Following on from the recent death of Norman Bullock it is sad to report the loss of another former City player, goalkeeper Dick Wright. Dick, who was born on 5 December 1931 in Goldthorpe near Rotherham, made 52 league appearances for Chester between 1952 and 1955. There is no doubt that he would have gone on to make many more appearances but unfortunately a promising career was brought to a premature end when he suffered a serious injury in a game against Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground. Despite a few comeback games Dick continued to be troubled by the injury and after failing to regain the form that had marked him as an outstanding goalkeeping prospect he was forced to give up League football when still in his mid twenties.

Dick started his career playing college football in Mexborough and after leaving school joined Hickleton Main Welfare before signing as an amateur with Huddersfield Town. At the age of 17 Dick joined Leeds United but never made the first team and after completing his army service, in August 1951, signed professional terms with Chester. Coincidentally his first appearance for Chester came in the same game as Norman Bullock, a 2-0 victory at home to Bradford City on August 30th 1952 and it proved to be a quiet debut. For the remainder of that season Dick remained the first choice goalkeeper until tragedy struck in the final away game at Wrexham when, after only ten minutes play, he was fouled by centre forward Bill Heggie and snapped the tendons in his leg. Ralph Morement replaced Dick in goal and Chester went on to lose 7-0 while Dick was out of football for more than a season.

The disappointment of the injury was compounded by the fact that Chester had just reached the finals of three competitions with the games due to be played in the two weeks following the Wrexham match. As a result of the injury Dick missed all three games and Chester lost to Rhyl in the Welsh Cup, Stockport County in the Cheshire Bowl and Manchester City in the Lancashire Cup. Although Dick returned to the Chester team in September 1954 he only managed another nine appearances with his final league game coming against Scunthorpe in a 4-2 defeat on January 8th 1955. In March 1955 Dick joined Bradford City but failed to make the first team and after two years in Yorkshire dropped into non league football with Holyhead Town and Winsford United before retiring in 1959.

After leaving football Dick concentrated on his business as a heating and plumbing engineer, a business he had started while still playing for Chester in the mid fifties. The club sends its condolences to his family and friends.

Chas Sumner [Published 9/11/03]