Lanley Interiors
 
 

ADVERTISING

Chesterfield Post advertising
 

Chesterfield Post advertising

 

Chesterfield Town FC News

The Tommy Wright Interview -
"The Desire Is Still There!"


Monday 15th April 2013

by Dan O'Toole

The Tommy Wright Interview - The Desire Is Still There!Reflecting on a successful playing career spanning over almost 20 years, Chesterfield Assistant Manager Tommy Wright revealed to Lady Manner's student Dan O'Toole for The Chesterfield Post, what he thinks makes a top manager, why young players don't make it and shared his career highlights so far. 

Wright, (left) scorer of 86 goals in 455 professional appearances, was born into a family with an impressive background in football; his father, Tommy Snr, was a Scottish International, highly regarded at Sunderland and his uncle, Jackie Sinclair, spent a period on loan at Saltergate in 1973 from Sheffield Wednesday after a successful spell at Newcastle United.

With such a strong background in the sport, it was inevitable Wright would emulate his father's achievements.

You can listen to Dan's interview with Tommy Wright here or read the transcription below...




Of his family's influence on his career, Wright said...

"To be fair I think sometimes it's in the genes when you follow in your parents' footsteps. I was never forced to play, but from the earliest stage possible, I remember that's all we did in Scotland.

"It was basically football everyday, nine to five. It was something I just wanted to do."

Wright's passion for football continued to flourish, and he was spotted by Leeds United's senior Scottish scout as a 16 year old, moving to Elland Road in 1982. 

The 47 year old recalled his fortune in being at Leeds at a time when the Yorkshire club possessed so much young talent...
"Fortunately, I was at Leeds and we had a lot of young players who got in the team at the same time; John Sheridan, Denis Irwin, Scott Sellars, Neil Aspin, there were about four or five of us who got in in the space of a 12 month period. 

"We worked under a great manager in Eddie Gray, he gave us a chance and luckily enough. I took the chance."

The goal-scoring winger was handed his first team debut by Gray at the tender age of 17 in front of almost 25,000 at home to Fulham in 1983, and soon gained popularity amongst the fans at Elland Road as leading goal scorer in '84 and '85.

Wright attributed his desire and that of his dig-sharing young teammates, most notably John Sheridan and Denis Irwin, to breaking into the first team; an element which he believes has diminished slightly in the young players of today.

Having worked as youth team coach at Oldham during John Sheridan's tenure at Boundary Park, Wright has a wealth of experience in dealing with the transition of youth players.
"I think it's a bit more easy now [for young players], we used to be treated a bit harsher at times and it was a bit more regimental; we had to do a lot more jobs.

Has the desire changed?
"Sometimes I think the desire maybe has changed, a lot of the young players I look at now don't seem to have that desire.

"The ones who do seem to have that desire like the Tendayi Darikwas and the Craig Clays are still playing professional football, that's compliment to them, I do notice sometimes that the desire in younger players now is not as great as it was when I was younger."

After a prolonged absence from Leeds side due to a hernia injury and the introduction of former captain Billy Bremner as manager following Gray's controversial dismissal, Wright was sold to Oldham for what many considered to be a bargain £80,000 in 1986.

In what some may perceive to be a set back in a career, Wright recalled his delight in the interest from Oldham under manager Joe Royle, where other players from Leeds had been sold too, as Bremner looked to build a team of more experienced players...
"No ,it wasn't really [a set back], I'd had a bad injury and sometimes as a player you can tell when you're not wanted or rated. There were a couple of my friends who had gone that way, Andy Ritchie, Denis Irwin and Andy Linighan and they had a wonderful manager in Joe Royle.

"It was an opportunity that came along and I wanted to be somewhere where I was wanted and Joe Royle made me very wanted, it was a good move for me."

After a three year spell at Boundary Park, scoring 23 times in 112 appearances, Wright moved to Leicester during manager David Pleat's tenure at Filbert Street...
"I went to Leicester and I had a good time there. The first year I went there I didn't do so well, it was difficult but the second season I came through and scored a lot of goals.

"We just missed out on the play-offs at Wembley to go into the Premier League, but on the back of that, I got a move to the Premier League with Middlesbrough.

"I had good times at Leicester, they're a fantastic club with fantastic support and I had a good relationship with the people there and I did enjoy my time there."

