Everton legend and former England defender Tommy Wright has sadly died at the age of 81, the Toffees have confirmed. The Premier League club released a statement on Tuesday night confirming the tragic news. Wright was a one-club man before being forced to retire in 1974 due to injury, a decade after his debut at Goodison Park.

Everton's statement read: "Tommy Wright, one of the finest full-backs ever to grace Goodison Park, has sadly passed away at the age of 81. An FA Cup winner in 1966, league champion in 1970 and regular England international, Tommy made 374 appearances for his only club. Rest in peace, Tommy."

Wright made 374 appearances for the Merseyside club, scoring four goals, and was named as a member of Gwladys Street's Hall of Fame in 1996. He is regarded as one of the club's best ever right-backs.

On the club's website, Everton say: "Tommy Wright enjoyed a magnificent Everton career. A tough, reliable defender, Wright was an ever-present in the 1969/70 Championship-winning campaign. Four years earlier, the England international had also helped Everton win the FA Cup against Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley."

At international level, Wright earned 12 caps for England including an appearance against Brazil in the 1970 World Cup. He was named an Everton Giant nine years ago and upon receiving the award, said: "Thank you for this award - it makes me very proud.

"All my life, I wanted to be an Evertonian and when I signed on at the age of 15, it made my day. It's my joy to receive this award."

Fellow Blues legend Joe Royle said of Wright: "Lots of people have won awards in football but this has never been more deserving. I've said it before but he was the best right-back I was fortunate to play with. I've been watching Everton a long time and he is still the best I have seen in a Blue shirt."