Everyone at Stockport County are saddened to hear of the passing of our former player Ralph Wright, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 72.
A talented schoolboy and youth player, he had been at Spennymoor United before being signed by Norwich City. He came back north to play for Bradford Park Avenue where an ankle injury kept him out of the team for two months. With Bradford failing in their re election to The Football League, he moved to Hartlepool where again injury was to blight his progress. He had the misfortune of breaking an arm, only to return and break the same arm in the same place.
Ralph was 24 when he arrived at Edgeley Park, on a free transfer from Hartlepool United in July 1971. Whilst it was considered a surprise that he had been released, he himself recognised that County were giving him “another chance” and following a season without injury it was soon evident that County had signed a talented player.
A strong central defender, playing in a struggling County team who were to finish in 91st place in the Football League, he was soon earning good reviews, being described as “the find of the season”. Following a number of scouting visits by former County manager Willie Moir, Wright was signed by Third Division Bolton Wanderers for a fee that the Stockpot Advertiser said “would cover all losses for the rest of the season”.
He had made 25 appearances for The Hatters when he left Edgeley Park in Feb 1972.
At Bolton, he was to win a 3rd Division Championship medal before finishing his English League career with Southport.
Like a number of English professionals of the time, Ralph was to go to the USA to play football during the summer. In May 1973 he joined the New York Cosmos, signing for the Cosmos manager (and fellow North Easterner) Gordon Bradley. He said at the time “the whole idea of the American experience excited me, coming over here to help soccer grow in this country, see the United States and make some beer money. Plus, it’s a way to stay in shape for the season back home. All in all, it’s not a bad deal I’d say.”
He later played for three seasons for the Miami Toros, during which he played against former County player Jim Fryatt, who also sadly passed away this week.
His career in America finished with Dallas Tornado before returning to his native North East in 1976.
He continued to play non-League football for a number of teams in the region, including a stint as player manager at Evenwood Town. This brought an end a long career that saw him play for Stockton, Spennymoor Town, Stockport and the New York Cosmos – a group of clubs unlikely to be replicated by any other player.
Despite only being at Edgeley Park for less than a season, his legacy was one that all current County fans can appreciate and be thankful for. His move to Bolton secured County’s immediate financial future at a time in the early seventies when the Club was in severe trouble. We shall never know what impact this had on its destiny.
