Stuart Wright
Stuart Wright was born in Stockton Heath, Warrington on 19th March 1950. He was a former soccer player who was on Chester's books before turning to Rugby League with Latchford Albion. At 19 years old Wigan spotted him playing with the Albion and signed the promising winger in October 1969. In his first full season at Central Park, 1970-71 Stuart scored 33 tries to help Wigan win the First Division Championship and Championship Play-off runners Up to St Helens. The following season he picked up a Lancashire Cup winners' medal. A second one followed in the 1973-74 season. Such outstanding wing play was bound to get Stuart Wright noticed and it did. In 1975 he was selected for the England World Championship squad. He scored a try on his England debut in the 27-12 win over New Zealand at Odsal and repeated the feat on his Great Britain debut against France in the 1977 World Cup. However, a serious eye injury during this series. By this time Stuart had changed clubs, after seven years he moved to Widnes for £11,000 in 1976. His impact at Naughton Park was immediate. In 1976-77 he topped the League's try scoring charts with 31 and picked up a second Lancashire Cup winners' medal and Challenge Cup runners up medal. The following season he was again top try scorer with 33 as Widnes won the Division One Championship, the Lancashire Cup and BBC Floodlit Trophy and were runners up in the Premiership Trophy and John Player Trophy. Stuart Wright became only the fifth ever England player to score four tries in a match when he played against Wales, matching the records of Jim Leytham (1905 v. Other Nat.), Stan Moorhouse (1913 v. Wales), P. Norburn (1953 v. Other Nat.) and Keith Fielding (1975 v. France). Widnes' 1984 Challenge Cup success was Stuart?s fifth Wembley appearance with the club and his 19th major cup final. Working as a joiner with Wigan Council, Stuart began to fall victim to a series of playing injuries. He missed out on the 1977 tour because of a broken collar bone and dislocated his shoulder for the tenth time in March 1983, forcing him out of the game for a year. In February 2004 BBC Rugby League correspondent, Ray French was asked to pick his top ten tries of all time. At number four he selected Stuart Wright's try for Widnes against Wakefield in 1979 saying: "A try from Widnes winger Stuart Wright in the 60th minute allowed the Chemics, as they were then known, to take a firm grip of this Cup final. Having received a pass from David Eckersley deep inside his own half, Wright powered through the Trinity defence before kicking the ball to the corner. Wakefield winger Steve Diamond could not catch him and, following a thrilling chase for the ball, Wright was able to touch down for a very important try. Mick Burke's conversion from the touchline put Widnes 7-0 in front and on their way to a deserved victory."