That was, of course, two seasons ago, and yet the hostility felt towards the Wolverhampton born footballer was still in evidence when Shrewsbury visited Bristol for their League 2 clash with Rovers, boos ringing around the terraces every time Wright touched the ball.
It is a tale that doesn't just involve Wright, his best friend in the game, Carl Regan, has also been on the receiving end of vitriol from the Rovers faithful, vitriol that, at one point, went a step too far.
Having spent two seasons at MK Dons, winning the League 2 title and the Johnstone's Paint Trophy during the course, Wright was allowed a free transfer by Paul Ince, joining fellow League 1 side Brighton & Hove Albion. After just five appearances in an Albion shirt Wright secured a move to Bristol Rovers, not even having been under contract at the Withdean Stadium for six weeks. The claim from all parties was that he had failed to settle on the south coast. Brighton still made a profit from the sale to Rovers, rumoured to be in the region of £30,000.
Wright went straight into the Rovers team, facing Millwall for the second time in eight days, and had a spell in the side that lasted throughout the winter and into the new year. Wright was finally dropped from a regular starting XI berth on February 9th, his last appearance for Rovers at their Filton Avenue ground, he would play just one further minute for the club, coming on as an 89th minute substitute against Brighton on April 24th.
Over this period Wright had a number two marked next to his name in the assists column, though his performances in the blue and white quarters of the Pirates were largely ineffectual. Wright was demonised by the fanbase as a slacker who made little effort to get forward and rarely picked out a forward pass. Those facts can't be argued with and after a few games supporters grew weary of such displays, noticeably getting on the wingers back, but it can't all be put down to form and confidence, both areas in which he was found lacking.
During his time with MK Dons Wright was allowed freedom in the attacking formation of Paul Ince and and paid back his manager during 2007/08 by finishing as the clubs top scorer, claiming 15 goals and helping his side to the aforementioned double. His debut season in League 1 with the Dons didn't go quite so well, Wright netted just five times, though flashes of talent were shown. He was deemed surplus to the requirements of a club that were gunning for promotion at the third tiers top end, thus moving onto Brighton.
His manager at Rovers would be Paul Trollope, well known for his outright defensive and thoroughly negative tactics. Wright was thrown onto the right hand side, not to play as an out and out winger but to help support the team in their defensive duties. His natural instincts, bred into him over two seasons at Stadium:MK, were not allowed to flourish as he was instructed to double back on opposition wingers, running the flanks in the way that Wright no doubt wished to.
Bereft of confidence and with fans breathing down his neck Wright could, should, have been made to fight hard for his place, he was instead left in the team to suffer by the stubborn Trollope. With little improvement in performances forthcoming Wright began to make his own bed, his attitude lacking in subtlety as he loped around the pitch, seemingly without a care in the world.
Wright's move to Rovers was predated by the club signing Carl Regan, the two were teammates at MK Dons. Regan began his Rovers career with solid displays and was a top performer for the first few months of the season, though the appearance of his buddy, Wright, on the scene was thrown into the ring as a reason for his form dropping over the course of 2009/10
At the front end of the next season Wright was shipped out on loan to Shrewsbury, becoming an instant hit at the Greenhous Meadow, scoring ten goals before January when his switch was made permanent.
Meanwhile Regan had started the season in good form at Rovers, until, that was, a straight red card was flashed his way in a 3-0 home defeat to Leyton Orient. As he left the pitch the crimes of last season resurfaced amongst those on the terraces and he was booed as he traipsed down the tunnel. He never regained his form and on 23rd of February went out on loan to Notts County, a move which was met by a comment from Wright, via Twitter, that his friend had moved onto better things, Rovers struggling, eventually in vain, against relegation.
Many of the online Gas contingent were still following Wright at this point and, soon enough, abuse was sent the way of the 29 year old. The keyboard warriors continued to fire insults Wright's way before someone went over the top. An account 'wright2s***e' was created and posted on the social networking site '@markwright82 [Mark Wright's Twitter user name] don't worry mark now you've left brfc you've got a better chance of playing in the african nations or shrewsbury zoo'.
This comment was simply 'retweeted' by Wright, meaning that anybody who followed him via Twitter would see the posting. Wright is no longer on Twitter, the wright2shite profile is still live, though totally inactive since the incident
Eventually the situation settled down, Wright scored four more goals and finished as top scorer as the Shrews lost out in the play-off semi-finals. Regan was released by Rovers and subsequently joined the Shropshire club. The latter would miss out on the game at the Memorial Stadium, announcing his injury via Twitter, receiving further uncouth replies from a small segment of Rovers fans.
Wright, however, would take to the pitch in his sides losing effort. Catcalls were sent his way throughout a contest in which he would no doubt have liked to put in a match-winning performance, though in the end he flattered to deceive. While twisting and turning the defenders successfully he didn't provide the end product to match. Wright's match was summed up when his late corner failed to beat the first man and flew high up into the air. It fell for Wright himself to control, dropping onto his foot and skidding out for a home throw in to great cheers from the much of the support.
It is a sorry saga that shines neither Wright or Rovers in a good light, they would both like to put it behind them. The fans, however, will not forget the whole deplorable situation, though a modicum of amnesia would, perhaps, be for the better.
There are Wrights and wrongs on both sides.
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