IAN WRIGHT: THE EPITOME OF GREATNESS
Irrespective of your current situation always remember that you can achieve greatness. Ian Wright has been nothing but open about his troubled upbringing mainly by the hands of his abusive stepdad. As a child Ian and his brother often looked forward to watching Match Of The Day, however there were numerous occasions where his stepdad would enter the room prior to it starting and tell the boys to turn around and face the wall for the entire duration whilst his older brother comforted him as tears fell down his cheeks. His brother would cover his ears in comfort to stop him from hearing the sounds of the football. This scarred him, for a long time hearing the MOTD theme music was unbearable as it brought back such horrible memories.
Playing football was his only escape.
Ian was always a great player and even though he had trials at clubs as a teen he was not able to gain a professional contract. However, he could not let go of something that meant so much to him instead he opted to play for non-league teams. It was a two-week stint in prison (for failing to pay insurance and tax on two vehicles) where he vowed to himself that he would do anything to make it as a professional footballer. At 21 Ian Edward Wright signed his first professional contract with Crystal Palace. He went on to score 239 professional goals in 501 appearances and wore The Three Lions shirt 33 times scoring 9.
Fast forward to present day Ian Wright is now a national treasure, with his notorious gold tooth and assortment of hats he has become a household name. Match Of The Day, the show that was once deprived from his childhood is now a place of work, where he is a piece of the furniture as a pundit. Although he does not have a statue at The Emirates, like the likes of Thierry Henry, Tony Adams and Dennis Bergkamp, Ian Wright can add MBE to his name, say he’s spent time in the jungle with Caitlyn Jenner and even call himself a music artist.
Never allow temporary situations to make you feel hopeless or change your perception of your dreams. Greatness only – Dexter.