Paddy Wrightson

Personal life Wrightson was born in Shildon, County Durham, Wrightson himself followed in his father's trade, working as a blacksmith at the London and North Eastern Railway's workshops at Shildon, before he became a professional footballer. He died in Cleveland in 1979 at the age of 73.

Football career

Early career By January 1927, Wrightson was playing as an amateur for Northern League club Ferryhill Athletic. In the summer of 1928, he became one of several hundred Durham amateur footballers suspended for six months and declared professional for receiving payments over and above legitimate expenses. He played as an amateur for Darlington in the latter half of the 1928–29 season, and then turned professional. He appeared in the first 33 matches of the 1929–30 season and scored 16 goals, playing mainly at inside right in support of 34-goal centre-forward Maurice Wellock as Darlington headed for a third-place finish.

Manchester City and Fulham In mid-March 1930, he became the sixth player in ten days to sign for Manchester City of the First Division; the fee was "stated to be above £2000". He went straight into the starting eleven for City's 3–1 home win against Grimsby Town. The opening goal was scored by Tommy Tait after Wrightson's shot hit a post, but "shot lamentably when Tait unselfishly invited the newcomer to 'help himself' to his first goal". He played in three more matches that season without scoring; against Sheffield United he again disappointed the Manchester Guardian correspondent when he missed two "excellent" chances and showed he had "yet to discover the speed and nimbleness that distinguish City forwards." He improved, but his lack of success in front of goal meant he never established himself as a first-team regular. He scored four times from 22 first-team appearances, all in the league, and then, with the transfer deadline approaching, he signed for Fulham, who needed to strengthen their squad in an attempt to secure the Third Division South title and consequent promotion to the Second Division. and adding two more goals, a header in a 2–1 win against Mansfield Town and the opening goal against Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic. He played little in Fulham's 1932–33 Second Division season, bringing his totals to five goals from eighteen appearances, He again went straight into the starting eleven, and helped his side finish as runners-up. In 1933–34, he contributed to Exeter winning the Third Division South Cup. He was a member of the team that beat a Crystal Palace reserve sidethe first team were otherwise engaged with special training in preparation for their FA Cup tie against Arsenal by the unusual score of eleven goals to six, scored the winner against Brighton in the semi-final second replay, and was part of the team that beat local rivals Torquay United in the final.

Although reluctant to re-sign for another season, he did so, came into the team for the visit of Northampton Town, and scored all three goals, the last an intended cross that "sailed into the far corner". He "played with intelligence and enterprise throughout. The crowd were delighted at his success, not only because it meant victory for the team, but because they have always recognized in him a player who pulls his weight, often without any good fortune in scoring efforts." In November, he contributed two goals to Exeter's come back from 5–2 down to draw 5–5 at Bristol Rovers, and scored freely for the rest of the season.

With the transfer deadline approaching, the Western Morning News commented that "Throughout the season Wrightson has played consistently well, and has been the principal schemer of the City's danger moves. His shooting has been attended with marked success, and to date he heads the Exeter scorers with fifteen goals to his credit." He finished his Exeter career with 71 league appearances and 25 goals,

Chester Three weeks later, Wrightson signed for Chester of the Third Division North. He scored four goals in his first month with the club, and then none until 1 February 1936. continued with three in a 4–2 defeat of Barrow, and followed with a third hat-trick in consecutive matches as Chester beat New Brighton 8–2.

He produced a further 32 league and 4 cup goals in 1936–37, and was proceeding in similar vein in 1937–38, with 14 league goals by the end of December, when injury disrupted his season. His services were again retained, but he made no more league appearances, The Chester Chronicle sports editor wrote that "[Wrightson] has been so repeatedly in the wars this season that we had almost forgotten he was still with us. Anyway, he is due to leave Chester any time now. and we shall always remember him as a fine fellow and a great servant. I am sure I am expressing the sentiments of every Stadium patron when I wish him all success in the future." His 73 Football League goals stood as a club record for more than 40 years, and he remains third in their all-time scorers table.