Wilson: Andrew McCrindle (Andy)

1918-1918

Centre Forward

Born: Irvine, Ayrshire: 10-12-1880

Debut: v Bradford Park Avenue (a): 06-04-1918

5’10” 13st 5lb (1910)

Scottish International Wilson started with his local club, Irvine Meadow, before joining Clyde. He started a long and mutually beneficial association with The Wednesday in 1900, an association which was to last for twenty years until 10th March 1920 when he played his last game at Anfield in a 0-1 defeat by Liverpool at the age of thirty-nine. Wilson was a prolific goal-scorer and still holds the record for not only for the most appearances but also the most goals scored record for Wednesday, topping the goal-scoring list on six separate occasions. His record would have been even more impressive had he not missed four seasons of Football League action due to the Second World War. Nonetheless, he played five hundred and one League games and scored one hundred and ninety-nine goals while in the F.A. Cup he scored seventeen goals in forty-four ties. The climax of those Cup games was on 20th April 1907 at the Crystal Palace, when 84,584 saw The Wednesday beat Everton 2-1 to win the F.A. Cup. Only four minutes remained of the match when Wilson, the Wednesday centre-forward, received the ball from a throw-in and hooked it unexpectedly across the goalmouth for Simpson, his outside-left, to head home one of the softest goals imaginable to give The Wednesday victory. He also had a six cap International career with Scotland. His first cap came on 6th April 1907 against England at Newcastle in front of 35,829 in a 1-1 draw. His second came on 4th April 1908 again against England but this time in front of 121,452 at Hampden in a 1-1 draw, with Wilson netting the Scottish goal. His third cap came again against England at Hampden when 127,307 saw Wilson again get the Scottish goal in a 1-1 draw on 23rd March 1912. His fourth cap came on l3th March 1913 at Wrexham, when a crowd of 45,000 saw Scotland play out a 0-0 draw with Wales. On 5th April there were 52,500 at Stamford Bridge to see Wilson get his fifth cap against England who beat Scotland 1-0. His sixth and final cap arrived on 14th March 1914 against Ireland at Windsor Park Belfast when 31,000 witnessed a 1-1 draw. Wilson played twice for Leeds City as a guest during the Wartime fixtures. On 6th April 1918 he scored twice in a 2-1 win at Bradford Park Avenue and then the following Saturday he played in the 0-0 draw with Bradford City, both games being in the Midland Section Subsidiary Tournament. After he retired Wilson became a Manager initially with Bristol Rovers, where he spent five years from March 1921, and then in 1927 he was the Oldham Athletic Manager before managing Stockport County in the 1932-33. Two of his brothers were also professional footballers. David was capped once by Scotland and spent most of his career with Oldham Athletic, while James mainly played with St Mirren. Wilson died on 13th March 1945.