Alex Wilson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Wilson was a Scottish
football
er.
Wilson was born in Wishaw
, Lanarkshire
and after starting at Overton Athletic as a junior player, joined Greenock Morton
in 1927. He spent six seasons at the 'Ton, and was in the side that won promotion to the Scottish First Division
in 1928-29
.
In May 1933 he was signed by Arsenal
, initially as cover for Frank Moss. He made his debut against Aston Villa
on March 10, 1934 after Moss picked up an injury; Arsenal won 3-2. Wilson remained a fringe player in his first two seasons for Arsenal, playing only fifteen times, including the last nine games of the 1934-35
season after Moss dislocated his shoulder
– although Arsenal won the First Division
, Wilson did not qualify for a medal.
Moss's injury did not heal and Wilson found himself as the Gunners' No. 1 throughout the 1935-36
season; he played 43 matches that season and kept goal in that season's FA Cup
final against Sheffield United
, which Arsenal won 1-0 thanks to a Ted Drake
goal. However, Wilson's performances were not strong enough for manager George Allison
's liking, and Arsenal signed not one but two goalkeepers that summer, George Swindin
and Frank Boulton.
Wilson only played two matches in 1936-37
, and ten in 1937-38
– in which Arsenal won the title again, but Wilson again missed out on a medal. He looked to have become the club's third-choice goalkeeper; nevertheless he stayed on, and after Boulton was sold in 1938 Wilson and Swindin shared the goalkeeper's jersey for 1938-39
, with Wilson playing 22 and Swindin 22 matches that season. However, then World War II
intervened, and competitive football was halted. Wilson returned to Scotland in 1941, joining St Mirren. In all he played 90 matches for Arsenal.
He later had a brief spell at Brighton & Hove Albion
, playing a single Third Division South
match in 1947-48
. After retiring from playing Wilson pursued a career s a trainer and physiotherapist, starting out at Brighton before going to work for Birmingham City
, Sunderland and Blackpool
, as well as Kent County Cricket Club
. He emigrated to the United States
in 1967 and worked as a physio for the Boston Beacons
of the NASL
. He died in Boston
at 1971, aged 62.
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...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er.
Wilson was born in Wishaw
Wishaw
Wishaw is a large town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is on the edge of the Clyde Valley, 15 miles south-east of Glasgow....
, Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
and after starting at Overton Athletic as a junior player, joined Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
in 1927. He spent six seasons at the 'Ton, and was in the side that won promotion to the Scottish First Division
Scottish Football League First Division
The Irn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Championship is the highest division of the Scottish Football League and the second highest in the Scottish football league system....
in 1928-29
1928-29 in Scottish football
The 1928–29 season was the 39th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: RangersRelegated: Third Lanark, Raith Rovers-Scottish League Division Two:NOTE:...
.
In May 1933 he was signed by Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, initially as cover for Frank Moss. He made his debut against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
on March 10, 1934 after Moss picked up an injury; Arsenal won 3-2. Wilson remained a fringe player in his first two seasons for Arsenal, playing only fifteen times, including the last nine games of the 1934-35
1934-35 in English football
The 1934–35 season was the 60th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Arsenal become only the second team to win the League three consecutive times.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
season after Moss dislocated his shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
– although Arsenal won the 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....
, Wilson did not qualify for a medal.
Moss's injury did not heal and Wilson found himself as the Gunners' No. 1 throughout the 1935-36
1935-36 in English football
The 1935–36 season was the 61st season of competitive football in England.-Events:Sunderland AFC won the league, and in doing so they remain the last team to win the English League while wearing striped jerseys...
season; he played 43 matches that season and kept goal in that season's FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
final against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, which Arsenal won 1-0 thanks to a Ted Drake
Ted Drake
Edward Joseph "Ted" Drake was an English football player and manager. As a player, he first played for Southampton but made his name playing for Arsenal in the 1930s, winning two league titles and an FA Cup, as well as five caps for England. He was also a cricketer, but only ever played sparingly...
goal. However, Wilson's performances were not strong enough for manager George Allison
George Allison
George Frederick Allison was an English football journalist, broadcaster and manager. He was the BBC's first sports commentator and Arsenal's second longest serving manager.-Journalism career:...
's liking, and Arsenal signed not one but two goalkeepers that summer, George Swindin
George Swindin
George Hedley Swindin was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:A goalkeeper, Swindin was born in Campsall, Doncaster, Yorkshire. He played as an amateur for various local clubs, including Rotherham United, before turning professional in 1934 with Bradford City...
and Frank Boulton.
Wilson only played two matches in 1936-37
1936-37 in English football
The 1936–37 season was the 62nd season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
, and ten in 1937-38
1937-38 in English football
The 1937–38 season was the 63rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season is notable as the reigning champions Manchester City became the only team to have won the League title one season then been relegated the next.-Honours:...
– in which Arsenal won the title again, but Wilson again missed out on a medal. He looked to have become the club's third-choice goalkeeper; nevertheless he stayed on, and after Boulton was sold in 1938 Wilson and Swindin shared the goalkeeper's jersey for 1938-39
1938-39 in English football
The 1938–39 season was the 64th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
, with Wilson playing 22 and Swindin 22 matches that season. However, then World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
intervened, and competitive football was halted. Wilson returned to Scotland in 1941, joining St Mirren. In all he played 90 matches for Arsenal.
He later had a brief spell at Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
, playing a single 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....
match in 1947-48
1947-48 in English football
The 1947–48 season was the 68th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
. After retiring from playing Wilson pursued a career s a trainer and physiotherapist, starting out at Brighton before going to work for Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, Sunderland and Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, as well as Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
. He emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1967 and worked as a physio for the Boston Beacons
Boston Beacons
The Boston Beacons were a United States soccer team from Boston. In 1968 they were founding members of the North American Soccer League but folded after just one season. The Beacons were actually a relaunch of the United Soccer Association team Boston Rovers. They played their home games at Fenway...
of the NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. He died in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
at 1971, aged 62.