Walter Bartley Wilson
Encyclopedia
Walter Bartley Wilson was an artist, and is seen as the mainstay in the foundation of Cardiff City Football Club.
, Bristol
, the son of Thomas Wilson, a brushmaker, and Sarah Hathaway, a teacher. He was born with a clubfoot. By 1891 he was orphan
ed and along with his cousin, Arthur Spurll (who would go on to become editor of the Bristol Evening Post
), he was brought up by his grandmother Jane Hathaway in Barossa Place, Bristol
.
, in time for his son to be born. He worked as a lithographic
Artist.
and worried that his beloved cricket team would become separated during the winter months. He noted that the round ball game had taken root within his home of Bristol. Bristol City and Bristol Rovers both became professional by 1901. Wilson came up with the idea of forming a football team in his now adopted city of Cardiff, and, after putting up a poster in the Riverside Pavilion, Riverside A.F.C was formed in 1899. The Committee with Bartley Wilson elected as Secretary was made up of A.J. Stone, George Pearce, Jimmy Redfern, Stanley Barrett, Andrew Sheen, E.W. Holder, Billy Canter and Frank Burfitt - some of whom were to feature in early team line-ups.
In 1908, Riverside A.F.C became Cardiff City
following Cardiff's award of city status
and finally in 1910, after a dogged and constant badgering of the authorities, Cardiff City became a professional club, joining the Southern Football League
. In 1933, following the retirement of Fred Stewart
, Wilson took over as manager of the club for 9 months before stepping aside to bring in Ben Watts-Jones
.
Bartley Wilson died and is buried in Western Cemetery on the outskirts of Cardiff.
Childhood
He was born in St Mary RedcliffeSt Mary Redcliffe
St. Mary Redcliffe is an Anglican parish church located in the Redcliffe district of the English port city of Bristol, close to the city centre. Constructed from the 12th to the 15th centuries, the church is a Grade 1 listed building, St...
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, the son of Thomas Wilson, a brushmaker, and Sarah Hathaway, a teacher. He was born with a clubfoot. By 1891 he was orphan
Orphan
An orphan is a child permanently bereaved of or abandoned by his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan...
ed and along with his cousin, Arthur Spurll (who would go on to become editor of the Bristol Evening Post
Bristol Evening Post
The Bristol Evening Post is a newspaper covering news in the city of Bristol, including stories from the whole of Greater Bristol, Northern Somerset and South Gloucestershire....
), he was brought up by his grandmother Jane Hathaway in Barossa Place, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.
Private life
Bartley Wilson married his wife Sarah two days after Christmas in 1894 and in 1895 moved to 6 Green Street, Riverside, CardiffRiverside, Cardiff
Riverside is an inner-city southern area of Cardiff, capital of Wales. Riverside is also the name of the electoral ward, which can be split into two very different parts, Riverside and Pontcanna...
, in time for his son to be born. He worked as a lithographic
Lithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
Artist.
Establishment of football clubs
Wilson was a fan of cricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and worried that his beloved cricket team would become separated during the winter months. He noted that the round ball game had taken root within his home of Bristol. Bristol City and Bristol Rovers both became professional by 1901. Wilson came up with the idea of forming a football team in his now adopted city of Cardiff, and, after putting up a poster in the Riverside Pavilion, Riverside A.F.C was formed in 1899. The Committee with Bartley Wilson elected as Secretary was made up of A.J. Stone, George Pearce, Jimmy Redfern, Stanley Barrett, Andrew Sheen, E.W. Holder, Billy Canter and Frank Burfitt - some of whom were to feature in early team line-ups.
In 1908, Riverside A.F.C became Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
following Cardiff's award of city status
City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...
and finally in 1910, after a dogged and constant badgering of the authorities, Cardiff City became a professional club, joining the Southern Football League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
. In 1933, following the retirement of Fred Stewart
Fred Stewart (football manager)
Frederick Stewart was an English football manager. Despite managing for 39 years he only ever took charge of two clubs, Stockport County and Cardiff City, and he holds the record for longest serving manager in the history of both clubs....
, Wilson took over as manager of the club for 9 months before stepping aside to bring in Ben Watts-Jones
Ben Watts-Jones
Benjamin Watts-Jones was a former Welsh football manager and chairman.Watts-Jones had been a director and chairman of Swansea Town, helping them gain admission to The Football League in 1921, as well as serving on the selection committee of the Football Association of Wales when he was appointed...
.
Bartley Wilson died and is buried in Western Cemetery on the outskirts of Cardiff.
Managerial statistics
| Team | Country | From | To | Record | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
| Cardiff City Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... |
 |
May 1933 | February 1934 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 16 | ||
| Total | 28 | 8 | 4 | 16 | |||||