Wolves legend Billy Wright is to have a tram named after him following an overwhelming public vote, transport bosses confirmed today.
The former England captain, who was never booked throughout his career, won 90 per cent of the vote after a coupon was printed in the Express & Star shortlisting local figures deserving of the honour.
He beat competition from Great Barr’s Francis Asbury and Walsall’s Jerome K Jerome for the honour in a vote organised by public transport body Centro.
Evangelist preacher Asbury pooled four per cent of the vote while author Jerome won six per cent.
The tram will be officially re-named on May 13 and one lucky voter, Derek Horton from Stafford, whose name was pulled out of the hat, will get to drive the newly-christened vehicle.
At the ceremony will be the late defender’s daughter Vicky and granddaughter Kelly, aged 14.
Proud Miss Wright, who followed in her mother Joy Beverley’s footsteps to become a singer, said: “Whenever we visit Wolverhampton we are always overwhelmed with the feeling the city still has for my father when you remember that he died in 1994.
“To me he was just a lovely, wonderful father but we are so proud that he is going to be commemorated in this way.”
The idea to put Billy Wright’s name on a tram followed a debate through the letters page of the Express & Star when a reader from Tettenhall put it to Phil Bateman, corporate affairs director for the Midland Metro, through one of his weekly transport columns in the newspaper.
Peter Creed, honorary secretary of the Wolves Former Players’ Association, kicked off the campaign in October last year by publicly calling on Metro chiefs to put Billy Wright’s name on a tram, but Centro decided to put the idea to a vote and more than 200 people responded.
Mr Creed said today: “I am delighted and looking forward to the ceremony.”
Metro bosses have previously named a tram after West Bromwich Albion legend Jeff Astle and a Lord Mayor of Birmingham.
27 Comments
well done the black country, and every footballing fan out there who voted for wolves and england legend billy wright,it will be a honour to see great people like billy wright geoff astle real heroes for local folk,
not some 80k a year councillor we’ve never heard of,it makes ya proud to be a yam yam.
Nice one for Sir Bill.
Well done to Centro a Top bloke like Billy Wright should be honoured.
Too Right, This bloke is a legend.
Really pleased that he got over 90% of the votes it just shows the passion for for football and its hero the black country has
one small point why do we always have to wait till someone dies to appreciate them!
It’s a disgrace that players from the West Midlands rarely get a mention and some like Richards, Little, Brown, Wagstaffe achieve one cap or none at all. Yet people like Carlton Palmer, Wes Brown etc. get a few.
The same thing is happening now Beckham is about to get his 100th cap. Papers are saying that he is not as good as Charlton or Moore. Where is the mention of Billy Wright the first player to get there!
Good news, though I’d prefer it if it was named after Freddy.
All very good, but a tram. The damn things always breaking down and notoriously slow, surley theres a more fitting tribute out there. Still I’ll enjoy the fact that it will be travelling through west brom for all to see
7 - South Bank Genius: you’re no genius, you’re an idiot.
Re 7 - I hope you’re being sarcastic with that one - otherwise show some respect to a true Wolves legend (ie someone who EARNED his status over many years and with countless top-class performances). As much as I like Freddy he is not fit to lace Billy Wright’s boots…
#7 YOU TOTAL IDIOT. BUT I DO FEEL WE SHOULD NAME SOMETHING BETTER TAHN A TRAM AFTER SIR BILL
Long live Sir Billy but it may be another excuse for the WBA cretins in such places as W’bury,Hill Top,Black Lake to hurl stuff at the tram…I’ll stay in my car thanks.
Freddy is a Welsh International, he deserves our respect.
Nice one Centro. I as a Baggie have been advocating
Billy to be named ever since his name was first
mentioned, a true legend, both for Wolves & England,
as for SouthBankPrat.Nuff’said!
7) grow up , your a disgrace to the black country and england.
SouthBank Genius:
BCK 2 SKL 4 U NXT WK
That is a good idea to name a Tram after Billy Wright, what about naming one after Steve Bull or Andy Grayfrpm the 80’s.
Nice one centro.. What a legend!!! get some more of the regions sporting legends on them..South bank Genius keep your stupid comments to yourself… Come on the Wolves
Geoff Thomas was very pleased they named that tank engine after him too…
Happy_baggie A bit of a childish joke i think, dont you.
A legend of the game of football. Unfortunatley I never met BW but I’m sure what he did was for the love of football not money. I say fantastic a great acolade. I bet all his team mates were the same to, be it club football or international football. Lets remember them all by raising a glass to their profesionalism and dedication. Good health a long may you all be remembered.
7.Southbank Genius.You must have fallen out of your tree.We now know you are nuts calling yourself a genius.
“Eastwood is no Billy Wright”
WHY DID IT NEED A VOTE ? Great news by the way !!!
Post 19. What a prize prat. I hope you never get cancer. That comment is on a par with TerryWalsall or Wembley. It borders on the pathetic. Typical Sandwell sado.
BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t think that any of the trams running on the metro these days deserves the name of such a legend. They all should be named after the councillors that are just as useless.
Mick [a regular user, nee victim of the metro]
12-don’t tar them all with the same brush, I live in one of the area’s mentioned and was born in wednesbury,although I er!! dislike the baggies they know a true gent and giant when they see one and will respect that.