Background
Wilson was born in Wishaw, Lanarkshire and after starting at Overton Athletic as a junior player, joined Greenock Morton in 1927.
Wilson was born in Wishaw, Lanarkshire and after starting at Overton Athletic as a junior player, joined Greenock Morton in 1927.
In May 1933 he was signed by Arsenal, initially as cover for Frank Moss. Moss"s injury did not heal and Wilson found himself as the Gunners" Number. 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.
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 1938-1939, with Wilson playing 22 and Swindin 22 matches that season. However, then World World War II intervened, and competitive football was halted.
Wilson returned to Scotland in 1941, joining Street 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 1947-1948.
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.