Express & Star

Daughter of Wolves and England legend Billy Wright to tell his stories in stage show

There will be laughs and more than a few tears as the stories of a bona fide Wolverhampton footballing legend and loving father are told again.

Published
Last updated
Vicky Wright (R) said the show was a tribute to a wonderful father

Vicky Wright, daughter of former Wolves and England captain Billy Wright, is set to relaunch a popular stage show that brings the stories of her father to life, and give those in attendance a taste of what the man once described as too small to make it as a professional was really like.

The Billy Wright story will see Ms Wright tell anecdotes about the great man, from being rejected by Wolves initially to then winning every trophy with the club and racking up 105 caps for England, as well as being described as a 1950s David Beckham for his marriage to Joy from the Beverley Sisters.

Ms Wright first performed The Billy Wright Story in September 2019 at Sir Jack's Restaurant in Molineux, with former Wolves players such as John Richards, Kenny Hibbitt and Steve Bull in attendance, and said it had been a wonderful experience.

Sister Babette Woodham and Vicky Wright pose with their father's statue outside Molineux

She said: "I've been a singer all my life with my sister and cousin, following in the footsteps of the Beverley Sisters, but I'd never done anything like this before and I remember being more nervous than I had ever been.

"However, once I started, I got into it and there was so much love in the room as people loved my dad and wanted to celebrate him, and it was just so wonderful.

"I got to the end of the show and everyone stood up to applaud, which really took my breath away, and I remember feeling so proud, not just for myself, but for dad, who the stand was named after and who there is a statue to outside."

Ms Wright said plans to tour the show had fallen through due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but after restrictions had lifted, she decided to set a date for the show to return on October 20 at the Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock.

Billy Wright captained England and won 105 caps for his country

She said it was an opportunity to let people know what a good person her father was.

She said: "He was an incredible example of everything good about being a human being and I know he's my dad, but you can ask anyone about him and you'll never get a bad word said about him.

"He had time for everyone and taught me the values of loyalty and unconditional love and not to be jealous of anyone or let your ego be bigger than others, so I've tried to live with those values."

Ms Wright also said it was a chance for her to tell her daughter Kelly about her grandfather, who died in 1994 aged 70, and said it would be a celebration for everyone in attendance.

He played against some of the great players, such as Ferenc Puskas

She said: "It will be a chance to celebrate Wolverhampton's favourite son and remember everything he did.

"I go to Wolves regularly and see kids running up to the statue and touching his boots, and that just gives me goosebumps as he died nearly 30 years ago, yet they still pay him that tribute."

To find out more about the Billy Wright Story, go to thebillywrightstory.com.