Wilson was born in
Wishaw,
Lanarkshire. After starting at
Overtown Athletic as a
junior player, he joined
Greenock Morton in January 1928. He spent six seasons at the 'Ton, and was in the side that won promotion to
Scottish Division One in
1928–29. In May 1933 he was signed by
Arsenal, initially as cover for
Frank Moss. He made his debut against
Aston Villa on 10 March 1934 after Moss picked up an injury; Arsenal won 3–2. Wilson remained a fringe player in his first two seasons for Arsenal, playing only fifteen times, including the last nine games of the
1934–35 season after Moss dislocated his
shoulder – although Arsenal won the
First Division, Wilson did not qualify for a medal. Moss's injury did not heal and Wilson found himself as the
Gunners' No. 1 throughout the
1935–36 season; he played 43 matches that season and kept goal in that season's
FA Cup final against
Sheffield United, which Arsenal won 1–0 thanks to a
Ted Drake goal. 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. Wilson only played two matches in
1936–37, and ten in
1937–38 – in which Arsenal won the title again, but Wilson again missed out on a medal. 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
1938–39, with both men playing in 22 matches that season.
World War II then intervened, and competitive football was halted. Wilson returned to Scotland in 1939, joining
St Mirren. In all he played 90 matches for Arsenal. He later had a brief spell at
Brighton and Hove Albion, playing a single
Third Division South match in
1947–48. After retiring from playing, Wilson pursued a career as 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 March 1971, aged 62. ==References==