A game I went to, remember Wrighty waving out the window with his infectious smile 
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I was there too, Clock End, Row 11, behind the goal. How about you?
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West stand halfway line about 6 rows from the front as I recall, I assume as you remember your row you were/are a season ticket holder?
Exactly right, I was a season ticket holder. That was actually my first season as a season ticket holder, I was only 8 years old so I had a really hard time getting a good view of Tone spanking one into the Everton net to seal the deal, even while standing on my seat 
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I have never even seen his highlight reels but these snippets…damn. He looks like an absolute Maverick.
What was his reputation on global level?
2nd tier probably because of world talent at the time and also not a big international player.
Never played in a major tournament but he was a fantastic player.
If he would of been in the game from 18 he would of been unstoppable.
People have to remember this about Wrighty. He didn’t come from non League football. He came from sunday park football and achieved mega status.
One of the great stories in football this mans.
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As said above if he gets his break a lot earlier then his reputation worldwide woulda been very strong. Have a read of his book if you get a chance. His journey to the top isn’t the usual one.
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I couldn’t put him in an argument with Brazilian Ronaldo for instance at that time.
I could easily put him in one with Lewa or Benzema though.
I used to work for Greenwich young peoples council when I was in college. We had a guy there who was around the same age, maybe a couple years older than Wright. He was personal friends with him, always used to show me pictures of them together and stuff like that.
Said Wright was so good he didn’t even try when he played at that level. He was just absolutely so far ahead of everyone on the pitch he could play at 20% and still standout.
Obviously had a fairytale career in the end. Everyone talks about Vardy, which is a lovely story, but Wright really had no business turning pro from Sunday league football the way he did.
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Only cos Venables was a racist (reportedly)
I don’t know about that tbh. I don’t like throwing that stuff around. Not saying you are btw. Some talent too choose from in 96 with shearer and sheringham starting and the likes of Robbie Fowler on the bench.
Probably makes world cup 98 under Hoddle but for injury.
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I’ve seen it said that him and Vardy have the most PL goals scored after the age of 30, or something very similar. Illustrates the kind of careers they both had, with Vardy being as close as were ever likely to see to such a mental rise from total, utter obscurity in their early twenties.
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Always makes you wonder what else could be out there undiscovered.
I always think how someone from a background like Wrighty wouldn’t have been able to make academies without a supportive parent and his own behaviour issues as a kid.
I mean even in kids football has weekly subs that some haven’t got access too.
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Damn, the weekly subs, that’s a blast from the past. Think it was a quid or similar when I was playing under 11s Sunday League.
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Wrighty attributes a great deal of success to his old PE teacher, Mr. Pigden, as being the only positive male role model in his life who put him on the straight and narrow by giving him responsibilities and duties to do in school like hand out milk to the other kids etc. If he heard he’d misbehaved etc. he wouldn’t let him play football and so on.
There’s a really touching video of Pigden surprising Wrighty and he starts crying.
Longer link:
Has me crying every time lol
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Well worth your audible credit if you fancy the audiobook version too. Doesn’t read it himself but they got a guy who sounds a lot like him.
I don’t disagree with this but I would say during his years here he was equal or superior to any PL striker with the exception of Shearer. Or maybe I’m biased. 
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Peaky Blinders vibes
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Wonder if wrighty feels a bit sick having to cheer a Stoke goal
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