Former Premier League forward Tommy Wright has had a dramatic change in scenery since retiring - swapping the changing rooms for the cells.
The ex- Leicester City and Barnsley striker came through the Foxes academy and forged a role for himself in the first-team. He went on to have a journeyman career throughout the lower reaches of English football but still managed to rack-up over 350 appearances and 66 goals for his various clubs.
He hung up his boots back in 2016 with National League side Corby Town and has elected to go down a slightly different route with his career having become an officer with Leicestershire Police.
Wright became a fan favourite in his time with Leicester - a memorable winning goal against Nottingham Forest in 2003 going down in club folklore. Speaking to The Mirror last year, the former forward said: “Some people have obviously recognised that I played for Leicester. I’ve had it in custody as well, which was so funny.
“The custody sergeant had a Leicester City face mask on and straight away made a bee-line to me as I was reading out the charges. And then the suspect’s appropriate adult had a Nottingham Forest face covering on, so he said, ‘I’ll tell him about your goal against us’.
“We had a bit of banter when it was appropriate, which I think can help tense situations like that. You see the initial look on their face when they notice and have a quick joke before getting back to the matter.”
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It appears that Wright was well-suited to being a police officer from the off with clues having been spotted throughout his playing career. He started on Mansfield Town’s education programme before leaving to join the police after his wife spotted a recruitment advert.
“I’ve always been good at dealing with hostile situations due to playing in front of thousands of fans in heated atmospheres,” Wright said. “And when fights used to break out in the tunnels when I was playing, I would always be the peacemaker even back then.”
Leicestershire Police Chief Constable Simon Cole agreed with that sentiment having hailed the former Foxes’ star. He said: “Tommy’s a really good example of a local guy who wants to put something back.
“He’s used to being in a team, he’s used to the disciplines of training, he’s used to learning. Those are a really good skills base to put into being a police officer.”
Whilst Wright’s career has taken a dramatic turn having swapped the Leicester shirt for a police uniform, he is still involved in the game in an impressive capacity.
The now-38-year-old was recently named as captain of Britain’s national police team.
