Jeff Wrightson
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey George "Jeff" Wrightson (born 18 May 1968) is an English former footballer who made 170 appearances in the Football League
playing as a defender
for Newcastle United
and Preston North End
. He went on to play for a number of non-League
clubs, in particular Gateshead
where he made more than 200 appearances and where from 2007-2010 he was assistant manager.
. He began his football career as a member of Wallsend Boys Club
, then signed apprentice forms with Newcastle United
when he left school in 1984. He played alongside future England
international Paul Gascoigne
in the Newcastle youth team that won the 1985 FA Youth Cup
. Wrightson played four games in the Football League First Division
before being released at the end of the 1986–87 season.
Wrightson joined Preston North End
, newly promoted to the Third Division
and managed by former Newcastle United defender John McGrath. Used mainly as a substitute in his first few months with the club, he played more regularly later in the season and helped the club to a mid-table position. The following season, Preston adopted a three-man defensive line, with Wrightson playing alongside Bob Atkins
and Adrian Hughes; they reached the end-of-season playoffs only to lose to eventual winners Port Vale
.
Wrightson won the club's Player of the Year
award in the 1990–91 season, but was released at the end of the next season after turning down the offer of a new two-year contract. He had scored five goals from nearly 200 games in all competitions. After an unsuccessful trial with Blackpool
he returned to his native north-east, where he signed for non-league Gateshead
. In five seasons with the club he made a total of 226 appearances, before enjoying spells with Yeovil Town
, Spennymoor United
and Blyth Spartans.
He coached juniors at Walker Central BC for three years, before returning to Gateshead in May 2007 as assistant to former Newcastle and Preston team mate Ian Bogie, newly-appointed as first team manager. In 2008 they led the club to promotion to the Conference North
, and promotion to the Conference National
the following season. Wrightson left Gateshead after the 2009–10 season, as he was unable to commit to a full time role for the following season.
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
playing as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
and Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
. He went on to play for a number of non-League
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
clubs, in particular Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
where he made more than 200 appearances and where from 2007-2010 he was assistant manager.
Career
Wrightson was born in Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. He began his football career as a member of Wallsend Boys Club
Wallsend Boys Club
Wallsend Boys Club is an English youth football club based in Wallsend, North Tyneside. The club is well-known for producing professional footballers, with 65 players from the club having gone on to play professionally.-History:...
, then signed apprentice forms with Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
when he left school in 1984. He played alongside future England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international Paul Gascoigne
Paul Gascoigne
Paul John Gascoigne , commonly referred to as Gazza, is a retired English professional footballer.Playing in the position of midfield, Gascoigne's career included spells at Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough, Everton and Gansu Tianma, where he scored at least a goal...
in the Newcastle youth team that won the 1985 FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
. Wrightson played four games in the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
before being released at the end of the 1986–87 season.
Wrightson joined Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
, newly promoted to the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
and managed by former Newcastle United defender John McGrath. Used mainly as a substitute in his first few months with the club, he played more regularly later in the season and helped the club to a mid-table position. The following season, Preston adopted a three-man defensive line, with Wrightson playing alongside Bob Atkins
Bob Atkins
Robert Gary Atkins is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Sheffield United and Preston North End.-Early years:...
and Adrian Hughes; they reached the end-of-season playoffs only to lose to eventual winners Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
.
Wrightson won the club's Player of the Year
Preston North End Player of the Year Award Winners
Winners of the official Preston North End F.C. Player of the Year Award since its inception in 1967–68:...
award in the 1990–91 season, but was released at the end of the next season after turning down the offer of a new two-year contract. He had scored five goals from nearly 200 games in all competitions. After an unsuccessful trial with Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
he returned to his native north-east, where he signed for non-league Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
. In five seasons with the club he made a total of 226 appearances, before enjoying spells with Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
, Spennymoor United
Spennymoor United F.C.
Spennymoor United F.C. was an English association football club based in Spennymoor, County Durham.In 1905, they joined the Northern League and won the league title six times in their history. In the 1936-37 season, they reached the third round of the FA Cup, where they lost to top-flight side West...
and Blyth Spartans.
He coached juniors at Walker Central BC for three years, before returning to Gateshead in May 2007 as assistant to former Newcastle and Preston team mate Ian Bogie, newly-appointed as first team manager. In 2008 they led the club to promotion to the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
, and promotion to the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
the following season. Wrightson left Gateshead after the 2009–10 season, as he was unable to commit to a full time role for the following season.
External links
- League stats at Neil Brown's site