BILLY WRIGHT 105 AND FOUR OF THE BEST

Billy got some coverage in 2017.
https://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.com/2017/10/sabrina-plays-up-front.html

Billy Wright, born in Wolverhampton, earned his 100th England cap on April 6th 1959, the same day that he became a dad. His wife, Joy Beverley (see link), gave birth to an 8lb 1oz baby girl, who having been born right at the end of the income tax year, earned the England and Wolves' captain £100 in child rebate allowance. As if he needed it! Married to one of the famous "Beverley Sisters" singing group, 35 year old Billy was a true celebrity, enjoying the glitter of Joy's sisters, Teddy and Babs.

Billy became the first footballer in the world to win a 100 caps (now 353rd in World list) in 12 years and 242 days. Its quite hard to work out ratios but Mohammed Al-Khilaiwi of Saudi Arabia from 1992 earned 163 caps in 8 years 350 days which seems one of the best.Best England Peter Shilton 125 caps in 19 years and 224 days from November 1970.

Billy and Joy became front page news and in some ways were the first "show biz" pair. He maxed on 105 caps finishing in Los Angeles v USA on tour. ALL WRONG! Why not finish his career at Wembley and present Joy (in the middle) to a large crowd?

Wright, from Wolves, was a new international in 1946 when he played in his first England game, a Victory International (held after the war and not considered "Full") against Belgium at Wembley on January 19th. He and his boys kept a clean sheet, winning 2-0, with goals from Brown and Pye.
Other internationals for England that day included: Frank Swift in goal, Laurie Scott, George Hardwick, Neil Franklin, Joe Mercer, Stanley Matthews, Tommy Lawton, Jimmy Mullen, Jessy Pye and RAJ (Bert) "Sailor" Brown.

Any self respecting football fan will know most of the names above except possibly Jessy Pye, from Rotherham (below). He was a prolific goalscorer, totalling in his league career, 284 in 553 appearances. Jessy made his full international appearance v Republic of Ireland on 21st Sept 1949 in a 0-2 defeat at Goodison Park, England's first defeat by a non-home nations opposition and this was his only cap. He later went to Wisbech Town, made over 230 apps and scored 138 goals before retiring to be a landlord (as usual), various sweet shops and he retired to run a hotel in Blackpool (don't they all?).

AND below, Bert "Sailor Brown"!! known as this due to his "rolling gait" and stocky build was born in Great Yarmouth. Only played in six Victory Internationals (scored 4) but made his way round the league teams from 1934-48. He started at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston football clubs, then was in the RAF and guested in the war for Newcastle Utd, West Ham Utd, Millwall, York City, Leicester City, Manchester City, Wolves and East Fife! He played for Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa between 1934-48 and Charlton Athletic, in the FA Cup Final 1946 defeated by Derby C 1-4. Did a spell in management, was a timber merchant, football scout and bookmaker when he stopped playing. Died at the ripe old age of 93 in 2008.

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AND Laurie Scott (below) born in Sheffield and played for Bradford City before making his name with Asenal between 1937-51, the War of course intervened.. He played 115 games for the Arsenal and then joined Crystal Palace as player-manager in 1951 for a season, with little success. He won 17 caps for England just after the war.

After the War Time internationals from 1940, played between England, Wales and Scotland, England played Victory Internationals including France, Switzerland, some friendlies against the Republic of Ireland, Holland, Portugal and others, with the traditional Home International Championship games kicking in September 1946, a Bolton FC Disaster Fund game April 1946 (raising money following a tragic fire at Burden Park) and by 1949, England became involved in World Cup qualifiers against "Home" countries. The World Cup was played in Brazil in 1950........which ended in disaster!