Wright Gordon Image 1 Hull City 1906

Description

Earlsfield Green, Surrey born outside left Gordon (sometimes known as Ted) Wright attended and played for Cambridge University, earning his blue in 1904-05-06. During and after he assisted several clubs as an amateur, including The Corinthians from 1904 to 1907, and Southern League Portsmouth during 1905-06, where he made 6 Southern League appearances, his debut coming in a 4-0 win over Northampton Town on 30th September 1905. Wright accepted a mastership at Hymers College, and joined Second Division Hull City in April 1906 making his Football League debut that month against West Bromwich Albion, continuing to play for them until 1913, being club captain for 7 seasons, scoring 14 goals in 168 appearances.

He also assisted Southern League Leyton in 1909-10, as well as playing for Worthing in 1913 and Reigate Priory in 1914 before retiring with the onset of the First World War. He won his only full England cap in a 1-0 win against Wales at The Cardiff Arms Park in March 1906 and also went on the F.A. Tour of South Africa in 1910. He first played for the England Amateurs against France in March 1908 and he won a total of 20 caps between 1908 and 1912, also playing for Great Britain in their Stockholm Olympics semi final victory over Finland and winning an Olympic Gold medal, although not selected for the Final when Great Britain beat Denmark.

NB This photograph was taken on 8th January 1906 before an Amateurs v Professionals England trial match played at Craven Cottage, Fulham, which the Professionals XI won 1-0.

Amateurs (white shirts): Back Row – PH Farnfield, JG Witherington, CD McIver, HA Nulton

Middle Row – SH Day, Vivian Woodward, Herbert Smith, SS Harris (captain)

Front Row – EGD Wright, TS Rowlandson, GC Vassall

Professionals (striped shirts): Back Row – Jimmy Ashcroft, Joe Walton, Archie Cross, Peter Chambers

Middle Row – Walter Bull, Fred Blackburn, Riley, Fred Threlfall

Front Row – Arthur “Pat” Collins, Tim Coleman, Fred Harrison