David Wilson (footballer born 1884)
Encyclopedia
David Wilson was a Scottish
professional footballer who played as a wing half. He started his career in the Scottish Football League
and went on to play 475 matches in the Football League
before retiring at the age of 40. He appeared in one international match for Scotland
in 1913. After retiring, he became manager of Nelson
and Exeter City
.
. He was one of four brothers who played professional football; his brother Andrew was also a Scotland international, while James spent the majority of his career with St. Mirren
and Alex played for Oldham Athletic
. After his retirement from football management, he worked as a stockbroker.
. He failed to make an appearance in his first season, but played twice in 1902–03, scoring one goal. He left in 1903 to join Division Two side Hamilton Academical
, where he stayed for one season, playing five league games for the club. In 1904, he moved to England to join Football League Second Division
side Bradford City
. He made 12 league appearances and scored one goal in two years with the team, but left at the end of the 1905–06 campaign.
Wilson signed for Lancashire Combination
outfit Oldham Athletic
in the summer of 1906 and became a first-team regular almost at once, playing 38 matches and scoring two goals in his inaugural season. For the 1907–08 campaign, Oldham joined the Football League Second Division, and Wilson appeared in every league match between 1907 and 1911. He scored two goals in the 1909–10 season as Oldham achieved promotion to the Football League First Division
. He continued to play regularly until the outbreak of the First World War, when competitive football in England was stopped at the end of the 1914–15 campaign.
On 5 April 1913, Wilson made his international debut for Scotland
in the 0–1 defeat to England
at Stamford Bridge
, in which he played alongside his brother Andrew. After the end of the war, he kept his place in the Oldham side when the league recommenced, appearing in every match of the 1919–20 season. At the conclusion of the 1920–21 campaign, Wilson left Oldham Athletic, having played 368 league matches and scored 16 goals in a 15-year spell with the club.
Wilson joined newly-promoted Football League Third Division North
team Nelson
in 1921. He was appointed player-manager and handed the role of taking charge of the team's inaugural season in the Football League. He played 34 matches in his first season with Nelson and scored three goals, including one penalty kick
, the first he had scored in his career. Wilson went on to play 30 league games in the following campaign, leading his team to promotion to the Second Division. He played a further 31 matches for Nelson before retiring from playing at the end of the 1923–24 season, at the age of 40.
in the Football League Third Division South
between March 1928 and February 1929. He was in charge of the team for 42 matches, with the side winning 11 matches, drawing 10 and losing 21. The club struggled under Wilson's tenure and finished 21st out of 22 in the division the season he left.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
professional footballer who played as a wing half. He started his career in the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
and went on to play 475 matches in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
before retiring at the age of 40. He appeared in one international match for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in 1913. After retiring, he became manager of Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
and Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
.
Personal
Wilson was born on 14 January 1884 in Irvine, North AyrshireIrvine, North Ayrshire
Irvine is a new town on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. According to 2007 population estimates, the town is home to 39,527 inhabitants, making it the biggest settlement in North Ayrshire....
. He was one of four brothers who played professional football; his brother Andrew was also a Scotland international, while James spent the majority of his career with St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
and Alex played for Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
. After his retirement from football management, he worked as a stockbroker.
Playing career
Wilson's started playing football with junior side Irvine Meadow. His professional career started in 1901 when he signed for Scottish League Division One club St. MirrenSt. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
. He failed to make an appearance in his first season, but played twice in 1902–03, scoring one goal. He left in 1903 to join Division Two side Hamilton Academical
Hamilton Academical F.C.
Hamilton Academical Football Club, often known as Hamilton Academical, or Accies, are a Scottish football club from Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. They were established in 1874 from the school football team at Hamilton Academy. They remain the only professional club in British football to have...
, where he stayed for one season, playing five league games for the club. In 1904, he moved to England to join Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
side Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
. He made 12 league appearances and scored one goal in two years with the team, but left at the end of the 1905–06 campaign.
Wilson signed for Lancashire Combination
Lancashire Combination
The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League...
outfit Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
in the summer of 1906 and became a first-team regular almost at once, playing 38 matches and scoring two goals in his inaugural season. For the 1907–08 campaign, Oldham joined the Football League Second Division, and Wilson appeared in every league match between 1907 and 1911. He scored two goals in the 1909–10 season as Oldham achieved promotion to the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. He continued to play regularly until the outbreak of the First World War, when competitive football in England was stopped at the end of the 1914–15 campaign.
On 5 April 1913, Wilson made his international debut for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in the 0–1 defeat to England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
, in which he played alongside his brother Andrew. After the end of the war, he kept his place in the Oldham side when the league recommenced, appearing in every match of the 1919–20 season. At the conclusion of the 1920–21 campaign, Wilson left Oldham Athletic, having played 368 league matches and scored 16 goals in a 15-year spell with the club.
Wilson joined newly-promoted Football League Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
team Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
in 1921. He was appointed player-manager and handed the role of taking charge of the team's inaugural season in the Football League. He played 34 matches in his first season with Nelson and scored three goals, including one penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
, the first he had scored in his career. Wilson went on to play 30 league games in the following campaign, leading his team to promotion to the Second Division. He played a further 31 matches for Nelson before retiring from playing at the end of the 1923–24 season, at the age of 40.
Management career
Wilson continued as manager of Nelson despite his retirement but left the club at the end of the 1924–25 season, despite the team having finished as runners-up in the Third Division North. He subsequently spent three years working as a stockbroker, before having a spell in charge of Exeter CityExeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
in the Football League Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
between March 1928 and February 1929. He was in charge of the team for 42 matches, with the side winning 11 matches, drawing 10 and losing 21. The club struggled under Wilson's tenure and finished 21st out of 22 in the division the season he left.