Dossy Wright Hall of Fame Inductee

James Harold Wright, known to everybody as “Dossy”, has to be one of the most versatile players to ever play for Southport, and, having played in every position – including goalkeeper – and making over 200 appearances he is well deserving of his induction into the Southport FC Hall of Fame.

Described as “ruthless”, “fearless”, “a wrecker of opposing attacks”, “the terror of opposing forwards” and “a bulldozer” it’s hard to believe that he was only 5ft 5 and a half inches tall and weighed just 9st 4lbs!

The first time I came across Dossy was in a match report of a game between Working Lads and Southport Park Villa played On Saturday 9^th December 1905. Aged approximately 20 Dossy was in the Working Lads team that led 1-0 at half time, a controversial goal that angered the Park Villa fans so much that at half time the local newspaper reported “during the interval an angry crowd surrounded the referee, and one man, armed with a knife, threatened to do for him.” Fortunately the referee survived and Dossy, unfazed by the intimidating atmosphere set up a late equalizer after Park Villa had led 2-1. A coalman by trade his regular position was half-back or left-back. He made his first team debut for Southport away to Everton Reserves on the 18^th September 1907 in a Lancashire Combination fixture, his second appearance coming on the 25^th January 1908 against Earlestown. Two weeks after that game came this report in the Lancashire Evening Post:

For having played J.H.Wright whilst under suspension, Southport Central were severely cautioned. The player was ordered to complete his suspension from that day.

Lancashire Evening Post

I don’t know why he was suspended but this wouldn’t be the only time that Dossy got in trouble with the authorities, it’s very likely that he is the most sent off player in the club’s history!

On completing his suspension Dossy became a fixture in the first team and was made captain for the 1910/11 season, an honour that didn’t calm his fiery nature. In December 1910 he was sent off against Rochdale for what the Northern Daily Telegraph described as “trying to get a bit of his own back” after being roughly charged by an opponent, a decision which angered the Southport fans who tried to attack the referee at the end of the game. Dossy was fined £2 and the club were ordered to put up warning notices regarding misconduct by spectators and the committee were asked to take measures to prevent the use of bad language by a section of the supporters.

Despite this Dossy continued to excel for Southport and he was regularly praised for the quality of his performances, including this from the Southport Visiter in November 1911: “in the intermediate line, “Dossy” Wright is of course the shining light. One dare not wonder what would happen to Central if the familiar figure of “Dossy” was not present”.

On Saturday 5^th January 1918 after more than ten years at the club, a home game against Manchester United was believed to be Dossy’s last game before going off to War and the Southport Visiter paid this tribute:

“In connection with the match between Southport Central and Manchester United today (Saturday) at Ash Lane, followers of the Central Club will learn with interest that this is the last match in which “Dossy” Wright will appear before joining up with the Army. “Dossy” has rendered long and fruitful service to the Central Club, and has proved one of their most useful half-backs. He has played regularly with the team for the past ten years and his form has been consistently good during practically all that time. Moreover he has not been an expensive player, for he has never asked for more than 30s per week, and football followers, remembering the higher fees which players could command in pre-war days, will recognise the modesty of this demand. The directors of the club are, therefore, much disappointed that owing to the war they are unable to give “Dossy” a well-earned benefit match before he joins up.”

With Dossy installed as captain for the day Southport won the game 3-0 and he was indeed missing the following week however reports of his enforced absence proved premature. Just two weeks after the Manchester United game he was back in the team for an away game at Burnley, a 1-0 defeat which saw him sent off for remarks made to a referee that earned him a 28 day suspension!

Dossy made his final appearance for Southport on the 24^th April 1920 in a Central League fixture against Tranmere Rovers. He spent over 13 years at Southport making 212 appearances, scoring six goals and establishing himself as a true fans favourite. On leaving Southport he signed for Crewe where a second placed finish in the Central League in 1920/21 saw Crewe join the Football League as founder members of Division Three North. Dossy was to play eleven games in the Football League for Crewe and in 1923 was captain of the Crewe reserve team that won the Cheshire Senior Cup. He finished his career shortly after that success.

The article below from The Crewe Chronicle dated November 1955 hints at a surprisingly softer side to Dossy. What was this fearless, bulldozer of a defender who liked nothing more than a dust up doing at the ballet?

JACK PRINCE, the Rolls-Royce cricketer, and ex-Crewe Alexandra player, tells me that he had a big surprise the other day when visiting a ballet fesitval at Manchester. He heard someone mention the name of “Wright” and turning round say Dossie Wright the former Crewe Alexandra right-half

The Crewe Chronicle, November 1955

The answer lay with his daughter Brenda (she later changed her name to Belinda for professional reasons) who achieved fame as a ballerina, travelling the world and even performing at a gala celebrating the wedding of Prince Rainier of Monaco to Grace Kelly. When she died in April 2007 she had a full page obituary in The New York Times whilst The Independent, in their own full page obituary said that, from the age of three, she had been encouraged by her father – the gifted amateur footballer Dossy Wright.