Working under well respected managers - notably Gray, Royle and David Pleat, a manager he gave particular praise for having "a fantastic knowledge of football" - Wright was able to discover what really makes a top manager, and interestingly claimed that the best are not necessarily those who played to a high level...
"You look at the top managers in the world now and you take probably Guardiola and Capello out of that equation as they are the only two who have been top players.

"It's because they [top managers] had to educate themselves. They had to go there because they weren't great players; they had to take the time to watch how people train and how people think, the psychology of football and the fitness of football."

The desire to further educate himself has contributed to Wright's own managerial ascent...

"I think, over the last four or five years, I've really studied, I've worked extremely hard - obviously you have to get your coaching badges - but in other ways such as watching DVDs and reading books.

"The best coaches now are probably the best educated coaches, not necessarily the best as players in their careers but they are the best educated."

Wright has spent just under four years at Chesterfield since arriving with John Sheridan in 2009 and his stint at the club has delivered a league-winning promotion and a Wembley cup win, with another trip to Wembley in the play-offs still a slight possibility.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


For more information and other CFC news, go to www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk

RECENT STORIES

'BLUES ON THE MOVE' PRIZE WINNERS FOR WEEK 50 -
Week 50 results. Check the Chesterfield Post every week to see if you're a winner or to join in! More...

RICHARDS BATTERS COD ARMY. RICHARD STACEY'S MATCH REPORT -
Two goals from Marc Richards after Gnanduillet had opened the scoring, helped the Spireites to all three points on their first ever visit to the Highbury Stadium in Fleetwood More...

PAUL COOK INTERVIEW - HOPING TO NET WIN AGAINST THE COD ARMY -
It may be the penultimate game of the season and the last away game as Paul Cook and his team travel to Fleetwood this weekend, but that doesn't mean that anyone is 'demob' happy. More...

PILGRIMS PROGRESS AS SPIREITES STUMBLE.
MATCH REPORT -

It was the first visit to the Proact by Plymouth Argyle and the first time former Sprieites Boss John Sheridan had returned to the ground where he had overseen a Championship and JPT winning side. More...

'BLUES ON THE MOVE' PRIZE WINNERS FOR WEEK 49 -
Week 49 results. Check the Chesterfield Post every week to see if you're a winner or to join in! More...

CHESTERFIELD STILL 'GAME ON' FOR PLAY OFFS. DAVE DOVE'S MATCH PREVIEW -
Chesterfield had a slim chance of making the play-offs before Saturday's game against Bradford City. More...

CHESTERFIELD FC TO REVIEW CCTV FOOTAGE FROM BRADFORD GAME -
Chesterfield officials will review CCTV footage from Saturday's game at home to Bradford City after several fans entered the field of play. More...

THE PAUL COOK INTERVIEW - PREVIEW OF PLYMOUTH AND THE PLAYOFFS -
It's still very much 'game on' for Chesterfield's play off hopes, as the Spireites welcome former boss John Sheridan to the PROACT tonight with Plymouth Argyle. More...

TOGWELL'S LAST MINUTE EQUALISER CLIPS BANTAM'S WINGS -
An injury time equaliser prolonged Chesterfield's play-off ambitions in a four-goal thriller against promotion rivals Bradford City at the Proact More...

THE PAUL COOK INTERVIEW - HE PREVIEWS BRADFORD AND MORE -
Once again, Spireites Boss Paul Cook spoke to the Chesterfield Post ahead of what may prove to be a pivotal game against Bradford City on Saturday.
More & Audio...

SPIREITES HOPE TO RULE THE ROOST AS BANTAM'S COME TO TOWN. PREVIEW -
Chesterfield FC's season is still very much alive for the fixture against Bradford City at the Proact Stadium on Saturday. Dave Dove's Match Preview. More...

'BLUES ON THE MOVE' PRIZE WINNERS FOR WEEK 48 -
Week 48 results. Check the Chesterfield Post every week to see if you're a winner or to join in! More...

SPIREITES' ABSENTEES EXPLAINED -
Spireites CEO Chris Turner has revealed a breakdown in contract talks with Armand Gnanduillet and Richard Brindley led to the pair being left out of the squad for Saturday's trip to Barnet More...

SPIREITES' BUZZING AFTER BEATING BEES. MATCH REPORT -
The Spireites play-off hopes are still very much alive after a crucial win on their last ever visit to Underhill before Barnet move to their new ground The Hive for next season. More...

