Danny And The Gulls Are Certainly Made Of The Wright Stuff!

When you’re 36 and forever told it’s a young man’s game, the temptation to take it easy was placed tantalisingly in front of him.

Gloucester City - the south west’s up-and-coming club with big investment and a flash new stadium - wanted his signature.

To make the lure even strong, the veteran striker lives ten minutes from the ground.

Part-time football, an attractive pay packet and he can be home most Saturdays well before Strictly.

But Torquay United and his old managerial mucka Gary Johnson also wanted the free agent.

Longer hours, away from the family, and, like on Saturday at Hartlepool United, more than the occasional two-day away trip on the motorway.

But it also had one crucial thing.

Ahead of the live BT Sport trip to the very north east, Wright explained: “It was absolutely the right decision, but the trip home on Saturday if we don’t win may say different!

“It did cross my mind to drop a level when Gloucester City said they wanted to sign me at the end of last season.

“I was out of contract and it was a big decision. If I went there, it would have meant the end to my career as a full-time player.

“That was big for me. I just wasn’t ready, even at the tender age of 36.

“The talks with my fiance Lisa were probably harder than with Torquay once they came in!

“She has always been such an incredible support to me. It’s not an easy life being the family of footballer. She probably thought the long distance days were over but I needed this move.

“There was a temptation to play in my home town, of course there was, but I want to stay pro. I just couldn’t say goodbye to that part of my life yet and so far it’s certainly paying off.”

He owes soon-to-be-wife Lisa a lot.

Five years ago he was diagnosed with Coeliac disease, something which causes the intake of gluten in foods affects the immune system, with a wide range of side-effects.

“When I first met Lisa, she told me she was coeliac. The more she told me about it, the more I started thinking ‘That’s exactly how I have been my whole life’.

“When I was younger, I couldn’t pinpoint why I wasn’t feeling right in some games,” he adds. “I ate the usual pre-match things like pasta and beans on toast but then I got tested.

“Honestly, I have learned a lot since I was diagnosed. I looked at my whole lifestyle and made changes - my energy levels went up and it’s given me longer on the pitch.”

Wright is probably the only player on the planet to admit they aren’t always putting it in during training.

He added: “You have to listen to your body when you’re at this stage of your career and respect what it’s saying to you.

“I’m not training as much or as hard as when I was younger but I know what I am capable of and I would like to think that so far it’s showing.

“When I signed for Torquay I made it clear I didn’t want to be here to make up the numbers.

“I’ve stayed full-time because I am still so hungry, that has never left me.”

Wright scored twice as Torquay battled back from a goal down to take Aldershot apart 4-1 on Tuesday.

It was significant not only for the striker but because it saw the Gulls hit top spot with a fourth win on the bounce.

For a player who has spent all bar two of the past fourteen years giving his everything at National League level, he is well placed to know if he can do what he did with Johnson at Cheltenham and return the club to the Football League.

“Well, what we can do is show people we mean business on Saturday,” added the former Histon, Wrexham, Gateshead and Kidderminster frontman.

“We came back superbly on Tuesday but it’s back on the road again, this has got the feel of a big game. The cameras will be there, of course it’s frustrating the fans can’t be but we want to show everyone what we’re about.”

If this is to be his final year in the full-time game, how about signing off in the best way possible?

“That’s the dream, that is my fairytale,” said the forward, who has hit the net more than 150 times in his career.

“I felt I earned the right to be a pro and I want to stay as a pro for as long as my body can take.

“It’s still very early, but we’re top of the table and that’s something to be really pleased about.

“There’s more to come as well, there’s a good spirit and the manager has signed some really good players over the close season.

“I would love to do what we did at Cheltenham all over again, but we’ve got some big games coming up and we want to keep the wins coming.

“I know my role in this team and I know I’m still so hungry for success. I certainly think I made the right decision - even with these very long coach trips!”

PICTURES BY PINNACLE