Alex Wright (footballer, born 1897) explained

Alex Wright
Fullname:Alexander Wright
Birth Date:25 May 1895
Birth Place:Aberdeen, Scotland
Death Date:29 July 1968 (aged 73)
Death Place:Edinburgh, Scotland
Height:[1]
Position:Half-back
Youthclubs1:Aberdeen Boys Brigade
Years1:1913–1922
Clubs1:Aberdeen East End
Years2:1913–1922
Clubs2:Aberdeen
Caps2:126
Goals2:8
Years3:1922–1927
Clubs3:Heart of Midlothian
Caps3:128
Goals3:3
Years4:1927–1928
Clubs4:Morton
Caps4:11
Goals4:1
Years5:1928–1931
Clubs5:Queen of the South
Caps5:84
Goals5:12
Totalcaps:349
Totalgoals:24
Nationalyears1:1922[2]
Nationalteam1:Scottish League XI
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Manageryears1:1928–1931
Managerclubs1:Queen of the South

Alexander Wright was a Scottish football player and manager who played as a half back for Aberdeen, Heart of Midlothian, Greenock Morton and Queen of the South.[3]

Playing career

Wright began playing with Aberdeen when he was only 16. He remained at the Dons until 1922, captaining the side in his latter years at the club. He was regarded as one of the best half backs in Scotland and gained representative honours when he played for the Scottish League against the English League. He made 143 appearances and scored 11 goals for the club. During the First World War he served with the Gordon Highlanders and Royal Engineers. When serving in London he also appeared at Millwall.

Wright joined Heart of Midlothian for an estimated fee of £2500 in 1922 – a record fee for an Aberdeen player at the time – [4] and remained a prominent figure in Scottish football. For three successive seasons, he played in the annual East v West trial for the Scotland national team. Wright spent five seasons with Hearts.[4] [5]

Wright joined Morton in 1927 for a fee of £800.[4]

Managerial career

On 1 June 1928 when aged 31, he was interviewed by the Board of Directors from which he was announced as starting immediately as the first Secretary Manager of the Dumfries club, Queen of the South. He filled three roles at the club as he also signed himself as a player. In his first season, he was sent off when playing away in a 2-0 defeat at Albion Rovers on 24 November.[4] He was at Palmerston Park until 1931.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club[6] [7] SeasonLeagueScottish CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aberdeen1913-14Scottish Division One11020130
1914-15------
1915-1661--61
1916-1710--10
1917-18Aberdeen withdrew from competitive football due to the First World War
1918-19
1919-2042241463
1920-2126340303
1921-2240261463
Total126816214210
Hearts of Midlothian1922-23Scottish Division One33120351
1923-2428050330
1924-2524000240
1925-2636050410
1926-27720072
Total12831201403

Notes and References

  1. http://www.afcheritage.org/Team/CurrentSquad/player_show.cfm?player_id=29 Alex Wright
  2. http://www.londonhearts.com/SFL/players/alexwright.html (SFL player) Alex Wright
  3. A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players. John Litster. Scottish Football Historian magazine. October 2012.
  4. "The Queens", page 38, Iain McCartney, Creedon Publications, 2004
  5. https://www.londonhearts.com/scores/newplayers/h00936.html (Hearts player) Alex Wright
  6. Web site: Aberdeen Football Club Heritage Trust - Player Profile . 2023-04-12 . afcheritage.org.
  7. Web site: Alex Wright - Hearts Career - from 05 Aug 1922 to 25 Apr 1927 . 2023-04-12 . www.londonhearts.com.
  8. Web site: Queen of the South Manager Alec Wright Details . 2023-04-12 . www.fitbastats.com.