Quarter of a century since Billy’s bronze was unveiled
TWO years ago I wrote an article for The Bugle marking the 25th anniversary, on 3rd September, of the passing of a true gentleman and undisputed legend of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
It was on this date in 1994 that Billy Wright had died at seventy years of age at his home in North London, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. That very day his death was marked by a silence before Wolves’ 1-1 draw at Sunderland. The club would afford him full honours before the league match against Tranmere Rovers a week later.
Billy’s funeral service followed four days later at St Peter’s Church in the town. It took place in pouring rain that seemed to indicate that all of heaven was weeping at the loss of the great man. He was then cremated and his ashes scattered on the Molineux pitch.
Next Sunday marks 25 years to the day since the unveiling of the iconic statue of the great William Ambrose Wright CBE, on 12th September 1996. Here are some photographs that were taken by dad, Reg Corbett, who was present that day with my mom, Margaret.
He recorded the visit in a short note that I also include: “At mid-day on the 12th, we went to Molineux for the unveiling of the Billy Wright statue, and saw celebrities, old and new!”
Team mates
He was right – in addition to many of Billy’s former team mates (including Bert Williams), the assembled masses included Billy’s widow Joy Beverley, her sisters and other family members; Sir Jack Hayward; Rachael Heyhoe-flint; John Richards (now Chairman of the club’s Formers Players Association), and then-manager Mark Mcghee. Readers will be able to spot others from Wolves’ illustrious past.
The impressive bronze statue was the work of James Butler and the following inscription is found on the plinth:
BILLY WRIGHT CBE William Ambrose Wright born on 6 February at Ironbridge, Shropshire.
Billy Wright joined the Molineux groundstaff in
1938 and made his first senior appearance for the club in a war-time match in september 1939.
In a playing career spanning 21 years with 54 appearances for the Wolves, he first captained the team in the 1947/48 season and led them to an FA Cup final victory in 1949 and three League Championship titles 1953/54, 1957/58 and 1958/59.
Footballer of the Year in 1952, he became the first player ever to make 100 appearances for his country. In total he gained 105 international caps for England and captained his country on a record 90 occasions, including the final stages of three World Cup campaigns.
In recognition of his outstanding services to football he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1959.
After being manager of the England Youth and Under-25 teams and Arsenal
Football Club, he returned to Wolverhampton Wanderers Football
Club in 1990 as a member of the board.
He died on 3rd September 1994.