Alex Wright (footballer born 1930)
Encyclopedia
Alex Wright was a Scottish
football player and manager
.
Provisionally signed by Partick Thistle
as a teenager and "farmed out" to Ayrshire Junior side Dalry Thistle
, Wright signed full professional forms with Partick on Friday 28 January 1949 and made his debut the following day, exactly seven weeks after his eighteenth birthday, in the Glasgow derby against Rangers at Ibrox Park. Wright performed for Partick Thistle most of his playing career , appearing in three Scottish League Cup
Finals which all ended in defeat. Wright subsequently played season 1963–64 for East Fife
before having to retire due to knee injuries. He became a coach, working briefly for Clyde
and Partick Thistle
, before being appointed manager
of St. Mirren at the age of 35, in October 1966.
St. Mirren were relegated at the end of the 1966–67 season, but Wright guided them to promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt. After four years at Love Street, Wright became manager of Dunfermline Athletic
in October 1970. He held that position for only 16 months, however, as the club struggled to win games during a period of severe financial hardship which almost led to the Club's demise.
Following a brief period as assistant manager of Dumbarton
, Wright was appointed manager in late 1972, a post he held for four years. Despite the Club having spent the previous 50 seasons in Division 2 prior to his appointment, Wright guided them to high of tenth position in the Scottish League in 1973–74 and a Scottish Cup
semi-final appearance in 1975–76. He was involved with Dumbarton in various roles for 18 years. After leaving Boghead Park in 1990, Wright then worked as Chief Scout for Kilmarnock under managers Alex Totten and Bobby Williamson as well Scottish Scout for Millwall
and Bolton
under Bruce Rioch, and Leeds
under David O'Leary.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football player and manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
.
Provisionally signed by Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
as a teenager and "farmed out" to Ayrshire Junior side Dalry Thistle
Dalry Thistle F.C.
Dalry Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club, based in the town of Dalry, Ayrshire. Formed in 1920, they play at Merksworth Park. Currently playing in the West Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association, they wear dark blue strips....
, Wright signed full professional forms with Partick on Friday 28 January 1949 and made his debut the following day, exactly seven weeks after his eighteenth birthday, in the Glasgow derby against Rangers at Ibrox Park. Wright performed for Partick Thistle most of his playing career , appearing in three Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
Finals which all ended in defeat. Wright subsequently played season 1963–64 for East Fife
East Fife F.C.
East Fife Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Fife coastal town of Methil...
before having to retire due to knee injuries. He became a coach, working briefly for Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
and Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
, before being appointed manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
of St. Mirren at the age of 35, in October 1966.
St. Mirren were relegated at the end of the 1966–67 season, but Wright guided them to promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt. After four years at Love Street, Wright became manager of Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
in October 1970. He held that position for only 16 months, however, as the club struggled to win games during a period of severe financial hardship which almost led to the Club's demise.
Following a brief period as assistant manager of Dumbarton
Dumbarton F.C.
Dumbarton Football Club is Scotland's 4th oldest football club – founded in 1872, just after Queen's Park , Kilmarnock and Stranraer...
, Wright was appointed manager in late 1972, a post he held for four years. Despite the Club having spent the previous 50 seasons in Division 2 prior to his appointment, Wright guided them to high of tenth position in the Scottish League in 1973–74 and a Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
semi-final appearance in 1975–76. He was involved with Dumbarton in various roles for 18 years. After leaving Boghead Park in 1990, Wright then worked as Chief Scout for Kilmarnock under managers Alex Totten and Bobby Williamson as well Scottish Scout for Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
and Bolton
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
under Bruce Rioch, and Leeds
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
under David O'Leary.