David Wright (footballer)

David Wright (born 1 May 1980) is an English former professional footballer and manager who is currently manager of the Norwich City under-18 team.

For other people named David Wright, see David Wright.

David Wright
Personal information
Full name David Wright[1]
Date of birth (1980-05-01) 1 May 1980[2]
Place of birth Warrington, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Norwich City under-18s (manager)
Youth career
0000–1997 Crewe Alexandra
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2004 Crewe Alexandra 211 (3)
2004–2007 Wigan Athletic 45 (0)
2005 → Norwich City (loan) 5 (0)
2007–2010 Ipswich Town 120 (5)
2010–2013 Crystal Palace 51 (0)
2012 → Gillingham (loan) 7 (0)
2013–2014 Colchester United 49 (1)
Total 488 (9)
Teams managed
2015 Maldon & Tiptree
2016 Colchester United (caretaker)
2016 Colchester United U18s
2016– Norwich City U18s
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Wright began his playing career at Crewe Alexandra, where he helped the club to promotion to the First Division in 2002–03 following the club's relegation to the Second Division in the previous season. He went on the make over 200 league appearances for the club. He also played over 100 league games for Ipswich Town between 2007 and 2010, as well as representing Wigan Athletic, Norwich City on loan, Crystal Palace, Gillingham on loan and Colchester United.

In 2013, Wright took on his first coaching role at the Ipswich Town Academy, before taking on a similar role at Colchester while also managing Isthmian League side Maldon & Tiptree in 2015. He left the Jammers in December 2015 to team up with new Colchester United manager Kevin Keen as his assistant. After Keen left by mutual consent in April 2016, Wright took temporary charge of Colchester's penultimate league game of the 2015–16 season. He was then appointed manager of the under-18 team, before moving to Norwich City to take up the same role.

Club career

Crewe Alexandra

Born in Warrington,[2] Wright rose through the youth team ranks at Crewe Alexandra,[3] making his first-team debut for the Railwaymen in August 1997 as a late substitute during a 2–0 away win against Norwich City. He made three First Division appearances during the 1997–98 season,[4] and established himself in the following season, making 20 league appearances and a substitute appearance in the League Cup. He scored his first goal during the 1998–99 season when he netted the opening goal in a 5–1 thrashing of West Bromwich Albion on 5 April 1999.[5]

Wright went on to make 213 league appearances for Crewe in his seven years with the club. On the back of relegation to the Second Division in 2002, Wright helped the club gain immediate promotion back to Division One after finishing in the runners-up spot.[3]

Wigan Athletic

In June 2004, Wright signed for Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee in the region of £250,000.[3] Making 31 Championship appearances in the 2004–05 season, he again experienced promotion, on this occasion to the Premier League.[6] However, Wright found himself out of favour in his second season, and having not made a league appearance, he joined Norwich City on a one-month loan deal in November 2005.[7]

Wright made five appearances for the Canaries before returning to Wigan.[8] Following his loan spell, Wright made his Premier League bow for the Latics, replacing Leighton Baines at left back after 66 minutes in what ended as a 3–0 home defeat to Blackburn Rovers on 31 December 2005.[9] He made one further appearance in the 2005–06 season, starting in an away game at Birmingham City two days after his last appearance. Wigan were defeated 2–0 as Wright played the full 90 minutes.[10]

The 2006–07 season saw Wright make 12 Premier League appearances.[11] Wright played his final game for Wigan on New Year's Day 2007, featuring as a substitute in another 3–0 home defeat to Blackburn.[12]

Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town signed Wright from Wigan in January 2007 on a three-and-a-half year deal.[13] He made his Town debut in a 1–0 defeat to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on 13 January,[14] and in only his second appearance for the club, Wright found himself sent off for handling the ball in Ipswich's 3–2 win over local rivals Colchester United.[15] His only goal of the campaign came in the East Anglian derby against his former side Norwich City, the equalising goal in a 1–1 draw on 22 April.[16]

Wright featured regularly for Town in the 2007–08 season, ending the campaign with 43 appearances in all competitions and scoring two goals;[17] against Bristol City in a 6–0 thrashing[18] and against West Bromwich Albion on New Year's Day 2008.[19]

During the 2008–09 season, although Wright was born in Warrington, England, Scotland and former Ipswich Town manager George Burley was considering selecting Wright for the Scotland national team due to his grandparents Scottish ancestry. However, this never came to fruition.[20][21] Another solid season saw Wright rack up another 36 appearances[22] and score the decisive goal in a 2–1 win against Nottingham Forest on 18 February 2009.[23]

