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This former England player is now serving as a police officer

In this article, we are taking a look at how one former England player is now serving as a police officer out in the Midlands.

An ex-Premier League footballer in Tommy Wright is now swapping the touchline for tackling crime after hanging up his boots to become a student officer with Leicestershire Police.

The 35-year-old is now back in his hometown where he remains a much loved figure after scoring Leicester’s winner against arch rivals Nottingham Forest back in 2003.

Tommy also represented England at under-19 and 20 level and was also capped 15 times by his country at the European Championships and the FIFA World Championships.

The striker helped Leicester City to the Premier League in 2002-2003 season before going on to play for a big number of clubs as you will see in his career stats below.

2001–2006 – Leicester City – 21 apps (2 goals)
2003–2004 → Brentford (loan) – 25 apps (7 goals)
2005 → Blackpool (loan) – 13 apps (6 goals)
2006–2007 – Barnsley – 34 apps (2 goals)
2006–2007 → Walsall (loan) – 6 apps (2 goals)
2007–2008 – Darlington – 54 apps (17 goals)
2008–2010 – Aberdeen – 18 apps (1 goal)
2010 – Grimsby Town – 14 apps (1 goal)
2010–2011 – Darlington – 22 apps (4 goals)
2011 – Kidderminster Harriers – 2 apps (0 goals)
2011–2012 – Luton Town – 4 apps (1 goal)
2012 – Forest Green Rovers – 7 apps (2 goals)
2012–2013 – Tamworth – 41 apps (8 goals)
2013 – Harrogate Town – 4 apps (1 goal)
2013–2016 – Corby Town – 57 apps (7 goals)
2016–2017 – Nuneaton Town – 1 app (0 goals)
Total – 323 apps (61 goals)

National team
2002–2003 – England U19 – 10 apps (5 goals)
2003 – England U20 – 4 apps (0 goals)

Teams managed
2013–2016 – Corby Town (player-manager)
2016–2017 – Nuneaton Town (player-manager)
2017–2019 – Darlington
2019 – Stratford Town
2020 – Corby Town

Honours

Player
Leicester City
Football League First Division runner-up : 2002–03[56][70]

Barnsley
Football League One play-off winner: 2006[8]

Darlington
FA Trophy: 2011

Player-manager
Corby Town
Southern League: 2014–15

PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE
LEAGUE ONE TABLE
LEAGUE TWO TABLE

As a youth player Tommy was described as ‘’one to watch” by BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty before he went on to play over 250 professional games during an 11 year career.

It was during his time managing the education programme for Mansfield that he spotted a job advert to become a trainee police officer this summer.

Leicestershire Police said Tommy’s “life skills and experience” were “favourable qualities” which helped land him the job with the force.

Tommy, of Kirby Muxloe, Leics., said: “I worked in football for 20 years and every part of it was a dream come true.

“I feel very fortunate to have been involved in it as a player, a coach and a manager which was something I had always wanted to achieve.

“I have always worked as part of a team, and that along with communication skills and people management, have set me on the right path to become a police officer.

“I was coaching at Mansfield Town when my wife came across the police officer recruitment advert, it caught my eye because, even though I loved being involved in football, I instantly knew this was what I wanted to do next.

“I felt like I had achieved everything I set out to do within football and once the process started to become an officer and I progressed through each stage I grew more and more excited about the prospect of joining the police.

“I had wanted to try something new for a while but I needed something that was rewarding, that would challenge me and provide me with a role that my friends and family would be proud of.

“I was lucky enough to represent my hometown by playing for Leicester City and to now be given the opportunity to represent Leicestershire Police is something that I am immensely proud of.

“In one way it’s like starting again, I’ve got a lot of experience to gain but also a lot to share.”

Fans reacted after seeing this former England player is now serving as a police officer, why not check out the fan reaction for yourself…

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