Background
Wilson was born in Handsworth, Birmingham and attended Street Mary"s Council School and Handsworth Grammar School.
Wilson was born in Handsworth, Birmingham and attended Street Mary"s Council School and Handsworth Grammar School.
During his 15-year playing career he represented several teams from the West Midlands region, both as an amateur and a professional. In September 1885 he moved to Stoke, but did not remain at the club for long as later that year he began playing for Walsall Town, the club that later merged with Walsall Swifts to form Walsall F.C. Wilson signed for Aston Villa in August 1886 before re-joining Walsall Town twelve months later.
He remained at the latter club for just one month, then turned professional with West Bromwich Albion in September 1887. In August 1890, Wilson was transferred to Kidderminster Harriers, where he played for twelve months before a move to Birmingham Street George"son
He retired from playing football in April 1892 and from 1894 to 1910 was a Football League referee and linesman, officiating in First Division, Second Division and FA Cup matches, as well as at Non-League level
Wilson later worked as a goldsmith in Birmingham"s Jewellery Quarter for 25 years prior to the Second World War. He died in Acocks Green, Birmingham on 20 October 1952.