Wright scored the only goal of the game in a match against Derby County on 31 October 2009 to halt manager Roy Keane's winless run of 15 games, in what was the team's first win of the season.[24] Following this, Wright made a further 21 appearances in the 2009–10 season, bringing his total appearance figure for Ipswich to 128 matches.[25]

Crystal Palace

Former Scotland manager George Burley signed Wright for his Crystal Palace side on a two-year contract in June 2010.[26] He made his debut for the Eagles on 14 August 2010 as Palace fell to a 1–0 defeat away at Barnsley.[27] Wright made 29 appearances during the 2010–11 season[28] and made a further 25 appearances in his second season.[29]

Wright played just three games for Palace during the 2012–13 season[30] before joining League Two club Gillingham in September 2012, on loan for one month.[31] He made seven appearances during the spell, and although the club attempted to extend his loan, the deal fell through as it was not confirmed before a 17:00 GMT transfer deadline on 22 November 2012.[32] Following this loan spell, Wright did not make any further appearances for Crystal Palace before leaving the club.[33]

Colchester United

On 25 January 2013, Wright signed for League One club Colchester United on a free transfer.[33] He made his debut for the club in a 2–0 win over Walsall the following day, a win which marked the first points in nine games for the U's.[34]

After ending his first season with Colchester with 12 League One appearances,[30] Wright held down a regular role during the 2013–14 season[35] and scored his first professional goal in four-and-a-half years in Colchester's 4–2 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on 25 March 2014.[36] He signed a new one-year contract with the club on 3 July 2014.[37] After making only three substitute appearances in the 2014–15 season, Wright was released from his Colchester contract by mutual consent on 26 November 2014.[38]

Coaching career

While playing for Colchester United, during the summer of 2013, Wright was appointed Academy coach at nearby Ipswich Town, where he coached players in the under-14, under-15 and under-16 age groups. He continued in his role following his contractual release from Colchester in November 2014.[39] He returned to the coaching set-up at Colchester in June 2015, linking up with the club's academy to work under John McGreal. In a dual-coaching role, the move also saw him named as manager of Isthmian League Division One North side Maldon & Tiptree in a development link-up between the two clubs. His role would see him act as a full-time coach with Colchester, while managing Maldon & Tiptree on a part-time basis. Wright said "I'm very excited about the opportunity and I'm really looking forward to it".[40]

After taking charge of Maldon & Tiptree for 25 games, resulting in ten league wins, five draws and ten defeats, Wright was appointed assistant manager to Kevin Keen at Colchester United on 21 December 2015 following Tony Humes exit from the club. Wright left the Jammers in 14th position in the table.[41] After Keen left by mutual consent on 26 April 2016, Wright was named as caretaker manager for the penultimate game of the 2015–16 season following Colchester's relegation from League One three days earlier.[42] In his first game in charge, he led the club to a 2–2 draw against Barnsley at Oakwell. After Colchester took the lead in the first-half, two Barnsley goals second-half turned the match in the home side's favour, but an equaliser in the eighth minute of stoppage time from Tom Lapslie rescued a point for Wright and his team.[43] John McGreal was named permanent manager on 4 May ahead of Colchester's final game of the season.[44]

Wright was appointed in a new role in May 2016, becoming manager of Colchester's under-18 team.[45]

In November 2016, Wright left Colchester to take up the role of under-18s manager at Norwich City.[46]

Career statistics

Playing statistics
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Crewe Alexandra 1997–98[4] First Division 300000—30
1998–99[5] First Division 2010100—211
1999–2000[47] First Division 4501030—490
2000–01[48] First Division 4202040—480
2001–02[49] First Division 3004000—340
2002–03[50] Second Division 31140104[lower-alpha 1]0401
2003–04[51] First Division 4011020—431
Total 2113120110402383
Wigan Athletic 2004–05[6] Championship 3101000—320
2005–06[8] Premier League 200020—40
2006–07[11] Premier League 1200010—130
Total 4501030—490
Norwich City (loan) 2005–06[8] Championship 500000—50
Ipswich Town 2006–07[11] Championship 1911000—201
2007–08[17] Championship 4121010—432
2008–09[22] Championship 3412000—361
2009–10[25] Championship 2611020—291
Total 12055030—1285
Crystal Palace 2010–11[28] Championship 2801000—290
2011–12[29] Championship 2201020—250
2012–13[30] Championship 100020—30
Total 5102040—570
Gillingham (loan) 2012–13[30] League Two 7000000070
Colchester United 2012–13[30] League One 120000000120
2013–14[35] League One 35100101[lower-alpha 1]0361
2014–15[52] League One 2000001[lower-alpha 1]030
Total 491001020521
Career total 4889200220605369
  1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy

