Hughie Wilson

Not to be confused with Hugh Wilson (Scottish footballer).

Hughie Wilson
With Sunderland in 1894
Personal information
Full name Hugh Wilson[1]
Date of birth 18 March 1869[1]
Place of birth Mauchline, Scotland[1]
Date of death 7 April 1940(1940-04-07) (aged 71)
Place of death Kilmarnock, Scotland
Position(s)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1887–1888 Mauchline
1888–1889 2nd Ayrshire Rifle Volunteers
1889–1890 Newmilns
1890–1899 Sunderland 227 (42)
1899–1900 Bedminster
1900–1901 Bristol City
1901–1907 Third Lanark 136 (37)
1907–1908 Kilmarnock 22 (3)
Total 385 (82)
International career
1890–1904 Scotland 4 (1)
1891[2] Football League XI 1 (0)
1902 Scottish League XI 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Hugh Wilson (18 March 1869 – 7 April 1940) was a Scottish footballer who played for Sunderland, Third Lanark and the Scotland national football team as a wing half or inside forward.[3]

Club career

Born in Mauchline, Ayrshire and known by the nickname "Lalty", Wilson came to prominence with Newmilns, earning his first international cap while with that club[3] (and their only international representative).[4] He then signed for Sunderland and made his debut for them on 13 September 1890 against Burnley in a 3–2 defeat at Newcastle Road.[5] Overall, he made 258 league appearances scoring 46 goals while at the club, spanning from 1890 to 1899.[6] Wilson won league championships with Sunderland in 1892, 1893 and 1895.[3] Known for his effective long throw-ins,[7] anecdotally it was reported that he initially used a one-armed technique which led to the rules being changed – however, the requirement to use both hands was formalised in 1883.

Wilson left Sunderland in 1899 to sign for Bedminster.[3] A season later he moved to Bristol City,[3] as a result of the merger between Bedminster and Bristol City. Wilson then returned to Scotland in 1901 with Third Lanark.[3][8] He enjoyed success with Thirds, winning the Scottish League in 1904, the Scottish Cup the following year, and reaching the final in 1906.[3][9] He ended his playing days at Kilmarnock.[3][10]

International career

Wilson won his first cap for Scotland against Wales on 22 March 1890, scoring once in a 5–0 win at Underwood Park.[11] Having transferred to the English leagues, he was then ineligible under selection rules of the time until these were changed in 1896. He went on to make three further appearances for his country between 1897 and 1904.[12] He also represented the Scottish League XI once, while with Third Lanark.[13]

Personal life

Wilson's son John was also a footballer; born in Sunderland, he played solely in the Scottish League, making over 400 appearances (mainly with Hearts), also serving in the army and being wounded during World War I.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c Hughie Wilson at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  2. ^ Football Alliance v Football League, 20 April 1891, 11v11.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Hughie Wilson at the Scottish Football Association
  4. ^ Scotland Football Records | Clubs played for | Newmilns, London Hearts Supporters Club. Retrieved 21 February 2022
  5. ^ "Sunderland 2-3 Burnley". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 21 August 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  6. ^ "Hughie Wilson". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  7. ^ A Scottish Football Hall of Fame (Chapter Three | A League Onward); John Cairney; Random House, 2011; ISBN 9781780570594
  8. ^ (Third Lanark player) Wilson, Hugh, FitbaStats
  9. ^ Association Football. | The Scottish Final., The Glasgow Herald, 30 April 1906
  10. ^ [A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players], John Litster / Scottish Football Historian magazine, October 2012
  11. ^ "Sat 22 Mar 1890 Scotland 5 Wales 0". London Hearts. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  12. ^ "[Scotland player] Lalty Wilson". London Hearts. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2008.
  13. ^ (SFL player) Hugh Wilson, London Hearts Supporters Club
  14. ^ Match programme, Heart of Midlothian F.C., 22 September 2018 (via 'East Lothian's Football History' on Facebook)