Ian Wright was born in the Royal Military hospital in Woolwich on 11 November 1963 to his proud parents Nesta and Herbert. He has two older brothers, Nicky and Morris, whom he has always strove to better, no matter what the challenge. From an early age he played football with his brothers and his friends at the local recreation ground and it wasn't long before he finally found something that he could match Morris at (although Ian thinks if Morris had wanted it, he too could be playing professional football). Being a south London boy, much of his youth was misspent, the challenges of life in London rising above those of his academic career. His schooling suffered but his football didn't. At the tender age of ten Ian was playing for his school team and learning the essential skills that could not be taught in the park or playground. His professional career started quite late by modern standards with Ian being content playing in school teams and local Sunday leagues. His dream was always to become professional and score a goal at Wembley but I feel this dream did not really reach Ian's mind until he was in his late teens, by which time he was too old to be serving an apprenticeship with a professional club. The knock backs from School County level and his local club Millwall would not have helped his cause and Ian spent his late teenage years with no qualifications from school, scrapping around for every last penny to save up for the car that would eventually see him serve a six day sentence in Chelsford prison for failure to pay fines. Even so, his first love never faltered and he continued to play top quality football for his local black team, Ten Em Bee, where week after week he banged in the goals, becoming the leading scorer in the London & Kent Border League. After his run in with the law over what are now considered petty crimes, Ian got a steady job and settled down with a few quid in his pocket. It was then that the big time became within reach. Whilst playing for Ten Em Bee Ian was offered a place at Woolwich Borough, being paid £30 for each game he played (would Alan Shearer or Ravanelli be happy with that?). He could not really believe that somebody would want to pay him to do something he did so naturally and willingly, but he accepted gracefully. It was here that he was spotted by scouts from Crystal Palace and Luton. Brighton & Hove Albion had alrwady turned turned him down a few years previous to this, so he was determined to do the right thing at Palace. At Selhurst Park, he had been there only three days when Stevie Coppell offered him a job earning £100 per week. He accepted this and didn't go to the trial in Luton. Well, why travel to Luton when you can earn good money doing what you enjoy most on your own doorstep. Ian Wright was a professional footballer. The rest, as they say, is history. The Masters Carrer 1973 Number one striker for Turnham school, south London 1977 Rejected after south London Schools trials 1978 Trialled with his local side, Millwall, but again is rejected 1981 Ian signs up with his first team, a black side called Ten Em Bee, playing in the London and Kent Border League Ian is an instant success topping the scoring chart in the league. 1982 Trialled for Brighton and Hove Albion, but again is rejected. 1985 Still playing for Ten Em Bee, Ian is invited to play for Greenwich Borough but rejects the offer. Ian then has a trial at non-league Dulwich Hamlet, where he is spotted by Palace scout, Peter Prentice and invited to a two week trial at Selhurst Park. Steve Steve Coppell offers Ian a 3 month contract on £100 a week, makes his debut on 31 August, scores his first goal as a professional on 10 October in a 3-2 win over Oldham. Ian finishes the 85-86 season with 9 goals in 32 appearances. 1986 A solid player in the regular Palace team but still unable to show the scoring form he has always been capable of. 1987 Coppell gets the chequebook out and signs Mark Bright. The partnership of Wright and Brighty would prove to be an amazing success. Ian scores 20 league goals this season. 1988 Wrighty shows his allegiance to Palace by signing a new contract despite possible interest from Tottenham and Liverpool. 1989 Palace win through the play-offs to gain promotion into what was then the top flight First Division with Ians goals again doing the business for the Eagles. A few months later he scores his first major league goal against Manchester United. In December Ian makes his international debut in the England B team against Yugoslavia at the Den in south London. 1990 FA cup memories as Palace get to Wembley but lose in a replay to Manchester United. Ian broke his leg twice this season but showed remarkable character and strength to get back to match fitness to ease the road to Wembley. 1991 Wrighty scores again at Wembley, this time to earn a winners medal against Everton in the Zenith Data Systems Trophy. Full international status is reached as Graham Taylor recognises a quality player. Times are changing and the quality is improving; Ian needs to move on in his career and when Arsenal are prepared to break their chequebook record Palace let him go for £2.5m (that was when £2.5m was alot of money). It has to be said that he was, and still is worth every penny. He scored in his first game for the Gunners in the League Cup. Then he went on to score a hat-trick in his League debut against Southampton, ending his first Season at Highbury with 24 goals in 30 league games. 1992 Ending the season as top goal scoring in the league Ian scored a hat-trick in the last game of the season to nick the golden boot from Gary (I'm such a great T.V. presenter) Lineker. What does Taylor think he's doing when he leaves Wrighty out of the European Championships? Surely only a turnip would make such a fatal error. I rest my case! 1993 The goal scoring rate continues and Arsenal find themselves at two Wembley finals, and so do Sheffield Wednesday. Arsenal, needless to say, win them both! Ian scores his first international goal in Poland but still has major problems with Graham Taylor. But didn't the whole nation have the same concerns? To cap a superb season Ian married Debbie in June in the Caribbean. 1994 England don't qualify for the World cup in the USA...three guesses why? No fireworks in the league this season but last years cup victories see the Gunners blasting through the opposition in the European Cup Winner Cup. Ian is suspended from the final which Arsenal win 1-0 against Parma. First prize goes to Debbie for the birth of Ian's fourth son, Stacey in June. 1995 Scandal at Highbury as George Graham goes under a cloud of accusations and 'Merse' just goes on a cloud. Nobody can say that Merson hasn't recovered; his performance this season has been impeccable. One thing remains constant through these troubled times...Wrighty keeps banging them in. 1996 The personality clash with Rioch takes it's toll and Highbury is silenced by a transfer request from the master. The Board turn it down and when Rioch goes Wright pledges his devotion to Arsenal Football club by signing a contract to see him into retirement.