Probably Glentoran's oldest surviving player, Bertie Wright today celebrated his 93rd birthday. Bertie, who lives in Laurelvale near Portadown, joined the Glens in the 1941-42 season and who, until his departure at the end of 1948-49, played 214 games for the club. Although he filled what would have been considered a defensive position, Bertie scored 47 goals, twice finishing as the club’s second highest scorer (seasons 42-43 and 44-45 both times with 13 goals). Wright won two trophies with the Glens, the Co Antrim Shield and the All-Ireland Cup, both in the 1943-44 season. He also played for Glentoran in four Irish Cup finals, but lost them all.
Bertie Wright also represented the Irish League on 5 occasions; three times against England and once against both Scotland and the League of Ireland. He scored one goal for the Irish League against the English League at Goodison Park in 1947, a penalty which he took and sent Frank Swift (Manchester City) the wrong way.
As someone who made over 200 appearances for Glentoran, Bertie never played for us at the Oval. He joined the club after the Oval had been bombed by the Germans in 1941 and had moved on by the time we returned in 1949.
Many Happy Returns Bertie.
Main image shows Bertie being presented with a photograph taken on our 130th anniversary by Norman Reid in the 1923 club rooms at the Oval last Saturday.