Daniel Wright (footballer)

Daniel Paul Wright (born 10 September 1984) is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Torquay United. He operates in the target man role,[2] using his height to his advantage.[3]

Daniel Wright
Personal information
Full name Daniel Paul Wright[1]
Date of birth (1984-09-10) 10 September 1984
Place of birth Norwich, England
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Torquay United
Number 9
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 Histon 103 (33)
2010–2011 Cambridge United 44 (10)
2011–2013 Wrexham 73 (21)
2013–2014 Forest Green Rovers 40 (8)
2014–2015 Gateshead 20 (7)
2015 Kidderminister Harriers 16 (4)
2015–2018 Cheltenham Town 117 (34)
2018–2020 Solihull Moors 72 (16)
2020– Torquay United 15 (8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:38, 2 January 2021 (UTC)

He has played ten seasons in the National League in service of eight clubs, totalling over 100 goals across more than 300 games. He added 74 games and 12 goals in EFL League Two for Cheltenham Town, already in his 30s.

In his career he won the Conference South with Histon in 2007, the FA Trophy with Wrexham in 2013 and the National League for Cheltenham in 2016.

Career

Histon

Born in Norwich,[3] Norfolk, Wright began his career at nearby Dereham Town of the Eastern Counties Football League. He transferred on deadline day to Histon, and helped them win the Conference South title in 2006–07. After the title had already been sealed, he scored and assisted as they won 2–1 against Sutton United. The Cambridge News wrote:

Although a bit rough around the edges, the striker showed why Histon were prepared to take a gamble on him. He showed strength both on and off the ball, a maturity beyond his years and a deceptive turn of pace to cause the Sutton defence problems all night.[4]

On 8 November 2008, Wright scored the only goal as Histon beat Swindon Town of Football League One in "one of the shocks of the FA Cup first round".[5] He was sent off on 4 April in a 2–1 loss at Oxford United for elbowing their goalkeeper Billy Turley; Histon were leading at that point.[6]

Wright's final season at Histon began on 8 August 2009 with two goals in a 3–0 win at newcomers Gateshead.[7] In his penultimate game the following 5 April, a 1–1 draw away to Kettering Town, he was dismissed after half an hour for shoving James Jennings.[8]

Conference years

In 2010, Wright moved to another Conference team in Cambridgeshire, Cambridge United, on a three-year deal. He spent one season there, being the top scorer in a struggling team, before leaving to Wrexham for an undisclosed fee on 14 June 2011 to balance the books.[3]

At Wrexham, he scored in each leg of their FA Trophy semi-final 4–2 aggregate win over Gainsborough Trinity in February 2013.[9] In the final at Wembley Stadium on 24 March, he played the full 120 minutes of a 1–1 draw and scored in the penalty shootout win over Grimsby Town.[10]

In May 2013, he left Wrexham and secured a move to Forest Green Rovers where he agreed a two-year contract.[11] He scored his first goal for Forest Green on the opening day of the 2013–14 season in an 8–0 home win over Hyde.[12]

He joined Gateshead on a free transfer on a one-year deal on 29 August 2014.[13] He only remained on Tyneside until 20 January 2015, when he signed for Kidderminster Harriers until the end of the season to be closer to his family in Gloucester.[14]

Cheltenham Town

Although Kidderminster wanted to keep Wright, he signed a one-year deal at Cheltenham Town on 30 June 2015. His new manager Gary Johnson said that he was the "target man" needed at the club.[2] On 20 February 2016, he scored the only goal in a win at Tranmere Rovers, his eighth in the space of six consecutive games.[15] Cheltenham ended up winning the National League and returning to The Football League after a season's absence. However, Wright missed the conclusion of the season with a retrospective three-match ban for stamping on Grimsby Town goalkeeper James McKeown while celebrating a goal he had set up for Harry Pell in a 3–1 win at Whaddon Road.[16] He spoke to the press at his relief of finally winning the National League after eight previous attempts, and said he wanted a new contract as it was his dream to play in The Football League.[17]

In the 2016–17 season, Wright made his Football League debut at the age of 31, in a 1–1 home draw against Leyton Orient on 6 August.[18] He scored his first goal in the division on 10 September, his 32nd birthday, a penalty in a 2–2 draw at Newport County.[19]

On 10 May 2018, it was announced that Wright would leave Cheltenham at the end of his current deal in June 2018.[20]

Solihull Moors

After leaving Cheltenham, Wright returned to the National League by signing for Solihull Moors.[21] The club from the West Midlands beat Hereford to his signature.[22] On 9 February 2019 he was one of four players – two on each team – sent off in a brawl at the end of a 1–0 win at Ebbsfleet United.[23] He scored 11 goals in 41 league games in his first season, concluding with one in a 3–2 win over Havant & Waterlooville on 13 April to seal a play-off place.[24]

