Phil Wright: Goodbye to the gentle giant of Leicestershire

OLIVER THORPE: Head coach Paul Nixon and chief executive Sean Jarvis lead the tributes to the caring and compassionate dressing-room attendant at Grace Road who passed away in November

Every cricket club, from county to village green, has a character that will do anything to help it succeed.

This grey Christmas, Leicestershire are coming to terms with the loss of one of their own.

Phil Wright, or ‘Big Phil’ as he was affectionately known, was a dressing room attendant since 1986, but sadly passed away last month at the age of 60.

The outpouring of grief and series of emotional tributes across social media as the news of Wright's passing broke illustrated quite clearly just how loved and respected Wright was at Grace Road, and just how much he will be missed when the new season rolls around in April.

Leicestershire’s chief executive, Sean Jarvis led the tributes in a conversation with The Cricketer.

"It has been a tough year to say the least, but when you lose one of your own it’s even harder," he said.

"The game is made up of characters and every club will have their characters and those individuals that live and breathe their club. Big Phil was one of those individuals that gave it his all – he’s left a big hole. We’re struggling to think how we’re going to fill those shoes."

Head coach Paul Nixon remembered a man who seemed to be a permanent presence around Grace Road for decades.

"Phil was a gentle giant, a real unsung hero and a real fan of Leicestershire county cricket club," he said. "He loved the people, he loved being around everybody, he loved the positivity of the place and I think that helped him as well; our positivity and what we were trying to achieve as a club was something that really helped Phil in his life.

"Phil epitomises what every hardcore cricket fan is. Sadly, those individuals are few and far between nowadays."

"He just cared about the club and about the people. He used to walk to work every day and at lunchtimes, he would have nipped back to make sure his brother was okay. There were days when Phil didn’t lock up until midnight or after and he was back in at five or six in the morning to get everything prepared for the next day."

Wright always enjoyed a laugh with the players over the decades and was described as the “best sweeper and reverse sweeper in the club” as he went about his business with his brush. In conversations with his friends and colleagues, The Cricketer hears how he appreciated a practical joke, and loved ringing the changing-room bell to make unsuspecting victims jump.

"We’ve got quite a young group so the longest any of the guys might have known Phil was five or six years," says Nixon. "Chris Wright and Arron Lilley might have known him a bit longer as opposition but even the coaching staff have known staff for many years.

"He was old school; he had old-school values and old-school disciplines. He had so much time for the lads."

Nixon played in Wright's early days with the Foxes and recalls the hours after Leicestershire won the County Championship in the mid-1990s.

"It was mayhem in the ground and people were doing the conga," Nixon said. "There were some really drunk people in the ground later on that evening and Phil called on our help to sort them out.  

"He was a really fun guy who had everyone in his heart and wanted everybody to do well. Phil thrived on the banter of our team. He’d talk about each player in the team and how good they were, how they were going to go on and play for England or this, that and the other."

^{Paul Nixon spoke in glowing terms regarding Phil Wright}

Nixon recalled a man of immense kindness, who went about his business without fuss and was loved by the entire cricketing community – including players at other counties.

"He was really proactive and positive with his comments all the time and that was something that we’ll miss around the place. He was always smiling, always cheerful and super shy in a way – he never wanted any recognition or thanks. He would have blushed if you ever thanked him for anything.

"He fitted in perfectly. He had a gentle and careful nature who always had time for everybody and wanted to help people. He made sure that the dressing room was immaculate, especially during a four-day game when you had kit everywhere.

"Clothes would have been washed and folded without being asked. But that wasn’t just our dressing room, it was also the opposition’s."

"Someone was telling me recently about the time Freddie Flintoff was here," explained Jarvis. "Obviously, the crowds would’ve been bigger than normal and Flintoff wasn’t bothered about any of the autograph hunters or anything like that, he made a beeline for Phil to shake his hand and say ‘good to see you’. That shows you that there are legends off the field as well as on and Big Phil was one of those."

The touching tributes made by both Jarvis and Nixon highlight just how highly Wright was regarded.

"Phil epitomises what every hardcore cricket fan is," said Jarvis. "Sadly, those individuals are few and far between nowadays. When they come along, they leave such a big impression as did Phil. You hope there’s another Phil around the corner because that’s what cricket is built on – those characters and the people that make clubs so special.

"A lot of the staff here worked with him for a very, very long time. They were in tears so sent them all home. As I was walking around the stadium, there were people turning up with flowers to put where Phil would normally stand.  We’ve had messages from all over the world; people that knew him, people who met him – it has been quite touching really.

^{Wright was highly thought of at Grace Road}

"The fella must have made an impression on so many people with the number of messages that we’ve got.  

"He was such a gentleman; so humble, would do anything for anyone and as far as anything Leicestershire was concerned, nothing was ever too much trouble. He was a real gentleman of the club."

Leicestershire are planning ways to ensure that Wright's legacy lives on for many years to come.

"He was a true servant of the club in every sense of the word and a little bit of Leicestershire has died along with Phil. While he may be gone, he won’t be forgotten and we’ll make sure that his memory lives on.

"We’re working now on how we can pay tribute to Phil. He used to ring the bell, so we’ve decided that we’re going to buy a bell and have a plaque for him too. We discussed it in the member forum and a member donated £250 straight up which is a lovely gesture."

Leicestershire are looking to push themselves on the field and make a charge for a County Championship in the not-so-distant future and Nixon is adamant that whenever that is accomplished there will be a bit of Phil in that triumph.

"Our top goal or top aim is to get into the top-flight and win the County Championship again," he says. "I won’t stop until we’ve done it and I know big Phil would’ve wanted that as well so let’s do it for the big man."

Gift a subscription to The Cricketer this Christmas and choose your free gift (a £20 John Lewis gift card or copy of Bob Willis: A Cricketer & A Gentleman). Subscribe here