Bradford City has had a history of lacklustre captains, leaving fans wondering why such players were given the armband.On May 31, 2018, it was revealed that the Bantams have recruited a new midfielder on a two-year deal following his release from Southend United. On paper, Josh Wright appeared to be a good addition to the team, given his experience in the lower divisions, something the club desperately needed at the time.
However, Wright’s time at Bradford did not go as planned, and here’s why.
Josh Wright’s time at Valley Parade
Wright signed with the club under Greg Abbott, the former head of recruitment who also played for Bradford from 1982 to 1991.
At the time, Abbott said: “He can grab you a goal, but he can also do the other side of the game – he can get about the pitch, and he can tackle.”
Wright was appointed captain for the 2018-19 season’s first game against Shrewsbury Town. The Bantams won 0-1 with a goal from Jack Payne in the 19th minute.
During the early stages of the season, rookie manager Michael Collins faced pressure due to poor on-field performances. Fans were dissatisfied with the tactics on the pitch and the performances of specific players, especially Wright, who was often booed by Bradford fans.
After Collins’ resignation in September, David Hopkin, a former player for the club, was named the new manager. However, Wright struggled under Hopkin’s direction.
Wright, along with teammates Alex Jones and Joe Riley, was ordered to look for a new club and was dropped by Hopkin for five months.
Hopkin stated, “Josh, Alex, and Joe have not been in the squads recently because we’ve put players in to cover other positions.” They will be free to find clubs.”
Wright wore the renowned claret and amber shirt again only after Hopkins was fired in February and replaced by Gary Bowyer.
Wright’s return to the first-team was too late to help Bradford’s survival that season. The club was already nine points behind when Wright began his first game in five months, a 3-2 loss to Bristol Rovers.
Following the encounter against Coventry City, the Bantams were relegated to EFL League Two with three games remaining. Wright never appeared on the winning side for the rest of the season, with the only victory coming against Scunthorpe United, where he was an unused substitute.
Wright made only 22 appearances for the club across all competitions. His scant appearances, despite being the club’s captain, speak volumes, especially given that injuries are not thought to be a role.
Overall, Wright represents a season in which the Bantams were relegated without much of a fight, which sums up the midfielder’s tenure at the club.
Although Wright had shown promise before joining the club, he appeared to be unable to perform the fundamentals of football, and his lack of dedication on the pitch and poor performances caused the supporters to turn against him. Although not condoned, it is understandable why the crowd chose to boo their captain.
Life after the Bradford for Josh Wright
Wright, who left Bradford, was the final signing of Justin Edinburgh at Leyton Orient before his untimely death at 49.
After leaving Leyton Orient, Wright joined Crawley Town alongside his reality star brother Mark Wright. The team signed the older Wright sibling, Mark, after he appeared positively in multiple charity football matches televised on television.
After leaving Bantams, Wright moved to Billericay Town in the National League South before joining his current club, Ebbsfleet United.
Wright was promoted with the Fleet and helped the team avoid relegation on the final day of the National League 2023-24 season with a 0-0 draw against Boreham Wood.
Wright has since reflected on his experience at the club. The speaker expressed frustration with several of the topics discussed. I can deal with that, but I feel like a scapegoat.”
Although it is no secret that things behind the scenes at the club were toxic at the time, owing primarily to Edin Rahics’ involvement, Wright failed to deliver on the pitch for the club, and now that we look back, could these issues in the background have contributed to Wright’s failure at Valley Parade? I suppose we may never know.
Bradford City captains from 2013-14
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