Personal life

Wright worked as a carpenter while playing for Dereham.[13] In December 2015, his partner Lisa Chew gave birth to their son Ronny 9; the unusual middle name stems from Wright's shirt number.[25]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 2 January 2021
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Histon 2007–08[26] Conference Premier 411510---3[lower-alpha 1]04515
2008–09[27] Conference Premier 371031---1[lower-alpha 2]04111
2008–10[28] Conference Premier 25800---00258
Histon total 1033341---4011134
Cambridge United 2010–11[29] Conference Premier 441020---004610
Wrexham 2011–12[30] Conference Premier 32641---2[lower-alpha 3]0387
2012–13[31] Conference Premier 411511---004216
Wrexham total 732152---208023
Forest Green Rovers 2013–14[32] Conference Premier 40800---00408
Gateshead United 2014–15[33] Conference Premier 20731---00238
Kidderminster Harriers 2014–15[33] Conference Premier 16400---00164
Cheltenham Town 2015–16[34] National League 432210---004422
2016–17[35] League Two 41931205[lower-alpha 4]15111
2017–18[36] League Two 333102210375
Cheltenham total 1173451426113238
Solihull Moors 2018–19[37] National League 411141—4[lower-alpha 5]04912
2019–20[38] National League 31530—2[lower-alpha 2]0365
Solihull Moors Total 721671—608517
Torquay United 2020–21[39] National League 15820—00178
Career total 50014128642181550150
  1. One appearance in the Conference League Cup and two in the FA Trophy
  2. Appearance in the FA Trophy
  3. Appearances in the Conference play-offs
  4. Appearances in the Football League Trophy
  5. 3 appearances in FA Trophy, one in National League Play Offs

Honours
Histon
Wrexham
Cheltenham Town

References
  1. Daniel Wright at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  2. "Danny Wright: Cheltenham Town sign former Kidderminster striker". BBC Sport. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  3. "Cambridge United striker Danny Wright moves to Wrexham". BBC Sport. 14 June 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  4. "Daniel's Wright stuff runs Sutton ragged". Cambridge News. 18 April 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  5. "Histon 1–0 Swindon". BBC Sport. 8 November 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  6. "Oxford Utd 2–1 Histon". BBC Sport. 4 April 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  7. "Gateshead 0–3 Histon". BBC Sport. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  8. "Kettering 1–1 Histon". BBC Sport. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  9. "Gainsborough 2 – 1 Wrexham FC (Wrexham win 4–3 on agg)". Wales Online. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  10. Williams, Aled (24 March 2013). "FA Trophy final: Grimsby Town 1–1 Wrexham (1–4 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  11. "Danny Wright to leave Wrexham for Forest Green Rovers". BBC Sport. 7 May 2013.
  12. "Forest Green 8–0 Hyde". BBC Sport. 10 August 2013.
  13. "Gateshead Sign Striker Danny Wright". Gateshead F.C. 29 August 2014. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  14. "Danny Wright: Kidderminster Harriers sign Gateshead striker". BBC Sport. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  15. "Tranmere 0–1 Cheltenham". BBC Sport. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  16. Griffiths, Rob (6 April 2016). "Former Wrexham AFC striker Danny Wright banned for three matches". Daily Post. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  17. Young, James (17 April 2016). "Cheltenham Town are CHAMPIONS: I can finally say I'm a Football League player". Gloucestershire Echo. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  18. Palmer, Jon (28 July 2016). "WATCH: Striker's long-awaited EFL debut so close now". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  19. "ROBINS TV: Danny Wright after the draw with Newport". Cheltenham Town F.C. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  20. "Champions among released list". Cheltenham Town Official Site. 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  21. Gibbons, Craig (6 July 2018). "Solihull Moors snap up experienced striker". Solihull Observer. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  22. Palmer, Jon (11 May 2018). "Solihull Moors and Hereford set to lead chase for Cheltenham Town striker". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  23. Tyler, Ben (11 February 2019). "Red cards mar Moors' ecstasy in Ebbsfleet; Tim Flowers men sitting pretty in second". Solihull Observer. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  24. Tyler, Ben (15 April 2019). "Moors' title hopes alive and kicking after Wright's winner keeps them in the hunt". Solihull Observer. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  25. "Cheltenham Town striker Danny Wright names baby boy after his Robins playing number". Gloucestershire Echo. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  26. "Games played by Daniel Wright in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  27. "Games played by Daniel Wright in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  28. "Games played by Daniel Wright in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  29. "Games played by Daniel Wright in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  30. "Games played by Daniel Wright in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  31. "Games played by Daniel Wright in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  32. "Games played by Daniel Wright in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  33. "Games played by Daniel Wright in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  34. "Games played by Daniel Wright in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  35. "Games played by Daniel Wright in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  36. "Games played by Daniel Wright in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  37. "Games played by Daniel Wright in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  38. "Games played by Daniel Wright in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  39. "Games played by Daniel Wright in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
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