When a footballing legend like Bert Barlow says you're good, then it's not a bad accolade.

The 1939 FA Cup-winning keeper for Portsmouth keeps his finger on the footballing pulse and has seen some good youngsters in his time. Nine-year-old Jamie Wright is a good 'un, but he has a lot to live up to.

Barlow was talking to Peter Wright at the Colchester United legend's surprise 65th birthday earlier this week about Jamie and asked if he was any relation.

Big and strong with a lot of skill and flair - no wonder he was related to THE Wrights.

And it was no surprise even at that tender age, Colchester United should sign young Jamie to make him the third generation of Wrights to put pen to paper at Layer Road.

Grandad Peter made his debut for the U's in March 1952 against Northampton, stayed until 1964 and is second only behind Micky Cook in appearances.

Jamie's dad Steve Wright wore the famous blue and white stripes from 1977-1982 before going on to play in Finland then Wrexham.

New rules mean clubs can secure youngsters until they are 16 before putting them on other forms and, in this million pound age, it can prove lucrative.

Grandad Peter never made a fortune from football.

For the most part he stayed semi-professional and worked at Paxmans during the week, a common practice at the time.

After making 448 appearances and scoring 98 goals as a winger for the U's, he went to Haverhill and carried on playing until he was 44 before managing local sides.

But Jamie will no doubt have heard the story a hundred times of how his grandad was the first player to score a league goal against World Cup-winning keeper Gordon Banks back in 1957 when he made his debut for Chesterfield.

And it is thought Peter was the first player to score in the league under floodlights when the U's beat Reading 3-0 on the same night Crystal Palace drew 0-0.

Steve is one of six children and there was more than a bit of tongue in cheek going on at Peter's surprise party when one of his daughters gave him a Viagra tablet as a present.

Jamie's dad Steve also has a few claims to fame and not just currently being the joint-manager of Harwich and still getting the occasional game.

He signed for the U's as a 17-year-old in 1976 and won a reputation as a no-nonsense defender.

After making 156 appearances, he left the U's following the departure of manager Bobby Roberts and went to HJK Helsinki, where made his first appearance in the European Cup.

He played against Liverpool and Helsinki pulled off a shock 1-0 win in the first leg before succumbing 5-0 at Anfield.

But Ian Rush, who Wright had been assigned to mark, failed to score in either game.

Steve went to Wrexham and won the Welsh Cup then played in the Cup Winners Cup, beating FC Porto before losing to Roma in the last of his eight European matches.

Although now a Colchester player, Jamie will be dreaming of playing in Europe with his favourite team Manchester United.

He is already experiencing the glory fame brings with his head teacher announcing his signing at assembly at Cherrywood Primary School in Mersea Road.

Both Peter and Steve are immensely proud of Jamie's promise.

Peter said: "Bert Barlow has always had his nose to the ground regarding new players and he said he had seen and heard good things about Jamie. It is lovely to see his talent.

"We have penalty shoot outs in the garden and you could see Jamie had that extra bit of ability. What clubs do for kids nowadays is tremendous.

"We know he will be looked after, at that age they need nursing along."

Dad Steve likens Jamie to Arsenal's Patrick Viera.

He said: "His is strong and tall for his age. He has a terrific talent with good control. Like a lot of lads today, he has good skills and knows a lot of tricks, which I can't do.

"I'm delighted he has joined Colchester and if he can go on to play in the first team it will be a great achievement."

Micky Cook, now the youth development officer at Layer Road, joked: "Those Wrights keep hounding me. I broke Peter's record, I played with Steve, now there is another one.

"Still if he is a patch on either of those two, we will have a helluva player on our hands."

Jamie is highly thought of at Layer Road but then he is bound to be - after all he is made of the Wright stuff.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.