Billy Wright (footballer, born 1900)

William Bulloch Wright (born 1900) was an English footballer who played as a wing half or inside forward. He played in the Football League for Bolton Wanderers[1] (spending a decade with the club, though only a regular for a few seasons – he did not feature in any of their three FA Cup Final victories in the period)[2] and Reading[3] (five seasons, making 193 appearances in all competitions).[2]

He then moved to France to become manager of Rouen for the 1938–39 season[4] (also registered as a player, he made no competitive appearances)[5] but with the team threatened with relegation, he was replaced by compatriot Sid Kimpton prior to the last round of league fixtures.[5] Wright then returned to England and was a trainer – and briefly caretaker manager in 1946 – of the newly renamed Leyton Orient,[6] later following namesake Billy P. Wright to Chingford Town in 1948.[7]

His father, Scotsman Jocky Wright, was also a footballer who played for several clubs across Britain including Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday, where he was based when Billy was born;[8] his brother Doug Wright (17 years younger and born in Southend-on-Sea where the family settled) played for Newcastle United and Lincoln City and was capped by England in 1938.[9]