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Drey Wright

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Drey Wright
Personal information
Full name Drey Jermaine Wright[1]
Date of birth (1995-04-30) 30 April 1995 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth Greenwich, London, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3]
Position(s) Right-back/right wing-back, right winger
Team information
Current team
 St Johnstone
Number 14
Youth career
Colchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2018 Colchester United 135 (8)
2018–2020 St Johnstone 36 (1)
2020–2022 Hibernian 37 (2)
2022– St Johnstone 60 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 November 2024

Drey Jermaine Wright (born 30 April 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back, right wing-back or right winger for Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone.

The son of former Ipswich Town and Southampton midfielder Jermaine Wright, Wright progressed through the Academy at Colchester United, before he made his first-team debut in 2012. He made over 150 career appearances for Colchester before leaving to join St Johnstone in May 2018. After two seasons with Hibernian, Wright returned to St Johnstone in 2022.

Career

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Colchester United

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Born in Greenwich, London,[3] Wright is the son of former Ipswich Town and Southampton midfielder Jermaine Wright, and brother to fellow footballer Diaz Wright.[4] A rapid winger who progressed through the Academy at Colchester United,[5] Wright featured for the Colchester first-team in the 2011–12 pre-season campaign, scoring in a 6–2 friendly win over Whitton United on 27 July 2011 for a youthful U's side.[6] Through the season, he mostly featured for the youth and reserve sides, alongside appearances in the Essex Senior Cup. He netted in their 4–0 semi-final win against Concord Rangers on 23 February 2012 to earn a place in the final.[7] He featured in the final held against Canvey Island on 17 April, a game in which Colchester were defeated 1–0.[8] He then scored in the reserve sides penultimate game of the campaign on 24 April in a 2–1 win against Oxford United,[9] and despite a defeat to Luton Town in the final game, he helped the side claim the last-ever Football Combination North Division title on 1 May.[10]

2012–13 season

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In May 2012, after just one year of his apprenticeship and on the back of his success with the club's reserve side, Wright signed a two-year professional development contract with Colchester alongside fellow academy products Bradley Hamilton, Ryan Melaugh, Tosin Olufemi and Shaun Phillips.[11] Wright featured in the first-team preparations for the 2012–13 season, with Colchester manager John Ward saying that "it doesn't really surprise me" that both Wright and teammate Alex Gilbey has made strides towards first-team football.[12] Ward then handed Wright his professional debut in the League Cup tie against Yeovil Town on 14 August, the opening game of the season. Wright started the match, and played for 58 minutes before being replaced by Karl Duguid in the 3–0 defeat at Huish Park.[13] He was drafted into the squad at the last minute following Freddie Sears' withdrawal, but earned praise from his manager despite being forced into playing first-team football prematurely.[14] His father, Jermaine, said he was "proud to see my son out there playing" and that "he plays with a smile on his face and he loves playing with the first team".[15] He then made his first League One appearance for the club, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute for Clinton Morrison in Colchester's 2–2 home draw with Portsmouth on 21 August.[16]

On 28 August, Wright's cross for Freddie Ladapo's goal in their Professional Development League Two match against Swansea City was enough to hand Colchester their first-ever win in the newly established under-21 league format.[17] He scored his first professional goal on his first league start on Boxing Day in a 3–1 home defeat to Brentford, a game in which he played the full 90 minutes.[18] Manager Joe Dunne enthused that "Drey Wright was outstanding" and that he "had an exceptional full debut and really showed his strength".[19]

In March 2013, Wright was shortlisted for the League Football Education ' League One Apprentice of the Year' award, nominated alongside Sheffield United's George Willis and eventual winner Luke James of Hartlepool United.[20] Wright ended his first professional season with 23 first-team appearances, having scored three goals,[21] and was rewarded at the club's annual end of season awards evening on his 18th birthday, earning the Colchester United 'Young Player of the Year' accolade ahead of Sam Walker and Gavin Massey.[2]

2013–14 season

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With one-year remaining on his contract, Wright signed a two-year extension on 26 July 2013 to keep him with the club until summer 2016.[22] He was brought on as a substitute in the opening game of the season on 3 August in a 1–0 win at Gillingham, setting up Andy Bond to score the 88th-minute winner.[23]

A calf strain left Wright out of action in early September,[24] but he recovered in time to make his first start of the season in their 2–0 away defeat to Coventry City on 8 September.[25] Having undergone a knee operation in October 2013, Wright returned to light training with the squad in February 2014 having not featured since 14 September 2013 in the U's 2–2 draw with Bradford City.[26] He continued his comeback from injury on 6 March when he played for 60 minutes in Colchester's Essex Senior Cup semi-final defeat to Concord Rangers.[27] Manager Joe Dunne then announced that he was looking to loan Wright out to another club in order to find first-team action elsewhere to aid his recovery process.[28] However, Wright then made his first appearance for the first-team in almost seven months as a substitute for David Wright in the U's 2–0 away defeat to Peterborough United on 2 April.[29] Wright finished his injury-blighted campaign with 13 appearances.[30]

