Jackie Wright (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John "Jackie" Wright was an English
professional footballer who played as a defender – specifically, a full back.
He spent eleven years with Blackpool
in the 1940s and 1950s, making 157 league appearances and scoring one goal. He made his debut for Blackpool, who were then managed by Joe Smith, on 6 September 1948, in a 1–1 draw with Derby County
at Bloomfield Road
. He went on to make a further five appearances during the 1948–49 league campaign, deputising for Ron Suart
.
Wright made fourteen league appearances in 1949–50, during which season Suart left for Blackburn Rovers
.
In 1950–51, Wright made twelve league appearances, but sat out Blackpool's entire run to their second FA Cup Final
.
The following season, 1951–52, he made fifteen appearances, before missing the whole 1952–53 term.
In 1953–54, Wright returned to the line-up; however, he was still unable to nudge out Tommy Garrett
from the left-back berth, and therefore made only eight league appearances. Once again, he did not appear in the club's run to another, this time successful, FA Cup Final.
Wright was absent again for the entirety of the 1954–55 campaign, but it was in 1955–56, his eighth season with the Tangerines, that he was given an extended run in the team. He made thirty-eight starts in the club's 42 league games as they finished as runners-up in Division One.
He scored his first and only goal for the club in 1956–57, in a 4–0 victory over Luton Town
at Bloomfield Road on 8 September, during one of his sixteen league appearances.
Wright had another sustained run in the Blackpool team during 1957–58, making 31 appearances.
1958–59 was Wright's eleventh and final season on the Fylde
. Ron Suart, with whom he had competed for the number-3 shirt earlier in his Seasiders career, succeeded Joe Smith as manager. Suart gave seventeen starts to Wright, the final one occurring on 3 January in a 3–1 defeat at Manchester United
at Old Trafford
.
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who played as a defender – specifically, a full back.
He spent eleven years with Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in the 1940s and 1950s, making 157 league appearances and scoring one goal. He made his debut for Blackpool, who were then managed by Joe Smith, on 6 September 1948, in a 1–1 draw with Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
. He went on to make a further five appearances during the 1948–49 league campaign, deputising for Ron Suart
Ron Suart
Ronald Suart is an English former football player and manager.-Playing days:Suart was a full-back at Blackpool, playing alongside fellow defenders George Farrow and Harry Johnston in a team which also included Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen. Blackpool reached the 1948 FA Cup Final, but Suart...
.
Wright made fourteen league appearances in 1949–50, during which season Suart left for Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
.
In 1950–51, Wright made twelve league appearances, but sat out Blackpool's entire run to their second FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
.
The following season, 1951–52, he made fifteen appearances, before missing the whole 1952–53 term.
In 1953–54, Wright returned to the line-up; however, he was still unable to nudge out Tommy Garrett
Tommy Garrett
Thomas "Tommy" Garrett was an English professional footballer. He represented his country on three occasions....
from the left-back berth, and therefore made only eight league appearances. Once again, he did not appear in the club's run to another, this time successful, FA Cup Final.
Wright was absent again for the entirety of the 1954–55 campaign, but it was in 1955–56, his eighth season with the Tangerines, that he was given an extended run in the team. He made thirty-eight starts in the club's 42 league games as they finished as runners-up in Division One.
He scored his first and only goal for the club in 1956–57, in a 4–0 victory over Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
at Bloomfield Road on 8 September, during one of his sixteen league appearances.
Wright had another sustained run in the Blackpool team during 1957–58, making 31 appearances.
1958–59 was Wright's eleventh and final season on the Fylde
The Fylde
The Fylde ; Scandinavian: "field") is a coastal plain in western Lancashire, England. It is roughly a 13-mile square-shaped peninsula, bounded by Morecambe Bay to the north, the Ribble estuary to the south, the Irish Sea to the west, and the Bowland hills to the east...
. Ron Suart, with whom he had competed for the number-3 shirt earlier in his Seasiders career, succeeded Joe Smith as manager. Suart gave seventeen starts to Wright, the final one occurring on 3 January in a 3–1 defeat at Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
.
Post-retirement
After retiring, Wright became a coach and then manager (from 1969 to 1972) at Tranmere RoversTranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
.