Members News: Former Sky Blue Full Back Is 43 Today: ‘Happy Birthday’, Stephen!!

Posted by · Leave a Comment 

Sky Blue Stephen 2008-09

In the third Sky Blue birthday today we wish to say ‘Many Happy Returns’ to recent CCFPA recruit Stephen Wright who played full back for the Sky Blues for two Championship seasons (2008-10) midway through a sixteen year professional career of nearly 350 games in England and Wales (but only six goals)! The Bootle born (08/02/1980) defender is celebrating his 43rd birthday today. Congrats, Stephen!,

Despite being an Everton supporter, Stephen cut his footballing teeth locally with a youth contract at rivals Liverpool from June 1996 turning pro a year later. He had to wait a while for his Reds’ first team debut in November 2000 after a good loan spell of 23 games at Division One Crewe Alexandra during 1999-2000. Settling on right back as his preferred position Stephen went on to make 21 top flight appearances for the Reds scoring his only Liverpool goal in their UEFA Champions League 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in October 2001.

Stephen Wright in Sky Blue action

With competition for places tough Stephen switched to Sunderland for 2002-03 for a £1.5m plus transfer fee. Winning a reputation as a tough, uncompromising defender won him plaudits despite the Mackems being relegated in Stephen’s first season there and ‘gaffer’ (and consequently now fellow CCFPA member Peter Reid lost his job)! Not always first choice No.2 nevertheless Stephen saw the Black Cats return to the Premier League in 2005-06 only to be relegated straight away. Largely forgotten in the Sunderland reserves Stephen went out for an injury hit loan spell of 17 games to City’s fellow Championship side Stoke City in 2007-08.

At this point Chris Coleman‘s Sky Blues stepped in and signed him on a free after he proved himself on trial in the pre-season friendlies. He signed a two year contract the day before the start of the 2008-09 season, made his debut in our first home game on 9th August 2008 against Norwich City and the following season was offered the captain’s armband!  In two seasons with the Sky Blues Stephen made 62 Sky Blues first team appearances without netting. At the end of the 2009-10 Championship season Stephen was deemed ‘surplus to requirements’ and subsequently released on a free transfer.

Stephen Wirght in the Sky Blue 2009-10

After a trial Brentford offered Stephen a contract at the end of October 2010 but he only made thirteen League One appearances for the Bees in 2010-11 and subsequently the following season signed a short-term deal with Hartlepool Unitef but only got eleven first team outings there before dropping down to play for Conference National side Wrexham in March 2012. In Wales he had some success and by September 2014 when he joined WPL Aberystwyth Town for a season had scored two goals in 59 games.

Staying in the Principality Stephen wound down his playing time with a season each at Rhyl (2015-16) and Denbigh Town (2016-17). After hanging up his boots in 2017 he now works as a coach as part of the Wrexham academy set-up currently working as the Welsh club’s Youth Team Manager.

Stephen Wright & his family

It was great to see Stephen at a recent game at the CBS Arena this season. Have a fantastic day today Stephen and we hope we see you back in Coventry pretty soon!

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.

 

Share Post

Comments

Speak Your Mind

Tell us what you're thinking...


*
= 5 + 8