2014–15 season

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After starting Colchester's first game of the season at home to Oldham Athletic on 9 August 2014, Wright suffered a recurrence of his knee injury which forced him out of much of last season. He was withdrawn after 64 minutes and replaced by Dominic Vose in the 2–2 draw.[31][32] He returned to first-team action for the first time in six weeks, and for the first time under new manager Tony Humes on 20 September as an 84th-minute substitute for Gavin Massey in a 0–0 home draw with Bradford City.[33]

Wright announced his return to full fitness in late September following his return to the first-team,[34] and then scored his first goal of the season, and his first for the club in 18-months, with the opener in Colchester's 3–3 Football League Trophy draw with Gillingham on 7 October.[35] Wright then limped out of the under-21 Development Squad 5–0 defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday on 14 October with another recurrence of his knee injury.[36] As a result of the injury, Wright was ruled out for the rest of the season with cruciate ligament damage.[37]

2015–16 season

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Wright returned to first-team action on 11 August 2015 as a second-half substitute during Colchester's 1–0 League Cup defeat to Reading.[38] He celebrated his 50th career appearance for Colchester during the season,[39] ending the campaign with 13 appearances.[40] He was offered a new deal at the end of the season following Colchester's relegation to League Two.[41][42] He signed a new one-year contract extension on 25 May 2016.[43]

2016–17 season

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Wright scored his first goal in almost two years on 24 September 2016 with the opening goal in Colchester's 2–1 home defeat to Accrington Stanley.[44] He made his 100th Colchester United appearance on 29 April 2017 in their 3–1 win at Leyton Orient,[45] and made a total of 46 appearances in addition to scoring two goals across the season.[46]

2017–18 season

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Following his most successful season to date for Colchester, Wright agreed a one-year contract extension with the club on 29 June 2017.[47] Manager John McGreal suggested that he might pick Wright in a more central midfield and attacking role instead of his more frequent wing position for the new season after playing and scoring during pre-season.[48] He scored his first goal of the season on 27 January 2018 during Colchester's 2–2 draw with Port Vale.[49]

St Johnstone

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After six years in the Colchester United first team and three goals in 47 appearances during 2017–18, Wright signed a pre-contract agreement to join Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone in a two-year deal in May 2018.[50] He made his competitive debut for the club on 16 July in a Scottish League Cup penalty shoot-out win over East Fife.[51] Wright scored his first goal for the club on 18 August in St Johnstone's 4–2 extra time win over Queen of the South.[52] His first season at the club ended early when he suffered a knee injury in a match against Kilmarnock in November 2018.[53] In August 2019 he returned to playing after nine months out.[54] He rejected a new contract and left the Saints in June 2020.[55]

Hibernian

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On 10 July 2020, Wright signed for Hibernian on a two-year deal.[56][57] On 20 September 2020, Wright scored his first goal for Hibernian in a 2–2 draw against Rangers.[58] Wright made twenty eight competitive appearances and scored one goal in his first season with Hibernian.[59]

On 9 April 2022, Wright scored the opener in the Edinburgh derby for Hibernian, being his second goal for the club, but the game ended in a 3–1 win for Hearts.[60] Wright was released by Hibs in June 2022, at the end of his contract.[61]

St Johnstone

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Wright returned to St Johnstone on 16 June 2022.[62]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of 30 September 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Colchester United 2012–13[21] League One 21 3 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 23 3
2013–14[30] League One 12 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 13 0
2014–15[63] League One 5 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 1 6 1
2015–16[40] League One 11 0 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 13 0
2016–17[46] League Two 42 2 1 0 0 0 3[b] 0 46 2
2017–18[64] League Two 44 3 1 0 1 0 1[b] 0 47 3
Total 135 8 6 0 4 0 7 1 152 9
St Johnstone 2018–19[65] Scottish Premiership 14 1 0 0 6 1 — 20 1
2019–20[66] Scottish Premiership 22 0 3 0 0 0 — 25 0
Total 36 1 3 0 6 1 0 0 45 1
Hibernian 2020–21[59] Scottish Premiership 20 1 3 0 5 0 — 28 1
2021–22[67] Scottish Premiership 17 1 2 0 1 0 2[c] 0 22 1
Total 37 2 5 0 6 0 2 0 50 2
St Johnstone 2022–23[68] Scottish Premiership 38 7 1 0 1 0 0 0 40 7
2023–24[69] Scottish Premiership 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 6 0
Career total 249 18 15 0 20 1 9 1 293 19
  1. ^ a b c Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ a b Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  3. ^ Appearances in the UEFA Conference League

