Wright Dave Image 1 Liverpool 1931

Description

Kirkcaldy, Fife, born inside left or centre forward Dave Wright began his football career with Dunniker Juniors in 1922 and played for Raith Rovers in 1923, joining East Fife in 1924, and Cowdenbeath in 1926. In April 1927 he signed for First Division club Sunderland with full back Bill Murray for £8,000, making his Football League debut against Portsmouth the same August, scoring 6 goals in the campaign when he was a regular in a disappointing season for Sunderland. Having lost his place by the start of the following season he played only 10 matches a season for Sunderland over the following two seasons before manager George Patterson signed him for Liverpool in March 1930 after 8 goals in 53 appearances for The Wearsiders.

His debut for The Reds came at Anfield as Liverpool drew 0-0 with Newcastle in a First Division match on 21st April 1930. Wright was originally used as back-up for Jimmy Smith and because of this was called upon just 15 times in his first full season, his first goal coming 10 months later on the 7th February 1931, also against Newcastle at Anfield, Wright scoring a hat-trick in the 4-2 win. The following season was much better for Wright as he began the campaign by scoring 5 goals in the first 4 matches, ending with 13 goals in his 39 starts. Wright followed this up with a 14 goal total from 31 starts during the 1932-33.

Wright began as first choice at the beginning of the 1933-34 season starting in 9 of the first 10 games, however he lost his place to Syd Roberts and although when Roberts couldn’t hold on to the position it was Harold Taylor rather than Wright that got the nod. Wright made exactly 100 appearances for The Reds with his 100th coming on the 31st March 1934 with Derby County the visitors to Anfield for a League game that saw Liverpool gain a 4-2 victory.

Having scored 35 times, Wright left Liverpool joining Hull City in July 1934, scoring 11 goals in 33 appearances during a single season stay at Anlaby Road, after which he went on to join Bradford Park Avenue in May 1935, scoring once in 20 appearances for Park Avenue before retiring in the summer of 1936.

NB the photograph was taken immediately before Liverpool’s match against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on 17th October 1931, a late Gordon Gunson goal sealing a 2-1 Liverpool victory.