New chapter opens on 50 years of football
A football star is hoping to record his 50 year career in the game - including his experiences with legends such as Bill Shankley and Brian Clough - in a new book.
A football star is hoping to record his 50 year career in the game - including his experiences with legends such as Bill Shankley and Brian Clough - in a new book.
Pat Wright, originally from Oldbury, made more than 700 league appearances for clubs including Birmingham City, Derby County and Shrewsbury, and worked with some of football's most legendary names.
Since finishing his own playing career he has dedicated his life to helping develop some of the brightest talents across the Midlands, including the likes of ex-England and Villa star Lee Hendrie, former Walsall player Ben Davies and a host of other pros and semi-pros.
Now the 67-year-old Warley-born coach wants to share his vast experience of the game in an autobiography.
And there should be no shortage of tales to tell from a career stretching five decades across the globe.
He has now been running the renowned Pat Wright Football Academy since 1980, which has run courses around the world as well as weekly academies at Warley High School and St Francis of Assisi School in Aldridge. The expert coach has also worked with Portsmouth FC and managed and coached at international level with Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.
Pat, of Redhouse Park Road in Great Barr, said he was now in talks with publishers and sports writers to help him put all his experiences down on paper.
"My dream as a kid was to play and be a professional footballer and I played for 22 years. I will be 68 next year so I've been coaching at every level for over 45 years."
He said he took his various qualifications under the guidance of names such as Bobby Robson, Dave Sexton and Bill Shankley.
"I've had some tremendous times and met some tremendous people and I've worked for three of the top men in football in Don Revie, Brian Clough and Jimmy Hill."