George Wilson (footballer, born 1883)

George Williamson Wilson (8 September 1883 – 31 May 1960) was a Scottish professional footballer, who spent the greatest part of his career with Newcastle United and also played for Heart of Midlothian and Everton.

For other people with the same name, see George Wilson (disambiguation).

George Wilson
Personal information
Full name George Williamson Wilson
Date of birth 8 September 1883[1][2]
Place of birth Lochgelly, Scotland
Date of death 31 May 1960(1960-05-31) (aged 76)
Place of death Vancouver, Canada
Height 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)[3]
Position(s)
Youth career
Thomson Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1902–1903 Cowdenbeath
1903–1906 Heart of Midlothian  75 (29)
1906–1907 Everton  28 (3)
1907 Distillery  
1907–1915 Newcastle United  176 (25)
1915–1920 Raith Rovers  57 (4)
1920–1921 East Fife  
– Vancouver St Andrew's
National team
1904–1909 Scotland 6 (0)
1906 Scottish League XI 1 (0)
Teams managed
1926–1927 Raith Rovers
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

An outside left, Wilson began his career with a series of local Fife clubs, including then non-league Cowdenbeath.[4] In 1903 he signed for First Division Heart of Midlothian, at that time struggling due to financial concerns. An economic restructuring in 1905 revitalised the club though, and Wilson was a regular in the side[3] as Hearts finished 2nd in the league and won the Scottish Cup in 1905–06 – he scored the winning goal in the final against holders Third Lanark, a tap-in in the 81st minute after a Bobby Walker shot had been blocked.[5]

Wilson moved south to England at that season's conclusion, sold to Everton[6] in a £725 joint deal alongside his brother David.[7][8] His stay on Merseyside was brief however, and ended in a bitter dispute with the club over a registration issue and a potential transfer to Portsmouth (the club his brother did successfully join in the close season),[9][10] during which he missed out on a place in the 1907 FA Cup Final team, and vowed that he would not play for Everton again and would quit the game if necessary.[10] During their stay in Liverpool, the Wilsons also endured the loss of two of their brothers at home in separate incidents.[11]

After a short spell with Irish side Distillery whilst still registered as an Everton player, Wilson joined Newcastle United for £1,600 in November 1907,[9] a then record transfer fee. Playing on the left wing, he made 218 appearances and scored 33 goals for the Magpies,[12] helping them to the English League title in the 1908–09 season and the FA Cup in 1910. Wilson was nicknamed "Smiler" during his time on Tyneside, although this was a sarcastic epithet, as he was a rather dour character. He was small in height (5' 6") but a big build meant that he was not easily pushed off the ball.

Wilson was a full international, making his debut for the Scotland national team in a 1–1 draw with Wales at Dens Park in 1904. He earned six caps in total, four while with Hearts and one each during his time at Everton and Newcastle.[13] His final international appearance occurred in a 2–0 defeat by England in 1909. Wilson also represented the Scottish League XI once, in 1906.[14]

The First World War interrupted the latter part of Wilson's career and he served as an able seaman in the Royal Navy during the conflict.[1][15] From 1914 onward he played with East Fife then Raith Rovers back in his native Fife, as well as Lanarkshire side Albion Rovers. Wilson was also manager of Raith Rovers for a time, although he resigned this position and emigrated to Canada.[16]

Honours

Heart of Midlothian

Newcastle United

References
  1. Name Wilson, George Williamson Official Number: J78632, ADM 188 - Admiralty: Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, The National Archives, Kew
  2. Statutory registers - Births - Search results, ScotlandsPeople
  3. (Hearts player) George Wilson, London Hearts Supporters Club
  4. John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. Association Football. | The Scottish Final., The Glasgow Herald, 30 April 1906
  6. George Wilson, 11v11.com
  7. Everton Transfers: 1906/07, EFC Statto
  8. The Removal Reason, Athletic News, 14 May 1906, via Everton Independent Research Data
  9. Everton Transfers: 1907/08, EFC Statto
  10. Everton and Wilson, Liverpool Echo, 29 June 1907 via Everton Independent Research Data
  11. Everton Footballers' Bereavement, The Liverpool Courier, 18 March 1907, via Everton Independent Research Data
  12. Newcastle United Players: George Wilson, toon1892
  13. "(Scotland player) George Wilson". London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  14. "George W. Wilson – Scotland Football League Record from 24 Mar 1906 to 24 Mar 1906 clubs – Heart of Midlothian". www.londonhearts.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  15. "North East War Memorials Project – Regional Content". www.newmp.org.uk. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  16. Vancouver Home of 21 Famed Soccer Players, The Leader-Post, 22 February 1934
Sources
  • Paul Joannou. A Complete Who's Who of Newcastle United.
  • Paul Joannou, Tommy Canning and Patrick Canning. Haway The Lads, The Illustrated Story of Newcastle United.
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