G.O.A.T. - Kings Lynn Town

 

 

Mick Wright was born in Moulton, Lincolnshire, played for Newmarket Town. and even had a few trials with West Ham's youth team. He was a rising star by the time he caught the eye of the then Linnets manager Len Richley, who used a Subbuteo board to show his players moves, and joined the Linnets in October 1961 as a centre back at the age of 19. At his playing peak he was earning £25 a week, although his average wage was £12, plus an extra £2 if the Linnets won or £1 for a draw. "I didn't play for the money," he said in his later years. "I played because I loved football, as simple as that. If you wanted to get rich you didn't play for King's Lynn." Bury Football Club were interested in signing him but he was "settled and happy" in Lynn.

Mick Wright, second left, after signing for the Linnets Picture: Archant - Credit: Archant

 

Former Linnets manager Keith Rudd said, "Mr Wright famously scored the winner in the Second Round of the FA Cup against Coventry in 1961 before losing to Everton in the Third Round of the prestigious competition. Mick looked after King's Lynn [FC] when they were in trouble in the 1970s and he was never booked, which as a centre-half and winger was not easy to do." He held the British record for the most appearances for a single club of 1,152 games. Primarily a wing-half, he played for Lynn in every position – including in goal. In his time playing for the club, he never received a single yellow card as he made 424 consecutive appearances from the 30th of April 1962 to the 30th of November 1968, a British record. A ruptured spleen ended his record-breaking injury-free run but he still attempted to leave hospital to play the following Saturday. Amazingly, he is also reported to have broken his leg four times while playing for Lynn but only found out after a hospital scan years later.

The Linnets' trailblazing squad in the 1960s Picture: Archant - Credit: Archant

He hung up his boots at Lynn aged 39 but continued to play in the Anglian Combination until his 50th Birthday. He ran an antiques business with his wife in Lynn and worked at WWS Tarpaulins after he had hung up his football boots. Affectionately known to many as 'Mr King’s Lynn', Mick received the Lifetime Achievement Award for the club in January 2016 and was also named in King's Lynn Town FC's inaugural Hall of Fame.

This Kings Lynn Town Football Club legend passed away on December 11th, 2019 at the age of 77 after being in poor health for several years.