Wolves legend Billy Wright celebrated at special event
The daughter of Billy Wright was overwhelmed with pride as a packed-out crowd joined her in celebrating the life and career of the Wolves legend.
Hundreds of fans flocked to the Sir Jack Hayward Suite – in Molineux’s Billy Wright Stand nonetheless – for The Billy Wright Story, as told by daughter Vicky.
This past Tuesday marked 25 years since the former defender passed away, and having dug out a wide range of photographs and video footage, she took the audience through his illustrious playing days which included 490 appearances in gold and black – captaining the club to three First Division titles and an FA Cup triumph – and 105 caps for England.
She also offered a personal, touching perspective of what Wright was like with his family, marrying Joy Beverley of the Beverley Sisters and having three children – Vince and Babette too.
An interesting tale from the event on Thursday was that Wright’s career nearly never got going, with former Wolves manager Major Frank Buckley originally telling Wright he was too small before the Major reconsidered and told Wright: “I’m assured you have a big heart.”
An ankle injury also came early on his Wolves career and Buckley thought he would have to retire, but successful surgery saw Wright recover on his way to becoming who many perceive to be the club’s greatest-ever player.
Vicky also revealed Wright’s career only saw him make £15,000 – a mere fraction of what the game’s top stars earn now.
Focusing on his life after retirement, Vicky told the story of how her father struggled with alcoholism while working away from home for ATV and was admitted into a rehabilitation centre.
The second half of the show saw comedian Bobby Davro, partner of Vicky, take to the stage for a stand-up routine.
Former Wolves man Ted Farmer later paid tribute to Wright, hailing him as a “wonderful mentor and very humorous man”.
The club’s all-time leading scorer Steve Bull called him a “very good friend who took me under his wing”.
Phil Parkes, Geoff Palmer and Mel Eves were also at the event, which finished with an auction to raise funds for the Billy Wright Foundation.
Vicky said: “It’s overwhelming. This is proof of how much love there still is after 25 years – he was a genuinely good person who worked hard.”
The event marked a week in which Billy Wright was remembered in different ways.
A blue plaque was unveiled last weekend at his childhood cottage in Ironbridge.
The current owners of the house, Viv and Tony Moore, funded the plaque themselves and said it was an honour to be able to commemorate one of England’s greatest players. A ceremony was attended by Vicky and Babette as well as people from the town of Ironbridge.
Vicky said: “He was the most incredible man you could ever meet.
“We are both so lucky to have him as a father.”
