As Bailey Wright sat in the Craven Cottage change room just moments away from making his Socceroos debut, he must have taken a minute to revel in his achievement.
It was 5am on Tuesday back in Australia. He could have been en route to the building site with his dad, Andy. Instead, he was preparing to tick off one of the most desired items on his bucket list.
His story is a familiar one. Having been overlooked by the Australian Institute of Sport, Wright’s mature sense told him to hand in the dream and play it safe.
Were the pathways then what they are now, it is likely the Victorian would have kickstarted his professional career as a burgeoning A-League product. But the Wright family threw everything towards the popular UK route – one last shot for Bailey.
“In all honesty, when I was in Australia I was playing for the VIS [Victorian Institute of Sport] and I spoke to my Dad and said ‘I don’t know what I want to do, I’m running out of pathways here so I might quit and just work with you’,” he told The Roar.
“I was always committed in everything I did but I looked at things from a realistic point of view. I was at that age where you have to start pursuing something and for me, my pathways were running out and I wasn’t sure if it would be the right thing for me.
“I loved football but I felt like I had a bit of bad luck and that all changed when I came here.
“It could have been a bit less pressure knowing I had something to fall back on but there was always that added motivation that if I didn’t do well I’d be back on the building site doing long hours and something less enjoyable than football.
“Now and then when I go home I’ll go and work with dad and he always says ‘if you don’t put in the hard work you’ll be back working with me’.”
Six years on, Wright has embedded himself into Preston North End folklore. He is currently the club’s longest-serving player, with 120 appearances. At just 22.
It’s been a ride that has earned tame parallels to the early days of late club-legend Sir Tom Finney, who remains PNE’s only other player to reach a World Cup.
Wright’s mettle was tested prior to renewing his contract in the 2012-13 season, as Premier League and Championship clubs took notice of a young Aussie who, at times, looked peerless.
“I think it crosses the mind of any footballer,” he said. “Obviously everyone wants to play at the highest possible level and take whatever opportunities come, but for me I wanted to sign as soon as I was offered a new deal.
“I didn’t look anywhere else, I didn’t want to know about it, I just wanted to keep enjoying my football here.
“You always want to play at the highest level but it’s also important that you enjoy your football and you’re part of a good atmosphere.
“We’ve got that here and we’re all working together to make sure the club gets back to where it belongs.
“It’s a big club, it’s got great facilities, a great support base and a great history that everyone knows about. There have been some real legends that have played for the club, so to get them back to where they belong would be a great achievement for everyone here.”
Having scored what proved to be the winner in his Socceroos bow against Saudi Arabia and steering North End into the top six after a bright start to the season, Wright could have been forgiven for expecting a second cap as the recent international break approached.
But he learnt of the fickleness that is international football when he was omitted from Ange Postecoglou’s squad for the matches against UAE and Qatar.
Wright used the setback to nurse a chronic groin problem, which has seen him rested from Preston’s line-up for two matches.
Despite being touted as a regular in the Socceroos fold, Wright is well aware he has work to do if he is to return to Australia in January for the Asian Cup.
“It’s a definite added motivation,” he said. “To be part for the Asian Cup on Australian soil would be amazing. But you have to make sure you play well at club level because if you don’t then that opportunity doesn’t happen.
“You have to take things week by week and hopefully come Asian Cup things can look in your favour. There is no better place to represent Australia in such a big competition.”
Although one eye will be on the January tournament, Wright will feel a more pressing obligation to steer Preston towards promotion and subsequently avoid making one of the toughest decisions of his maturing career.
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