Joe Wilson (footballer, born 1861)

Joseph James Wilson (8 January 1861 – 20 October 1952) was an English footballer who played at outside left. During his 15-year playing career he represented several teams from the West Midlands region, both as an amateur and a professional. He gained an FA Cup winners medal with West Bromwich Albion and was the scorer of the club's first ever goal in The Football League.

Joe Wilson
Personal information
Full name Joseph James Wilson
Date of birth (1861-01-08)8 January 1861
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Date of death 20 October 1952(1952-10-20) (aged 91)
Place of death Handsworth, England
Position(s) Outside left
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1877–1880 Hamstead Swifts
1880–1885 Aston Unity
1885 Stoke
1885–1886 Walsall Town
1886–1887 Aston Villa
1887 Walsall Town
1887–1890 West Bromwich Albion 40 (4)
1890–1891 Kidderminster Harriers
1891–1892 Birmingham St George's
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Biography

Wilson was born in Handsworth, Birmingham and attended St Mary's Council School and Handsworth Grammar School. He began his football career during the amateur era, joining Hamstead Swifts in 1877 before transferring to Aston Unity three years later. In September 1885 he moved to Stoke, but did not remain at the club for long as later that year he began playing for Walsall Town, the club that later merged with Walsall Swifts to form Walsall F.C.. Wilson signed for Aston Villa in August 1886 before re-joining Walsall Town twelve months later. He remained at the latter club for just one month, then turned professional with West Bromwich Albion in September 1887.[1]

He scored twice on his Albion debut against Wednesbury Old Athletic in October 1887, helping his club to a 7–1 victory in the FA Cup first round,[1] and was a member of the team that beat Preston North End 2–1 in the 1888 FA Cup Final.[2] 1888–89 was the first season of the newly formed Football League; Albion were one of the twelve founder members and travelled to Wilson's former club Stoke on 8 September 1888 for their first league fixture. In the final five minutes of the match, Wilson scored Albion's first ever league goal, which helped his team to achieve a 2–0 victory.[3] Joe Wilson missed two of the "Throstles" 22 Football League matches and scored four goals in season 1888-89 and was part of a midfield that achieved a big (three goals or more) League win on two separate occasions.[4]

In August 1890, Wilson was transferred to Kidderminster Harriers, where he played for twelve months before a move to Birmingham St George's. He retired from playing football in April 1892 and from 1894 to 1910 was a Football League referee and linesman, officiating in First Division, Second Division and FA Cup matches, as well as at Non-League level. Wilson later worked as a goldsmith in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter for 25 years prior to the Second World War. He died in Acocks Green, Birmingham on 20 October 1952.[1]

Described by one source as a smart, unobtrusive left-winger of dashing style and all-out aggression, Wilson kept defences on the alert with his cunning wing play.[5]

Career statistics

Source:[6][7]

Club Season League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
West Bromwich Albion 1887–88 00760076
1888–89 2044500249
1889–90 2042100225
Total 4081312005320

References
  1. Matthews, Tony (2005). The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion. Breedon Books. p. 250. ISBN 1-85983-474-4.
  2. Willmore, G.A. (1980). West Bromwich Albion: The First Hundred Years. Readers Union. p. 24.
  3. McOwan, Gavin (2002). The Essential History of West Bromwich Albion. Headline. pp. 21–22. ISBN 0-7553-1146-9.
  4. "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 25 March 2018. (registration & fee required)
  5. Matthews, Tony (2012). The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion 1878 - 2005. Derby Books. p. 250. ISBN 978-1-78091-154-0.
  6. Matthews, Tony (2007). West Bromwich Albion: The Complete Record. Breedon Books. pp. 174–177, 394, 428. ISBN 978-1-85983-565-4.
  7. Statistics are incomplete, but are complete for Wilson's time at West Bromwich Albion. The original FA Cup game against Accrington on 18 January 1890 was declared void due to the state of the pitch; Wilson's goal and appearance in that match have been counted here but may not be counted in some other records.
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