Managerial statistics
As of match played 30 April 2016.[53][54]
Team From To Record
GWDLWin %
Maldon & Tiptree 17 June 2015 21 December 2015 30 11 5 14 036.67
Colchester United (caretaker) 26 April 2016 4 May 2016 1 0 1 0 000.00

Honours
Crewe Alexandra
Wigan Athletic
All honours referenced by:[55][56]

References
  1. "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/01/13 and 31/01/13" (PDF). The Football Association. 31 January 2013. p. 9. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  2. David Wright at Soccerbase
  3. "Wright moves to Wigan". BBC Sport. 28 June 2004. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  4. "Games played by David Wright in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  5. "Games played by David Wright in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  6. "Games played by David Wright in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  7. "Canaries swoop for Wigan defender". BBC Sport. 17 November 2005. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  8. "Games played by David Wright in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  9. "Wigan 0–3 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  10. "Birmingham 2–0 Wigan". BBC Sport. 2 January 2006. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  11. "Games played by David Wright in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  12. "Wigan 0–3 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 1 January 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  13. "Ipswich snap up Wright from Wigan". BBC Sport. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  14. "Sunderland 1–0 Ipswich". BBC Sport. 13 January 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  15. "Ipswich 3–2 Colchester". BBC Sport. 20 January 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  16. "Norwich 1–1 Ipswich". BBC Sport. 22 April 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  17. "Games played by David Wright in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  18. "Ipswich 6–0 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 10 November 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  19. "Ipswich 2–0 West Brom". BBC Sport. 1 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  20. Lomax, Andrew (14 December 2008). "Scotland to watch Ipswich defender David Wright". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  21. "Burley to check Wright's ancestry". BBC Sport. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  22. "Games played by David Wright in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  23. "Ipswich 2–1 Nottm Forest". BBC Sport. 18 February 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  24. "Ipswich 1–0 Derby". BBC Sport. 31 October 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  25. "Games played by David Wright in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  26. "Crystal Palace swoop for defender David Wright". BBC Sport. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  27. "Barnsley 1–0 Crystal Palace". BBC Sport. 14 August 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  28. "Games played by David Wright in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  29. "Games played by David Wright in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  30. "Games played by David Wright in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  31. "Gillingham sign Crystal Palace's David Wright on loan". BBC Sport. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  32. "Gillingham: Bid for Crystal Palace's David Wright falls through". BBC Sport. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  33. "David Wright leaves Crystal Palace to join Colchester". BBC Sport. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  34. "Colchester 2–0 Walsall". BBC Sport. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  35. "Games played by David Wright in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  36. "Wolves 4–2 Colchester". BBC Sport. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  37. "Colchester United: Josh Thompson and David Wright sign deals". BBC Sport. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  38. Marston, Carl (26 November 2014). "David Wright leaves Colchester United". Green'Un. Ipswich. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  39. "Academy Coach Wright Returns to Colchester". TWTD. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  40. Waldron, Jonathan (17 June 2015). "Wright returns to U's and lands Maldon and Tiptree manager role". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  41. Harris, Matt (21 December 2015). "Colchester United name Maldon & Tiptree boss David Wright as assistant manager to Kevin Keen". Essex Chronicle. Chelmsford. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  42. "Kevin Keen: Colchester United manager parts company with club". BBC Sport. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  43. "Barnsley 2–2 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  44. "John McGreal: Colchester United appoint under-21 boss as first-team coach". BBC Sport. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  45. Waldron, Jonathan (17 May 2016). "Wayne Brown appointed as Colchester United's new under-21 manager". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  46. Marston, Carl (8 November 2016). "David Wright leaves Colchester United for Norwich City". Green'Un. Ipswich. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  47. "Games played by David Wright in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  48. "Games played by David Wright in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  49. "Games played by David Wright in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  50. "Games played by David Wright in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  51. "Games played by David Wright in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  52. "Games played by David Wright in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  53. "Fixtures And Results". Maldon & Tiptree FC. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  54. "David Wright". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  55. "League One (Tier Three) Honours". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  56. "Championship Honours (Tier Two)". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
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