Throwback Thursday: When Billy Wright's Wolves won the FA Cup

And here, we look back on when he helped Wolves lift the FA Cup on April 30, 1949.

Leicester 1-3 Wolves

Wolves, with Wright superbly serving as skipper, were triumphant over the Foxes at a 98,920-strong Wembley – and deservedly so.

They came flying out of the traps and took the lead just 13 minutes in.

Jesse Pye got his head on a perfect cross from Johnny Hancocks to open the scoring.

And then on the stroke of half-time, Pye got his second.

In Stan Cullis’s side instead of Dennis Wilshaw, he collected the ball with his back to goal, turned and slammed it past Leicester keeper Gordon Bradley.

The Foxes, though, had plenty of fight in them and were able to break through Wright & Co in the Wolves defence.

Mal Griffiths got on the scoresheet just after the interval, flicking the ball home after Bert Williams parried Ken Chisholm’s initial strike.

Then came a wonder-goal from Wolves’ Sammy Smyth.

Leicester looked like they could grab a leveller until the Northern Irishman picked up a faulty clearance and weaved his way past four men before beating Bradley as easily as he liked – sealing the victory in style.

The Express & Star wrote at the time that ‘Wright was an inspiring captain’.

It was also said he ‘hugged the Cup and Billy Crook the base all the way back to the Cafe Royal’, the hotel Wolves’ stars stopped at on the night.

Returning to Wolverhampton from the capital, the triumphant squad were greeted by a sea of supporters. From the balcony of the town hall, Wright could be seen clutching the Cup.

The captain was introduced by Cullis – who humbly said his part in the win was only a small one and reminded the fans of their past in the success – as a man who ‘embodied sportsmanship both on and off the field’.

Wright went on to sum up the emotion of Wolves’ Cup victory, as he insisted: “It is the greatest moment in my life to bring the Cup back to Wolverhampton, and it was grand to see the wonderful team we had at Wembley yesterday.”

While Wright, who, of course, spent all his club career with Wolves, also went on to win three First Division titles, that Cup win – the first major honour of his playing days, which also included 105 Three Lions caps – will always hold special significance.

A special day for a special footballer whose legacy will continue to live on at Wolves.