Tommy Wright

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

Thomas James (Tommy) Wright (born 21 October 1944 in Liverpool) is a former footballer. He joined Everton F.C. as an apprentice in 1964 and made 373 appearances at right back and scored four goals. Wright played in the winning team in the 1966 FA Cup final, in the unsuccessful team in the 1968 FA Cup final and in all 42 league games in the 1969/70 season when Everton won the Football League Championship by nine points.

Wright has often been described as the best right back to play for Everton. (Another candidate for this honour is Keith Newton who Everton usually played at left back and another is Gary Stevens.) George Best once described Wright as his most difficult opponent.

Wright made eleven appearances for England including the classic match against Brazil in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. 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.

Wright retired in 1972 after a serious injury.

A number of other British footballers have had the name Tommy Wright, including two who played for Leicester City in the 1980s and 2000s.


England England squad - 1970 World Cup England

1 Banks | 2 Newton | 3 Cooper | 4 Mullery | 5 Labone | 6 Moore | 7 Lee | 8 Ball | 9 B. Charlton | 10 Hurst | 11 Peters | 12 Bonetti | 13 Stepney | 14 Wright | 15 Stiles | 16 Hughes | 17 J. Charlton | 18 Hunter | 19 Bell | 20 Osgood | 21 Clarke | 22 Astle | Coach: Ramsey