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Ian Wright was seen as a major signing when he
joined the club on a free transfer from Hereford United in the
summer of 2003. A player with extensive experience in both the
Football League and the Conference, he was seen as the type of
player that the Brewers needed to help consolidate in their second
season in non-league's top flight. However, you had to question why
a player that had been such a key member of Hereford's success was
being allowed to leave. It only took two games for Albion fans to
find out though. After scoring on his debut in the opening game of
the 2003/04 season, Wright suffered an ankle injury in the next game
at home to Shrewsbury Town. It was to be an injury that blighted the
remainder of his time at the club, and restricted him to just 16
starts in his first season.
He played in the famous 4-1 demolition of his
former club at Eton Park in September 2003 and received a rapturous
applause from the visiting fans. He had been a cult figure at Edgar
Street, captaining the side and often finishing the season as the
clubs leading goal scorer, despite playing as a centre half.
His Football League career started out at Stoke
City, before spells at Bristol Rovers and Hull City, before a five
year spell at Hereford.
It was hoped that he would still have a few more
playing years left when he arrived at Eton Park and that he would be
able to help develop the younger players that were bought in for the
start of the 2004/05 season, but only two games into that campaign
his career was in tatters. His ankle problems flared up again, and
despite surgery to try to rectify the injury, he finally had to
admit defeat and had to retire from playing football in November
2004 at just 32 years old.
He made a brief return to the game with
Hednesford Town, but had to call time on his career again in 2007
after suffering a facial injury whilst playing for Chasetown.
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IAN
WRIGHT