George Williamson Wilson (16 September 1882 – 31 May 1960) was a Scottish professional international footballer, who spent the greatest part of his career with Newcastle United.
Playing career[]
An outside left, Wilson began his career with a series of local Fife clubs, including then non-league Cowdenbeath . In 1904 he signed for First Division Heart of Midlothian, at that time struggling due to financial concerns. An economic restructuring in 1905 revitalised the club though, and Wilson was a regular in the side[1] as Hearts finished 2nd in the league and won the Scottish Cup in 1905–06 – he scored the winning goal in the final against holders Third Lanark, a tap-in in the 81st minutes after a Bobby Walker shot had been blocked.
Wilson moved south to England at that season's conclusion, sold to Everton in a £725 joint deal alongside his brother David.[2] His stay on Merseyside was brief however and, after a short spell with Irish side Distillery , he joined Newcastle United for £1,600 in 1907,[3] a then record transfer fee, having been in dispute with Everton over a registration issue regarding a potential transfer to Portsmouth (the club his sibling did successfully join at that point),[3][4] during which he vowed that he would not play for the Merseyside club again and would quit the game if necessary.[4]
Playing on the left wing, he made 218 appearances and scored 33 goals for the Magpies,[5] helping them to the English League title in the 1908–09 season and the FA Cup in 1910. Wilson was nicknamed "Smiler" during his time on Tyneside, although this was a sarcastic epithet, as he was a rather dour character. He was small in height (5'6") but a big build meant that he was not easily pushed off the ball.
Wilson was a full international, making his debut for the Scotland national team in a 1–1 draw with Wales at Dens Park in 1904. He earned six caps in total, four while with Hearts and one each during his time at Everton and Newcastle. His final international appearance occurred in a 2–0 defeat by England in 1909. Wilson also represented the Scottish League XI once, in 1906.[6]
The First World War interrupted the latter part of Wilson's career and he served as an able seaman in the Royal Navy during the conflict.[7] From 1914 onward he played with East Fife then Raith Rovers back in his native Fife, as well as Lanarkshire side Albion Rovers. Wilson was also manager of Raith Rovers for a time, although he resigned this position and emigrated to Canada.
Honours[]
Heart of Midlothian
- Scottish Cup: 1906
Newcastle United
- Football League: 1908–09
- FA Cup: 1910
- Runner-up 1908, 1911
References[]
- ↑ Hearts player George Wilson, London Hearts Supporters Club
- ↑ Everton Transfers: 1906/07, EFC Statto
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Everton Transfers: 1907/08, EFC Statto
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Everton and Wilson, Liverpool Echo, 29 June 1907 (via Blue Correspondent)
- ↑ Newcastle United Players: George Wilson, toon1892
- ↑ "George W. Wilson – Scotland Football League Record from 24 Mar 1906 to 24 Mar 1906 clubs – Heart of Midlothian". https://www.londonhearts.com/SFL/players/georgew.wilson.html.
- ↑ "North East War Memorials Project – Regional Content". http://www.newmp.org.uk/article.php?categoryid=100&articleid=1421&displayorder=63.
- Sources
- Paul Joannou. A Complete Who's Who of Newcastle United.
- Paul Joannou, Tommy Canning and Patrick Canning. Haway The Lads, The Illustrated Story of Newcastle United.
External links[]
- G at the Scottish Football Association
- Newcastle United profile[dead link]
The original article can be found at George Wilson (footballer, born 1882) and the edit history here.