[4][5] He made several appearances for Hartlepools United's reserve team in the North-Eastern League in the 1933–34 season,[4] and, after making the pass for the winning goal for Easington Colliery Welfare's junior team in the North East Divisional Junior Cup final,[6] he signed professional forms with First Division club Derby County in May 1934.
[8] He went straight into the starting eleven, making his club and Football League debut on 28 August in a 1–0 win at home to Southport.
He soon lost his place to Joe Hodgson, but regained it because of injuries for a home match against Bradford City in mid-October; Darlington won 4–1, and Wright scored the second goal from 25 yards (23 m).
[9] Wright established himself at left half in the last three months of the season, taking his appearance total up to 30 matches, but he played only infrequently in 1938–39 and was not retained.
[15] While bathing in the sea near Blackhall Rocks in July 1936, Wright was reported to have saved another young man, the brother of footballer Albert Harris, from drowning.