Darren James Wright (born 14 March 1968) is an English former footballer who played as a defender. Originally a centre-back in his youth, he played professionally at full-back.[4] He is the current head coach of the Kernow football team in Non-FIFA football.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Darren James Wright[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 14 March 1968[2] | ||
| Place of birth | West Bromwich, England[2] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Left-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1985–1986 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 | (0) |
| 1986–1991 | Wrexham | 110 | (4) |
| 1991–1992 | Worcester City | ||
| 1996–1998 | Cheltenham Town | ||
| 1998–1999 | Stafford Rangers | ||
| Halesowen Town | |||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2016 | Panjab | ||
| 2018– | Kernow | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:48, 21 March 2018 (UTC) | |||
Playing career
editWright would get his start at Wolverhampton Wanderers, the club he supported, playing for their second team whilst still in school,[4] however he would only make one senior appearance for the club – an away match at Plymouth Argyle.[2]
In 1986 he would sign for Wrexham, where he would make 110 appearances in 4 years,[2] winning Young Player of the Season in both the 1987–88 and 1988–89 seasons.[5]
His Wrexham and fully professional career would come to an end through cruciate and cartilage damage in his knee, sustained in a match with Doncaster Rovers in a 50/50 challenge with forward Mark Rankine.[4]
After his recovery, he would move to non-league football with Worcester City, spending a year at the Worcestershire club.[1]
He would then move to Cheltenham Town, where, during his two-year spell there he would win promotion from the Doc Martens league to the Conference, and the FA Trophy.[4]
After Cheltenham, he would move to Stafford Rangers before ending his career at Halesowen Town.[4]
Coaching career
editAfter football, Wright would hold many coaching jobs, including senior team coach at Rushall Olympic, assistant manager at Continental Star and coaching youths at Wolverhampton Wanderers.[4] He managed Panjab in 2016, taking them to the final of the 2016 ConIFA World Football Cup. In 2018 he took charge of the first Kernow football team.
Personal life
editDuring a charity game he played for Wrexham Veterans against Mold Alexandra on 12 July 2014, Wright suffered a heart attack.[6] He made a full recovery and was still playing charity matches in 2015.[4]
Honours
editIndividual
edit- Young Player of the Season: 1987–88, 1988–89
Team
edit- Promotion from Southern Football League: 1996–97
- FA Trophy: 1997–98
References
edit- ^ a b "Darren Wright". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Darren Wright". Neil Brown. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 404. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Made Of The Wright Stuff How Darren Bounced Back From Molineux Rejection". Charlie Bamforth. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ "Young Player of the Season". Wrexhamfan.wordpress.com. August 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
- ^ "Former Wrexham FC star recovering after suffering heart attack in charity game". Steve Bagnall. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2018.