Honours

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Individual

  • 2012–13 Colchester United Young Player of the Year[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Professional Retain List & Free Transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Hudson, Matt (30 April 2013). "Jabo Is Your Top Man". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Colchester United". FootballSquads. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  4. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (25 July 2012). "Hot prospect Wright eager for more first-team action with U's". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  5. ^ "Drey Wright". Colchester United FC. Archived from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  6. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (27 July 2011). "Gilbey scores four in U's rout". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  7. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (23 February 2012). "Bond hat-trick helps U's book final place". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Rob is Gulls' King after late winner". Daily Gazette. Colchester. 17 April 2012. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  9. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (24 April 2012). "U's reserves edge closer to the title". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  10. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (1 May 2012). "U's reserves win title despite Hatters defeat". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  11. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (10 May 2012). "U's quartet sign new contracts". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  12. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (13 August 2012). "Ward not surprised by in-form Wright's progress". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  13. ^ "Yeovil 3–0 Colchester". BBC Sport. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  14. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (15 August 2012). "Drey showed the Wright stuff". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  15. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (16 February 2012). "Former Ipswich star Jermaine is proud of son Drey". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  16. ^ "Colchester 2–2 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  17. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (28 August 2012). "Ladapo strike gives U's first under-21 victory". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  18. ^ "Colchester 1–3 Brentford". BBC Sport. 26 December 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  19. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (27 December 2012). "Dunne hails U's young guns". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  20. ^ "James is LFE Apprentice of the Year for League 1". The Football League. 24 March 2013. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2013.
  21. ^ a b "Games played by Drey Wright in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  22. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (26 July 2013). "Wright pens new U's deal". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  23. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (3 August 2013). "Bond scores dramatic late winner to give U's opening day win". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  24. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (4 September 2013). "U's facing injury crisis". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  25. ^ "Coventry 2–0 Colchester". BBC Sport. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  26. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (4 February 2014). "Wright on the road to recovery". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  27. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (7 March 2014). "Young U's side beaten in Essex Senior Cup semi-final". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  28. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (11 March 2014). "U's could allow Wright to leave on loan". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  29. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (3 April 2015). "Drey's on the Wright track for U's". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  30. ^ a b "Games played by Drey Wright in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  31. ^ "Colchester 2–2 Oldham". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  32. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (12 August 2014). "U's reluctant to put timescale on Wright recovery". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  33. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (20 September 2014). "U's play out goal-less draw with Bradford". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  34. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (24 September 2014). "Wright happy to be back in the fray for U's". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  35. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (7 October 2014). "U's knocked out of JPT on penalties". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  36. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (14 October 2014). "Injury worry over Wright as U's under-21s are beaten". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  37. ^ Marston, Carl (23 October 2014). "Colchester United winger Drey Wright ruled out for the season". Green'Un. Ipswich. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  38. ^ "Colchester United 0–1 Reading". BBC Sport. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  39. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (17 February 2016). "Colchester United winger Drey Wright showed "what a good prospect he is" according to Kevin Keen". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  40. ^ a b "Games played by Drey Wright in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  41. ^ Hudson, Matt (20 May 2016). "U's Retained List". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  42. ^ "Colchester United: Joe Edwards and Nicky Shorey among nine to depart". BBC Sport. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  43. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (25 May 2016). "Winger Drey Wright commits his future to Colchester United". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  44. ^ "Colchester United 1–2 Accrington Stanley". BBC Sport. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  45. ^ "Leyton Orient 1–3 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  46. ^ a b "Games played by Drey Wright in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  47. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (29 June 2017). "Drey Wright staying at Colchester United for at least another year after signing new deal". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  48. ^ Waldron, Jonathan (20 July 2017). "Colchester United head coach John McGreal says Drey Wright is equipped to play as a centre forward". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  49. ^ "Port Vale 2–2 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  50. ^ "St Johnstone recruit midfielder Drey Wright from Colchester". BBC Sport. 9 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  51. ^ "St Johnstone 0–0 East Fife (5–4pens)". BBC Sport. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  52. ^ "Queen of the South 2–4 St Johnstone". BBC Sport. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  53. ^ "Drey Wright: St Johnstone winger to miss rest of season with knee injury". BBC Sport. 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  54. ^ "St Johnstone: Drey Wright on course for return after nine months out". BBC Sport. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  55. ^ "Drey Wright: Winger to leave St Johnstone after rejecting new deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  56. ^ "DREY WRIGHT SIGNS FOR HIBERNIAN". Hibernian FC. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  57. ^ "Hibernian sign Kevin Nisbet and Drey Wright". BBC Sport. BBC. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  58. ^ Lyall, Jamie (21 September 2020). "Hibernian 2–2 Rangers". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  59. ^ a b "Games played by Drey Wright in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  60. ^ Southwick, Andrew (9 April 2022). "Hearts 3–1 Hibernian". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  61. ^ "Hibernian: Scott Allan, Alex Gogic, Drey Wright and Jamie Murphy among six exits". BBC Sport. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  62. ^ Coyle, Andy (16 June 2022). "Drey Wright and Andy Considine join St Johnstone on free transfers". STV Sport. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  63. ^ "Games played by Drey Wright in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  64. ^ "Games played by Drey Wright in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  65. ^ "Games played by Drey Wright in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  66. ^ "Games played by Drey Wright in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  67. ^ "Games played by Drey Wright in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  68. ^ "Games played by Drey Wright in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  69. ^ "Drey Wright | Football Stats | St Johnstone | Season 2023/2024 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
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