Features
Gills365 Interview: Josh Wright
Published by Tom Clee on March 1, 2010
Not many players would be able to write themselves into a club’s folklore in two months. Yet at Wembley last May Josh Wright did just that, stepping up in front of 38,000 Gillingham fans in the last minute to deliver the corner which secured a return to League One.
The 21-year old midfielder had made a telling contribution to a promotion campaign in just 8 games, steadying the ship after a late season wobble and helping to guide the team through the perils of the play-offs.
“The move came out of nowhere really, I hadn’t been playing much football and suddenly I’m celebrating at Wembley. Those sorts of days don’t come around very often so I was over the moon.”
The assist was a rare moment of glory for the young playmaker, who has scored just one goal in over 75 professional appearances. These statistics however mask the true worth of Wright, a deep-lying midfield anchor man whose hard work often goes unnoticed.
One of his finest performances for the Gills came in the away leg of the semi-final against Rochdale, commanding the midfield battle alongside good friend Stuart Lewis. Although the game finished goalless, Wright quietly produced a superb display, giving Gillingham the edge in the return fixture.
Wright’s cameo in Kent provided the perfect end to what had been another frustrating season for young midfielder, who signed for Charlton at just seventeen. He went on to make just three appearances for the Addicks during the two years that followed, which saw loan spells at both Barnet and Brentford.
“The financial situation caused lots of unrest, I saw four different managers come in while I was there. Obviously the club was going in the wrong direction, and when you are fighting relegation I think managers prefer to turn to experience. My age definitely counted against me.”
Charlton’s loss was most certainly Gillingham’s gain, but any hopes of a permanent move were dashed in the summer. Wright’s calm and assured displays had already started to turn heads, and when Scunthorpe manager Nigel Adkins offered him Championship football the chance was too good to turn down.
“Gillingham did make an offer, which I did consider. I knew Mark Robson as a young boy from Charlton, and I got on very well with Mark Stimson – he’s a great manager who gets the best out of you. I really enjoyed my time there, but I had to think in the best interests of my career.”
The decision to move north was not an easy one for Wright, who had been based in and around London throughout his career. However, he has no lingering regrets having enjoyed a consistent season in which he has missed just five games.
“At first I wasn’t sure that I was making the right call, but the move has really taught me what life is all about. The standard of football is a big step-up, but the emphasis is on passing and a fast pace to the game, and that’s the way I like to play. It’s nice to have a full season playing regularly.”
Wright seems to have finally found the continuity that he has been craving at Glanford Park, and few would begrudge him such success after enduring such a fragmented start to his career. Whatever the future holds for Wright, he will always be remembered with fondness by Gillingham fans who recall that dreamy day under the Wembley arch.
Tom Clee
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