THE PAUL COOK INTERVIEW - BARNET AWAY AND MORE -
With only 5 games left of the 2012 /13 campaign there is, Manager Paul Cook says, still 'much to play for' More & Audio...

COOK'S MEN AIM TO TAKE STING OUT OF THE BEES. MATCH PREVIEW -
Chesterfield travel to Barnet this weekend looking to build on an Easter weekend that saw the Spireites take a respectable 4 points from a possible 6 against tough opposition. More...

VALE EQUALISER SINKS CHESTERFIELD. MATCH REPORT -
Chesterfield squandered the opportunity to reduce the gap to the final play-off place to four points as Port Vale grabbed a late equaliser in a thrilling encounter at the Proact. More...

'BLUES ON THE MOVE' PRIZE WINNERS FOR WEEK 47 -
Week 47 results. Check the Chesterfield Post every week to see if you're a winner or to join in! More...

SPIREITES' HOPES FOR SEASON'S RESURRECTION CONTINUE TODAY -
Drew Talbot's 25 yard screamer against Burton ensured both teams still have something to play for this season as Chesterfield face Port Vale at home today - Easter Monday. More...

TALBOT STRIKE GIVES BREWERS HANGOVER. MATCH REPORT-
Drew Talbot earned the Spireites a well deserved three points at promotion chasing Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium. More...

THE PAUL COOK INTERVIEW - BURTON PREVIEW AND MORE -
It's a tricky away fixture for the Spireites first up this Easter weekend, as they make the relatively short trip to Burton to face Gary Rowett's promotion chasing squad. Listen & Read More...

SPENCERS SOLICITORS SPONSOR COMMUNITY EAST STAND -
Chesterfield FC will kick-off next season with new Community East Stand sponsorship from Spencers Solicitors.
More...

'BLUES ON THE MOVE' PRIZE WINNERS FOR WEEK 46 -
Week 46 results. Check the Chesterfield Post every week to see if you're a winner or to join in! More...

THE PAUL COOK INTERVIEW - PLYMOUTH GAME AND LESTER LEAVING -
It's been a seminal week at the PROACT - defeat at the hands of Torquay and the surprising news yesterday of Jack Lester's departure from Chesterfield at the end of the season. More...

JACK LESTER TO LEAVE SPIREITES - INTERVIEW WITH THE VETERAN STRIKER -
There was only one story in town on Thursday - after Jack Lester announced that he will be leaving Chesterfield FC at the end of the season and we have an interview with the Spireites' favourite. More...

CHESTERFIELD FC'S PLAY OFF HOPES 'FLY AWAY' AFTER GULLS DEFEAT -
A disappointing result at Plainmoor on Tuesday night has all but put paid to Chesterfield's well-documented play off hopes. More...

THE PAUL COOK INTERVIEW. THE SPIREITES' BOSS PREVIEWS TORQUAY -
The Spireites are waking up in Torquay this morning - ahead of tonight's rearranged fixture at Plainmoor. More...

'BLUES ON THE MOVE' PRIZE WINNERS FOR WEEK 45 -
Week 45 results. Check the Chesterfield Post every week to see if you're a winner or to join in! More...

SPIREITES DO A 'U' TURN FROM OXFORD WITH ALL 3 POINTS. MATCH REPORT -
A goal from recalled striker Marc Richards after just five minutes clinched all three points for the Spireites at Oxford's rain-drenched Kassam Stadium More...

THE PAUL COOK INTERVIEW - "WE'RE NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE" -
Spireites boss Paul Cook speaks to The Chesterfield Post about Saturdays trip to Oxford Utd and news on injuries. More...

WATTS NAMED CHESTERFIELD FC EVENT MANAGER -
Chesterfield FC announces Paul Watts has been named as the events manager at the PROACT stadium. More...

GOING FOR A BURTON? -
Following the success of the matchday package for Chesterfield's game at Rotherham last month, a similar initiative has been planned for the trip to Burton Albion at the end of this month. More...

'BLUES ON THE MOVE' PRIZE WINNERS FOR WEEK 44 -
Week 44 results. Check the Chesterfield Post every week to see if you're a winner or to join in! More...

