CHARLIE Wright – the flamboyant goalkeeper who helped Wanderers win the Third Division title in 1973 and went on to manage the club, has passed away at the age of 86.

The Glaswegian had already enjoyed a rich footballing career by the time he was signed by Jimmy Armfield to take on the gloves from Alan Boswell and Peter Clarke the previous season.

Wright began his career in the reserve side at Rangers before moving into the English Football League with Workington and playing 123 games for the club.

He also did a spell of national service, which would see him stationed in Hong Hong, during which time he also picked up a cap for the colony against Peru and eventually winning a player of the year award.

He moved to Grimsby Town in 1963, playing 129 times, and then to Charlton Athletic three years later, becoming a much-loved character on the terraces at The Valley. As legend has it, Wright would sometimes spark up a cigarette when play was at the other end of the pitch to entertain the fans.

Released by Charlton in 1971 he was recruited by Armfield and was ever-present in what was Bolton’s first-ever season in the third tier. He then featured 53 times in total during the title-winning 1972/73 season but soon had to step aside because of a back injury, which gave Barry Siddall the opportunity to become Bolton’s number one.

Wright coached Wanderers’ youth team before a three-year spell in charge of York City. He returned to Bolton as reserve team and goalkeeping coach in 1981 and was promoted to first team coach in 1983, working alongside John McGovern, with Walter Joyce moving to the reserves.

When McGovern left Burnden Park in February 1985 Wright was placed in temporary charge, and his side earned five consecutive victories in the three weeks that the club debated their next move. That form earned him the job over several more experienced candidates interviewed.

Unfortunately for Wright, the success did not continue. He won just one of his first 10 games after being appointed with the club dropping to the fringes of the relegation zone.

After bringing Sam Allardyce back to Burnden the following summer alongside other experienced heads like Asa Hartford, Dave Sutton and David Cross, it was hoped the club could push for promotion. But a first round FA Cup exit against Fourth Division Wrexham and relatively few highlights in the league left Wright sacked on December 6, 1985, his last game being a 2-0 defeat against Bristol City.

A club statement read: “Our thoughts are with Charlie’s family and friends at this time and, as a club, we will pay our respects at Sunday's home game against Lincoln City. Players will wear black armbands and there will be a minute's applause before kick-off.”