Billy Wright (footballer, born 1962)

Billy Wright (born 4 November 1962) is a former footballer who played as a striker. His senior career included stints with Burnley F.C. (England), Dundalk (Ireland) as well as National Soccer League clubs Blacktown City Demons, West Adelaide and Morwell Falcons. Born in England, he represented the New Zealand national team at international level.

Wright was perhaps best known for his three separate stints with the Morwell Falcons - first joining the club in 1989, where he played a pivotal role in a dynamic partnership with Croatian striker Darko Basara. The pair combined for 19 league goals as the Falcons broke through for their second Victorian state championship in six years. He also hit a memorable hat-trick in just 24 minutes against Maribyrnong Polonia in the second round of the Dockerty Cup.

He then signed for West Adelaide - the very club who defeated Morwell for promotion to the National Soccer League in 1989. He would rejoin Morwell in 1992 for their debut in the National Soccer League and played a pivotal role as the Falcons went within a point of making the finals in just their season season in the top flight. He would come back to the Latrobe Valley in 1996 for a final two-year spell, although by then he was in his mid-30s and spent much of his time mentoring future Socceroos international Archie Thompson.

Wright would finish his career in the lower divisions of Victorian football and still remained particularly prolific into his late 30's.

Wright made his full debut for New Zealand in a 2–0 win over Saudi Arabia on 21 June 1988 and ended his international playing career having played 26 times for the All Whites, including 15 A-internationals in which he scored 9 goals, his final official cap being in a 1–0 loss to Australia on 30 May 1993. Wright has since moved to coaching where he has found his calling combining his talent and love of the game with his tough play style.