SPIREITES TURN ON THE GAS. DAN O'TOOLE'S MATCH REPORT -
Chesterfield put their goal drought to an end after a convincing 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers, with Jay O'Shea and Armand Gnanduillet on target for the Spireites. More...

THE PAUL COOK INTERVIEW - COOK ON GAS! SPIREITES v BRISTOL ROVERS -
Back to the PROACT for the Spireites on Saturday as they face a resurgent Bristol Rovers, Boss Paul Cook gives us his views More & Audio...

SPIREITES STEP ON THE GAS. DAVE DOVE'S MATCH PREVIEW -
Bristol Rovers are the visitors to the Proact Stadium on Saturday to face a Chesterfield side now virtually consigned to at least another season in League 2. More...

A POINTLESS TRIP TO CHELTENHAM FOR THE SPIREITES -
As they left behind a foggy Chesterfield, Paul Cook's squad were clear about what they had to do at Whaddon Road - bring back 3 points. More...

BELGIAN SPIREITES PUT SOME 'OOO-LA-LA' INTO DAGGERS GAME -
The Belgian Spireites were out in force again at Dagenham last Saturday and it's probably fair to say they have a new hero. More...

THE PAUL COOK INTERVIEW: ROBINS v SPIREITES PREVIEW -
After picking up 3 points away at Dagenham and Redbridge, Paul Cook's Chesterfield squad travel to Whaddon Road to take on Cheltenham tonight. More...

SPIREITES BLUNT THE DAGGERS. MATCH REPORT BY RICHARD STACEY -
The Spireites ended their recent poor run of form by bagging their first away win of 2013 with a hard working 1-0 victory against Dagenham and Redbridge. More...

'BLUES ON THE MOVE' PRIZE WINNERS FOR WEEK 43 -
Week 43 results. Check the Chesterfield Post every week to see if you're a winner or to join in! More...

PAUL COOK - SPIREITES HOPE TO RUN THROUGH THE DAGGERS -
Going 3 games without scoring a goal is something Paul Cook is hoping to remedy as his team travel to Dagenham's Victoria Road ground this weekend. More...

GAFFER PAUL COOK IS HOPING TO CALL THE 'SHOTS' AT THE PROACT TONIGHT -
The defeat at home to Gillingham on Saturday leaves the Spireites firmly rooted in mid-table, nine points adrift of the play-offs with only 13 games left to play More...

THE PAUL COOK INTERVIEW - LET'S BEAT ALDERSHOT! -
Spireites' gaffer Paul Cook was in reflective mood as he spoke to the Chesterfield Post ahead of tonight's game against Aldershot. More...

'SHARED SHIRTS' BRING HOPE TO TSUMEB -
2013 sees Chesterfield and Tsumeb celebrate the 20th anniversary of their twinning partnership and there are many activities planned to help focus on the milestone. More...

'BLUES ON THE MOVE' PRIZE WINNERS FOR WEEK 42 -
Week 42 results. Check the Chesterfield Post every week to see if you're a winner or to join in! More...

COOK'S MEN CRUMBLE AGAINST LEADERS, THE GILLS. MATCH REPORT -
A fifth loss in 2013 for Paul Cook's frustrated Spireites, saw hopes for a play-off place take another blow, losing 1-0 at home to Gillingham More...

SPIREITES BRING IN TWO ON LOAN -
Chesterfield FC have confirmed today, they have secured the loan signings of young Manchester City winger Alex Henshall and Barnsley midfielder Jordan Clark. More...

THE PAUL COOK INTERVIEW - WE HAVE A PLAN GOING FORWARD -
With Manager Paul Cook admitting that this is a pivotal few days for Chesterfield's play off hopes, he and his team prepare to play League Two leaders Gillingham this weekend. More...

SPIREITES HOPE TO BREATHE LIFE INTO THEIR SEASON AGAINST GILLS -
With 2 vital home games in the space of 4 days, anything less than 6 points will surely extinguish any hopes of the Spireites making the play-offs? More...

COMMUNITY TRUST HOSTS SUCCESSFUL PRE-MILLERS BRUNCH AT THE PROACT -
An innovative event at the Proact ahead of Saturday's Rotherham clash - gave supporters the chance to take a trip down Memory Lane, before travelling to the game More...

 

 

Related Tags

Chesterfield FC Website



News   Community   Sport   Offers & Events   Leisure / Reviews   Public Services
Chesterfield Cranes