Tommy Wright (footballer, born 1944)

Thomas James Wright (born 21 October 1944) is a former footballer who played as a right-back. A one-club man, he played for Everton, with whom he won the Football League and the FA Cup, and represented England, including at the 1970 FIFA World Cup.

For other people named Tommy Wright, see Tommy Wright (disambiguation).

Tommy Wright
Wright depicted in an Argentine football card, 1970
Personal information
Full name Thomas James Wright
Date of birth (1944-10-21) 21 October 1944
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Position(s) Right-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1964–1974 Everton 373 (4)
International career
1968–1970 England 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Wright was born in Norris Green, Liverpool. He joined Everton as an apprentice, and made his first team debut in 1964.[1] He was part of the winning team in the 1966 FA Cup Final, in the unsuccessful team in the 1968 FA Cup Final and played all 42 league games in the 1969–70 season when Everton won the Football League Championship by nine points.[2] He also won the 1970 FA Charity Shield.[3] He made 437 appearances in total and scored four goals.[4]

Wright has often been described as the best right-back to play for Everton. George Best once described Wright as his most difficult opponent.

International career

Wright made twelve appearances for England including the classic match against Brazil in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.[5] Wright made his debut for England in the game in which England beat the Soviet Union in the third place match in the 1968 European Football Championship in Italy, the only player to make his England debut in a European Championship finals match.

Retirement

Wright retired in 1974 due to injury.[2] His contributions to Everton were noted in the years following his retirement. He was named as an inaugural member of Gwladys Street's Hall of Fame in 1996, and as an "Everton Giant" in 2016.[1]

References
  1. "Wright Becomes An Everton Giant". Everton F.C. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  2. "Tommy Wright". Everton F.C. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  3. "1970/71 Charity Shield". footballsite.co.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  4. Everton player statistics
  5. Official FA statistics
  • Everton – School of Science by James Corbett Pan Books 2003 ISBN 0-330-42006-2
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