Ian Wright Wright Wright
When I watched Arsenal in the mid-nineties my favourite player was Ian Wright.
He scored the kind of goals kids tried to replicate in the playground, he looked like he was loving every minute of his job and he had buckets of what I believe the kids now call swag:
And we had/have the same birthday.
In the years since then, through a series of fortunate coincidences, I’ve met him several times, been to his house and been to his wedding (best wedding ever, partly because of his fantastic speech). He’s a lovely guy: funny, welcoming and really good at laughing at my crap jokes as if they’re the most hilarious thing he’s ever heard.
So I was really interested to find this short documentary on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ_MaGEFH8g
You might not have a spare 27 minutes right now, but I really suggest that you make a bit of time to see it.
It’s just Ian talking to camera with a couple of clips to illustrate what he’s saying, but the story of how he grew up with an alcoholic mother, an absent father and a stepfather who hated him is incredibly moving (try not to cry at 9:30). Then you find out how he came into football really late in life and worked his absolute arse off because he loved the game, eventually playing for Arsenal and England.
I was fascinated by what made him maintain his effervescence in the face of all that abuse, but the overwhelming inspiration you take from what happened to him is that it’s never over. No matter what’s happened before, you can decide at any moment to become the person you want to be, to do whatever you want to do.
Starting now.
I still remember his first league game away at Southampton in those little pens, we won 4-0 and he got a hatrick with Rocky getting the other. The thing with Wrighty is he had that bite and just wanted it that little bit more.
I read his autobiography and he came over as a bit of an arse but the maybe to be a striker you have to have that selfishness.
Oh and that last minute winner away at Tottenham.
Quite wonderful, even for someone with no interest in football.
Interesting how he says he could play at his best because he knew had a job to fall back on, and thus felt free from worries.
The general opinion on ‘how to succeed’, reinforced by perplexing Batman movies, tends to be the very opposite of that.
Thanks for posting.
Toasty, I couldn’t see that goal he just sort of chipped in from about thirty yards against (I think Swindon) in (I think) the League Cup, but…
Oh, here it is… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epby7U6qx4Y
@ Abhishek, I also find that fascinating. Money/another job can either act as a cushion to let you really explore the things that you couldn’t otherwise afford to, or it can lock you up and sap all the motivation you used to have for your ‘dream’ life. Amazing how it cuts just as hard both ways.
Absolutely brilliant film Ben.
A great film about a great player. English football could do with a few more like him; dedicated to the game, not his next contract or his agent’s bullshit. And I’m now just a little jealous that you know him well enough to go to his wedding…
Wonderful stuff.
Wrighty was/is a true Arsenal legend. And though his journey is somewhat unique, all managers should make young footballers, who are in danger of feeling *entitled* to success, watch this film and realise what it really means to have the best job in the world (aside from being an advertising creative).
If only all footballers had that sense of perspective *Ahem…Nasri, Cashley, van Pursestrings…Walcott*
p.s the tear ducts did swell at 9.30.
Strong film. Made strangely weaker by the cutaways I thought (‘small figure plays with football alone on an estate’).
But Wright remains a very inspirational character.
And stands in stark contrast to a system which has kids on the professional conveyor belt aged 6 or whatever.
Nice bloke. For a Gooner.
Oh and i have heard in training ian wright used to commentate on himself during the matches “and wrighty gets it, he’s past one, he’s past another…”
great film. really enjoyable. i just wish it didn’t have ‘caring piano’ on loop in the background for the full 27 minutes!!
Seems like Ian Wright had all the motivation he ever needed. Shame he had to endure such a childhood to get it.
If you look at all the great achievers… it’s not to do with anyone outside, it’s what’s inside them, they’re special in that respect. And if you haven’t got that, it doesn’t matter how much talent you’ve got, you’re never going to get sustained success.
Hello Ben.
Brilliant film, cheers. It reminded me of something one of my first bosses, the Australian advertising legend Siimon Reynolds, always said – “Make your future bigger than your past by seeking growth rather than applause.”
great viewing. thanks.
was he was the subject of the Nike poster…Behind every great goalie is a ball from…him?
On a local Florida level: Exactly where are your kids
tonight?