Career
He made over 190 Football League and 40 Scottish League appearances in the years before and after the First World War. "Jock" Nicholson played locally for Glasgow Ashfield before Sam Hollis signed him in July 1911 for Bristol City. In his debut season 1911-1912 Nicholson made 37 appearances missing only one match.
The following season Nicholson was again the regular left half making 33 appearances.
In 1913-1914 Nicholson made 31 appearances and switched from left half to replace Bob Young at right half after Christmas. Nicholson continued at right half in 1914-1915 making 33 appearances playing alongside Billy Wedlock and Arthur Moss in the half backs.
Nicholson also scored his first goal in a 2-3 defeat v Birmingham City on 19 December 1914. Nicholson did not play in war time matches for Bristol City but returned to the team as regular left half for the season 1919-1920 making 28 appearances and scoring two goals.
Nicholson took over from Wedlock as captain of Bristol City early in 1920-1921 making 34 appearances scoring one goal and leading the team into 3rd place in the Second Division.
Nicholson moved to Rangers in the summer of 1921. Nicholson made 17 appearances scoring one goal for Rangers in 1921-1922, then 10 appearances in 1922-1923 but only 3 appearances in 1923-1924. Nicholson joined Street Johnstone in the summer of 1924 and made 12 appearances in the 1924-1925 season.
Jock Nicholson rejoined Bristol City as trainer in 1925 for six seasons following his retirement from playing.
He also coached the Swiss club Etoile-Carouse, was trainer at Manchester United and coached in Sweden. After a final retirement from football Nicholson settled back near Bristol and died in Weston-super-Mare in 1970. with Bristol City.
