Ian Wright reveals how he was bullied by Jim Cannon while at Crystal Palace | OneFootball

Highlights

Ian Wright, formerly of Arsenal and Crystal Palace, enjoyed a terrific playing career in the centre-forward role, totting up 113 goals in the Premier League – a return that puts him 23rd in the list of the division’s all-time top goalscorers. Despite being a late bloomer, the 33-cap England international made his mark in north London with his potent finishing and infectious character, though the former is often overlooked thanks to the latter.

But it would be remiss to disregard his instincts as a Premier League-proven talisman. That said, his career wasn’t always straightforward and he, like many others, was faced with adversity as he was starting out in the game.

On an episode of the 'Stick to Football' podcast, alongside Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane, Wright explained that it wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows, especially in the embryonic stages of his career while he was at Palace. He pinpointed one player, Jim Cannon, that he coined as being a ‘bully’.

Wright pinpoints one Crystal Palace player who was a ‘bully’

The striker played for Palace between 1985 and 1991

When quizzed by podcast host and former Manchester United defender Neville whether he ever shared the dressing room with someone that he tended not to get along with, the 60-year-old striker-turned-pundit pinpointed one player who caused him misery in the early stages of his Palace stint. Wright plied his trade at Selhurst Park between 1985 and 1991 before moving to Arsenal, and for him, Cannon made his initial days at the club very difficult.

The lovable Wright then went on to explain how Coppell, the Palace boss at the time, said he would ‘have a word’ with Cannon. However, it didn’t have much of the desired effect, and Cannon then left Selhurst Park the following campaign.

Cannon, now 70, rose to prominence at the west London-based outfit after shining in the youth set-up. The Glasgow-born centre-back totted up more than 500 appearances for Palace between 1973 and 1988, before moving to Croydon. He also enjoyed stints at Dartford, Bristol Rovers and Dulwich Hamlet before turning his hand to management for Chipstead.

Wright was too nervous to go back at Cannon

Keane and Carragher both offered their support

Carragher, knowing Wright’s character, then asked if he ever stood up to Cannon afterwards. And the Arsenal legend revealed he didn’t ‘go back at him’, stating that he was scared of the experienced defender.

Neville then thanked Wright for the ‘sobering’ finish to the story, while Keane jumped to his defence, claiming that there are a lot of footballers who share the same persona, unfortunately for the sport. You can watch the full video for yourselves below.