281: Alan Wright, Aston Villa, Panini Football Sticker Album, The Official PFA Collection, A-Z of ALL the Top Players from All the Top Teams in ‘97

Today Emlyn Jones takes a look at one of the few footballers I could actually look down on in a literal sense although his significant achievements on the pitch make the metaphorical impossible. On top of his supposed physiological disadvantages today’s subject also had to spend a decent amount of his career being mistaken for his team mate Mark Draper although, as he pointed out in the questionable quote attached to this sticker, Draper was taller. Over to Emlyn.

To provide some context to this introduction, I am 6’ 7”. I also very regularly have this pointed out to me. The answers are that I was not good at basketball at school, the weather up here is broadly identical and I can't just lean over and place darts into a dartboard. The last one in this list is one I keep count of in my head; so far there hasn't been a single week in the past six months where I've turned up to play for my pub team and an onlooker or opponent hasn't made that joke. Despite this, I wouldn't change my height. Alright, my knees always hurt and I've hit my head more times than is probably ideal, but all the fun things are on the top shelves.

Quite often, a player's build will dictate to some extent where they are likely to play, although notable exceptions do exist. It's unusual for a goalkeeper to be under six foot, but this didn't stop 5’ 7” Steve Death; his record of not conceding a goal for over a thousand minutes stood for almost thirty years until Edwin van der Sar finally broke it in 2009. Brian Flynn was regularly told he was too small to make the grade but went on to play for his country, scoring a towering header past the Brazilian defence; and Lionel Messi had to be pumped full of growth hormone in his teens in order to make the grade. Despite these rare exceptions, however, if you're a short arse – you're probably playing full back mate.

Alan Wright was born in Lancashire, and played youth football with Blackpool. A skilful defender, his height of 5’ 4” meant he was never likely to be an aerial threat, and he made 98 appearances for the senior team over three seasons at left back. Blackburn Rovers had begun to spend serious money to build their squad, and manager Kenny Dalglish identified Wright as a target, confident the player could make the leap from the fourth tier to the top level. Moving for £500,000, he was a regular for several seasons, however, the club began to splash yet more of Jack Walker's cash and following two hernia operations, he lost his place in the side to England player and star of The Fast Show's ‘It's a Right Royal Cockney Barrel of Monkeys’, Graeme Le Saux. Seeking first team football, Wright moved on to Aston Villa in 1995, leaving just months before Rovers sealed the title, though his four appearances would have seen him join Bobby Mimms in not being deemed worthy of a medal.

Wright's time at Villa was much more successful as he would spend eight years with the club racking up 260 appearances. Many of these games were at the highest level; Wright remains third on the list of most European appearances for the Villans. He also occasionally contributed goals specialising in twatting them in from the edge of the box. His first for the club, against Middlesbrough, is a great example. He also played as Villa won the League Cup, and was also in the side for the 2000 FA Cup final, though Chelsea would ultimately be victorious. By 2003, youngster Jlloyd Samuel's emergence had restricted his game time, and he was allowed to join Middlesbrough on a free – leaving as a much loved Villa legend.

Wright's time at Boro wasn't a success, making only two appearances before being loaned to Sheffield United in October and then signing permanently in the following January. He was able to contribute to solid performances in the Championship but played fewer games the following season and went on a number of loans, to Derby County, Leeds United, Cardiff City, Doncaster Rovers and Nottingham Forest, playing 27 games in total between these stints before being released at the end of the 2006/07 season. I don't know if it's any kind of record but starting games for five different clubs in a single season is pretty bloody impressive to me. He then played a couple of seasons each as a regular for first Cheltenham Town, then Fleetwood Town, before retiring in 2011. He then held various coaching roles, including a spell managing Southport, and currently works within the Manchester City academy.

Over 600 senior games and a League Cup win is a fairly decent return for a career, and certainly not bad for a player many would have deemed too small to make the grade. Wright was held in high esteem by the fans of the clubs he played for, being fondly remembered by Villa fans, earning the nickname 'The Mighty Atom'. He was also inducted into Blackpool's hall of fame when it opened in 2006. Fair to say then, that he didn't let his height hold him back. Just maybe don't send him down the shops to pick up some jazz mags.