Arthur Wilson (English footballer)
{{Short description|English footballer}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Arthur Wilson
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1908|10|6|df=y}}
| birth_place = Newcastle upon Tyne, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|2000|1|31|1908|10|6|df=y}}
| death_place = Newcastle upon Tyne, England
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}
| position = Half back / Inside forward
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Newcastle & Northumberland Schools
| youthyears2 = 1926–1927
| youthclubs2 = Newcastle United Swifts
| years1 = 1927
| clubs1 = Scotswood
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 1927–1932
| clubs2 = Southampton
| caps2 = 62
| goals2 = 12
| years3 = 1932–1934
| clubs3 = West Ham United
| caps3 = 29
| goals3 = 14
| years4 = 1934–1937
| clubs4 = Chester
| caps4 = 136
| goals4 = 6
| years5 = 1937–1939
| clubs5 = Wolverhampton Wanderers
| caps5 = 0
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 1939–1940
| clubs6 = Torquay United
| caps6 = 10
| goals6 = 0
}}
Arthur Wilson (6 October 1908 – 31 January 2000){{cite book|last1=Chalk|first1=Gary|last2=Holley|first2=Duncan|last3=Bull|first3=David|title=All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC|year=2013|location=Southampton|publisher=Hagiology Publishing|isbn=978-0-9926-8640-6|page=206}} was an English professional footballer who played as either a half back or inside forward for various clubs in the 1920s and 1930s.
Football career
Wilson was born in Newcastle upon Tyne{{cite book |title=Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 |last=Joyce |first=Michael |year=2004 |publisher=Tony Brown|location=Nottingham |isbn=1-899468-67-6|page=283}} and represented Newcastle & Northumberland Schools before joining Newcastle United as a trainee.{{cite book | title=The Alphabet of the Saints|last= Holley |first= Duncan |author2=Chalk, Gary|publisher= ACL & Polar Publishing |year=1992| isbn=0-9514862-3-3|page=371}} Never progressing beyond the third team, he was allowed to leave in early 1927 to join Scotswood playing in the North Eastern League.
He was quickly spotted by scouts from Southampton and he joined the south coast club in August 1927. After spending two seasons in the reserves, where he showed "admirable skill", he made his first-team debut when he replaced the veteran Bert Shelley for a Second Division match away to Reading on 14 December 1929. Wilson retained his position at left-half for the remainder of the season and for the start of the 1930–31 season.{{cite book | title=Saints – A complete record|last= Chalk|first= Gary|author2=Holley, Duncan | publisher= Breedon Books| year=1987|isbn= 0-907969-22-4|page=83}} After three matches, he lost his place to Bill Adams and briefly switched to inside left before being replaced by Herbert Coates.{{cite book | title=Saints – A complete record|page=85}} In the following season, Wilson alternated with Coates and Peter Dougall for the inside-left position.{{cite book | title=Saints – A complete record|page=87}}
In May 1932, with the club in financial difficulties, Southampton placed Wilson on the transfer list and he was soon signed by West Ham United for a fee of £500. In his first season at Upton Park, Wilson managed 33 appearances at inside-left in league and cup matches, scoring 15 goals,{{cite web|title=Arthur Wilson |url=http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=693&united=Arthur_Wilson|work=The Wonderful World of West Ham United Statistics|publisher=westhamstats.info|access-date=13 October 2012}} including two against his former club on 4 February 1933.{{cite web|title=West Ham 3–1 Southampton|url=http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=5&ham=1274&united=04_Feb_1933 |work=Game played on 04 Feb 1933|publisher=westhamstats.info|access-date=13 October 2012}} The following season, however, he lost his place to Len Goulden and made only two appearances before joining Chester in March 1934.
At Chester, his signing helped the club win eight of their last ten fixtures, thus avoiding relegation from Division Three North. The following season, Chester finished third in the table, going one better in the next; at this time, only the champions were promoted. Wilson remained with Chester until November 1937, before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers where he failed to make a first-team appearance. He moved on to his last club, Torquay United, in January 1939 where he remained until the start of the Second World War.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.11v11.com/players/arthur-wilson-48753/ Career details on www.11v11.com]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Arthur}}
Category:Footballers from Newcastle upon Tyne
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Southampton F.C. players
Category:West Ham United F.C. players
Category:Chester City F.C. players
Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players
Category:Torquay United F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Men's association football forwards