match against Bradford City in mid-October; Darlington won 4–1, and Wright scored the second goal from 25 yards (23 m).[9] Wright established himself at left half in the last three months of the season, taking his appearance total up to 30 matches, but he played only infrequently in 1938–39 and was not retained.[10]

He signed for Denaby United,[11] began the 1939–40 Midland League season at centre half,[12] and was able to continue for a time with Denaby in their wartime competitions.[13]

Personal life

Wright was born in Blackhall Colliery, County Durham,[11] the elder son of Arthur Wright and his wife.[14] He married Doris Wilson at St Andrew's Church, Blackhall, in January 1938.[14] The 1939 Register lists the couple living at Conisbrough, West Riding of Yorkshire, and gives his occupation as bricklayer's labourer.[2] Wright's death was registered in the Doncaster district, which included Conisbrough, in the third quarter of 1999.[15]

While bathing in the sea near Blackhall Rocks in July 1936, Wright was reported to have saved another young man, the brother of footballer Albert Harris, from drowning.[16]

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 289. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  2. "John Wright on the 1939 Register". Ref: RG101/3625E/008/13 Letter Code: KMMI. Retrieved 3 April 2016 – via Findmypast.
  3. "No title". Yorkshire Post. 13 May 1937. p. 23 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Derby busy at Easington. Two junior stars signed up". Sunderland Echo. 3 May 1934. p. 11 – via British Newspaper Archive. Both are just turned 18 years of age.
  5. "Results and Players 1920–21 to 1929–30". Durham County Schools Football Association. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  6. "Keen junior final". Sunderland Echo. 3 May 1934. p. 11 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Eight Derby County players on open-to-transfer list". Derby Evening Telegraph. 12 April 1934. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Darlington deal". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 14 July 1934. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "Darlington handicapped". Yorkshire Post. 15 May 1937. p. 21 – via British Newspaper Archive. Darlington are handicapped for their game with Bradford City in that both their right backs—Boyle and Burnett—have been injured in successive matches. Hodgson will move from left half, and his place will be taken by Wright.
    "Bradford City checked". Yorkshire Post. 18 October 1937. p. 18 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. Tweddle, Frank (2000). The Definitive Darlington F.C. Nottingham: SoccerData. pp. 39–40. ISBN 978-1-899468-15-7.
  11. Sentinel (2 June 1939). "It may be cricket weather—but football managers are still busy". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. p. 9 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. "Brighter hope for Denaby. Experienced players signed". Telegraph & Independent. Sheffield. 12 August 1939. p. 14 – via British Newspaper Archive.
    "Frickley Colliery v. Denaby United". The Star Green 'Un. Sheffield. 26 August 1939. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. Ex-Amateur (3 November 1939). "Grantham make a good start". Grantham Journal. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive. Then there were Wright, who has played for Darlington and Derby County, and Carr, ex-Southend, whilst Gibson is the former Middlesbrough, Bradford City and Boston goalkeeper.
    "Grantham get a hiding". Grantham Journal. 1 March 1940. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. "Around the County. Blackhall wedding. Darlington footballer's bride". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 17 January 1938. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. "England & Wales deaths 1837–2007 Transcription". John Wright. Birth date: 30 April 1916. Death quarter: 3. Death year: 1999. District: Doncaster. County: Yorkshire. Register number: 39A. Entry number: 263. Date of registration: July 1999. Retrieved 3 April 2016 – via Findmypast.
  16. "Footballer to rescue. Bather's escape at Blackhall Rocks". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 10 July 1936. p. 10 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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