|I was taken to
Stamford Bridge by my father when I was six in 1957.
Chelsea (not my Dad's team) were playing Wolves. I
suppose he expected me to 'take up' with Chelsea. they
being our nearest team. My main memory was this
determined blond defender in gold and black beating Roy
Bentley in the tackle. That defender was Billy Wright and
the gold and black was far more scintillating than blue
and white. Though I didn't see Billy more than another
three or four times (Peter Broadbent was my first 'hero')
I was a Wolves supporter from that tackle onwards.
I am a founder member of the London Wolves Supporters Club (1966) and very proud to have followed 'my' team for 40-plus years. There have been many many players and memories over that time but Billy Wright was the catalyst for my love of Wolves.
We moved from London to Yorkshire last year but I still try and see 12-15 games a season. I've recently done a great deal of research (over 3 years) on a painter in anticipation of writing a film script so I can imagine the amount of effort that you've put into the project. I wish you the very best for a most worthwhile book which I'm really looking forward to reading. Please put a pre-order copy aside for me. NEIL RAPHAEL Pickering, North Yorkshire
This is not really a memory of Billy, but a little story that shows how much he was and is loved by his widow, Joy, of Beverley Sisters fame. About five years ago I interviewed Joy I'm a journalist and at the end of our chat I told her I was an Arsenal fan. She then told me how Billy enjoyed his time at Arsenal and that they had never regretted moving down to Barnet even though "things didn't work out". I had an original copy of Billy's 1961 autobiography 100 Caps and All That and told her how much I had enjoyed it. Her eyes lit up and so I told her if I could dig it out I'd send it to her. I found it and sent it and she was absolutely delighted. She even sent me a nice card thanking me. It's something of a boring anecdote but it reveals the love that existed between Billy and Joy.
JEM MAIDMENT Highgate, London N6
Billy was a great man who loved his football and I am so proud to say that he played for Wolverhampton Wanderers. He was a footballing legend who should have been knighted for his devotion to football. R.I.P. William Ambrose Wright. ANDY REEVES
Billy Wright was my boyhood idol. It was because of him that I became a Wolves supporter. My greatest thrill as a young boy was to see Billy play against Charlton in 1956, my first ever Wolves game. Billy was a true sporting legend a great footballer and a gentleman. When I played football at school I always tried to emulate Billy Wright and always volunteered to play center-half. When people talk about role models he was one of the best. A study of his career and his attitudes to the game and to people should be compulsory reading for all today's over-paid and over-hyped stars.
BOB CROCKETT Hinckley Leicestershire
In March 1989, my father Roy Sambrook, had an operation in the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. After visiting him one afternoon I was walking down the corridor of the hospital, when I passed someone I recognised. I turned and asked: "Excuse me Mr Wright, my Dad, who is a lifelong Wolves supporter, is just recovering from an operation and it would really cheer him up if you could spare him a few minutes to say hello." He asked where my father was, his name and which ward he was on. Later that day I went back to visit my Dad, who from a poorly state in the afternoon was now sitting up in bed and clearly in a much improved condition:
"You'll never guess who I was talking to for half an hour this afternoon," he said, "No, who?" I enquired. "Only Billy Wright," Dad announced proudly. "I came round and there he was sitting on the side of the bed."
Thirty minutes with Billy Wright did him more good than any amount of drugs and medicines. Best wishes for your book project.
NEIL SAMBROOK Shropshire Football Association