Knighthood plea for Billy Wright

A campaign has been launched to honour Shropshire-born football hero Billy Wright with a posthumous knighthood.

Bryan Yeubrey said the Wolves star, who was born in Ironbridge, deserved to get recognition for his contribution to the game as a player and as a "wonderful ambassador" for the sport.

He is urging as many people as possible to register their support on the website – www.sirbillywright.com – he has just set up.

The FA licensed players' agent said: "At the start of the 2009 this was just an idea.

"In April I decided something should be done. Sometimes things just need doing.

"I wrote to Buckingham Palace and to the Prime Minister and to many others. Now there is a wave of support.

"Billy Wright is a legend, but we need your help too. Let's make Billy Wright CBE, Sir Billy Wright CBE."

Mr Yeubrey, who is friends with the footballer's family, said: "I was so in awe of his achievements I felt he should have been knighted in his life."

He has contacted members of the House of Commons and House of Lords as well as the chairman of the Football Association to gain support for his campaign.

Mr Yeubrey, of Wolverhampton, said: "His unique contribution as a player and as a wonderful ambassador for the sport, in particular at a time of post-war depression, was exceptional beyond imagination.

"So profoundly outstanding was his career that I am sure a posthumous knighthood would be globally welcomed by our nation's footballing peers, football's governing bodies, by every fan regardless of club loyalties and by individuals throughout the UK and beyond.

"English football already has some great men, who have received knighthoods; Sir Trevor Brooking, Sir Matt Busby, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Tom Finney, Sir Geoff Hurst, Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Alf Ramsey, Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Walter Winterbottom.

"I am sure that all these men would agree that Billy Wright deserves his place among their ranks."

Mr Yeubrey, of Wolverhampton, said it would be 50 years on May 28 since Wright, who died in 1994 aged 70 and was married to Joy, who was part of the famous Beverley Sisters, had played his last game as captain of England against the USA in Los Angeles.

Vicky Wright, the footballer's daughter, said of Mr Yeubery's efforts: "We are thrilled to bits. The extent of love for my dad is overwhelming. He has been gone nearly 15 years."

She said anything which kept her father's memory alive was wonderful.

By Lisa Rowley