Ian Wright’s football story is one of a boy with humble beginnings making good after a long and difficult struggle. The third son of Jamaican immigrants, he was brought up by his mother and could never quite crystalize his dream of becoming a professional footballer. He had largely given up on the idea when a stint in jail for non-payment of fines caused him to renew his determination to make good.
His promise to himself and to his wife, then pregnant with their first child, had its first chance at becoming more than a fantasy when he was approached by the talent scout for Crystal Palace while he was playing for Dulwich Hamlet. His trial was sufficiently impressive that it earned him a place on the team, something for which they were extremely thankful after Wright scored nine goals during his first season with the team. In 1991 he moved to playing for Arsenal, where he scored 185 further goals before moving briefly to play for West Ham United.
Far from being retired and forgotten, Wright now has a successful television career and is known for his eccentric style. It’s this personal je ne sais quoi that has played into the idea of creating a competition to design and 3D print a pair of glasses frames for the stylish pundit. The contest is offered by Floreon and challenges designers to, using Floreon’s biopolymer filaments, create a pair of spectacles sufficiently, well, spectacular for one of England’s greatest ever goal scorers.
The winner of the competition not only gets the personal satisfaction of having their glasses used by Wright, but also gets an Ultimaker 2+ 3D desktop printer, a set of custom made designer glasses from the same shop as Wright, and a year’s supply of Floreon filament. To sweeten the deal, they also get a signed copy of Wright’s book – easier to read through their amazing new glasses. A life size 3D printed version of the footballer will also be created and it too will don the prize winning specs. Wright himself has expressed enthusiasm about this project:
“I am really excited to be part of the Floreon team and involved in this project. I am also excited to be 3D printed. There have been 3D printed football boots but as far as I’m aware, no-one has 3D printed a life-size ex-footballer, so it will be fun to be the first. And I hope it will make people aware that there are alternatives to oil based plastics that are more than fit for purpose, and don’t harm the environment. I am delighted to support Floreon. I have a large family, and I am very passionate about creating a better future for them and everyone.”
With these kinds of prizes and this enthusiastic spokesperson, it’s hard to resist the call for entries. The template for the glasses is available through MyMiniFactory, as are all of the details for how to enter the competition. Submissions are being accepted until December 17. Prepare yourself to be the Floreon ambassador, with all of the associated bragging rights.
