BEWDLEY Town have the best Christmas present they could have hoped for with news that club captain and central defender Sean Wright has been released from hospital.

Wright discovered he had a cyst on his backbone which burst and poisoned much of his body to the point where he needed a new valve in his heart.

Club secretary Steve Godfrey confirmed: "It's fantastic news! I think it's fair to say that Sean was at death's door at one stage.

"He'd been having trouble with his back for some considerable time, which Sean thought was a muscular problem.

"Sean was rushed into hospital back in September and I'm told, if he hadn't been so fit, then he might not have survived.

"The poison infected his liver and kidney to the point where Sean was in intensive care for a couple of months.

"I still don't know whether Sean will ever be able to play again, but it will be great just to see him back down at the club in whatever capacity."

Wright, a school teacher at Baxter College, lives on Ferndale and previously played for Cradley Town and the Harriers Trust.

Bewdley's home game with Willenhall Town was called off this week owing to a waterlogged Ribbesford Meadow pitch.

They travel to Shifnal Town this Saturday in a West Midlands League match when manager Phil Mullen has a full squad to select from.

Mullen said: "I think we will do well during the second half of the season and I've set the players a challenge of winning more points than anyone else."