Professional Soccer (Football) Player, Manager, Television Executive. Named for his grandfather who died in World War I at the Battle of the Somme eight years before his birth, Billy Wright went on to become a national hero in the world of soccer, described as "a national treasure" by "The Times" upon his retirement in 1959. He was the first player in the world to play in 100 matches for his national team. His 105 matches for England from 1946 to 1959 (including 70 consecutive) as a halfback, 90 of those as captain, were a world record for 11 years. He played in the 1950, 1954, and 1958 FIFA World Cups. He also played 490 official First Division matches with his club, Wolverhamption Wanderers (Wolves), from 1946 to 1959, winning three League Championships, and 48 FA Cup matches, winning the FA Cup in 1949, and was the Wolves long-time captain. Known for his hard but fair play, he was never cautioned or sent off. He married Joy Beverley of the well-known English singing group the Beverley Sisters in 1958, shortly before his retirement as a player. He coached the England U-23 and youth sides from 1959 to 1962 and then took over English giant Arsenal from 1962 to 1966 with limited success. After being fired by Arsenal, he turned to television, eventually becoming an executive with ATV/ITV (now Granada). He was awarded the CBE in 1959 and was an inaugural inductee into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002. He was asked to join the Board of Directors at Wolves in 1989, which position he held until his death. One of the main stands at Wolverhampton's Molineux Stadium, where his ashes were scattered by his family, was named after him, and a statue was placed in his honor there in 1996.
Professional Soccer (Football) Player, Manager, Television Executive. Named for his grandfather who died in World War I at the Battle of the Somme eight years before his birth, Billy Wright went on to become a national hero in the world of soccer, described as "a national treasure" by "The Times" upon his retirement in 1959. He was the first player in the world to play in 100 matches for his national team. His 105 matches for England from 1946 to 1959 (including 70 consecutive) as a halfback, 90 of those as captain, were a world record for 11 years. He played in the 1950, 1954, and 1958 FIFA World Cups. He also played 490 official First Division matches with his club, Wolverhamption Wanderers (Wolves), from 1946 to 1959, winning three League Championships, and 48 FA Cup matches, winning the FA Cup in 1949, and was the Wolves long-time captain. Known for his hard but fair play, he was never cautioned or sent off. He married Joy Beverley of the well-known English singing group the Beverley Sisters in 1958, shortly before his retirement as a player. He coached the England U-23 and youth sides from 1959 to 1962 and then took over English giant Arsenal from 1962 to 1966 with limited success. After being fired by Arsenal, he turned to television, eventually becoming an executive with ATV/ITV (now Granada). He was awarded the CBE in 1959 and was an inaugural inductee into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002. He was asked to join the Board of Directors at Wolves in 1989, which position he held until his death. One of the main stands at Wolverhampton's Molineux Stadium, where his ashes were scattered by his family, was named after him, and a statue was placed in his honor there in 1996.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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