Davie Wilson

For other people named David Wilson, see David Wilson (disambiguation).

Davie Wilson

Personal information
Full name	David Wilson
Date of birth	(1937-01-10)10 January 1937[a]
Place of birth	Cambuslang, Scotland
Date of death	13 June 2022(2022-06-13) (aged 85)
Place of death	Glasgow, Scotland
Position(s)	Outside left
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1954–1956	Baillieston Juniors
1956–1967	Rangers	227	(99)
1967–1972	Dundee United	129	(20)
1972–1973	Dumbarton	48	(2)
Total		405	(121)
International career
1958	Scotland U23	1	(0)
1960–1964	Scottish League XI	7	(3)
1960–1965	Scotland	22	(10[b])
1961[5]	SFA trial v SFL	1	(0)
Managerial career
1974–1977	Dumbarton (assistant)
1977–1980	Dumbarton
1980–1981	Kilmarnock (assistant)
1984–1986	Dumbarton
1986–1987	Hamilton Academical (assistant)
1987–1989	Queen of the South
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

David Wilson (10 January 1937 – 13 June 2022)^[6][7] was a Scottish international footballer who played as an outside left. He was perhaps best known for his decade at Rangers in which he played an important role in the club's success of the early 1960s; he also made over 100 appearances for Dundee United.

He was also selected 22 times for the Scotland national team, and was later a manager, primarily at Dumbarton where he had ended his playing career.

Club career

Wilson, a native of the mining village of Newton^[8][9] just outside Glasgow, was a Rangers supporter in childhood. On a visit to Ibrox Stadium he received advice from former star Alan Morton who played left wing, the position in which Wilson became established.^[9]

As a teenager he was rejected by local Junior club Cambuslang Rangers for being too small, and instead began his career at Baillieston.^[10] He soon came to the attention of Rangers who signed him in 1956.

Rangers

Wilson made his first-team debut on 2 January 1957 just prior to his 20th birthday, was selected for European matches against AS Saint-Étienne^[11] and AC Milan and played sufficient games for a League winner's medal in 1959, but it was not until the 1959–60 season that he became a regular in the side. He also began to score frequently, with 22 goals from 50 appearances in all competitions having only scored 8 in 51 in his first three seasons combined. Rangers reached the semi-finals of the European Cup and won the Scottish Cup.^[11]

The following season was even more successful, as Rangers won the Scottish Football League and the Scottish League Cup. Wilson played every minute of the campaign's 56 matches and scored over 20 goals, forming part of what would become known as one of the greatest Rangers forward lines, along with Ralph Brand, Jimmy Millar and Willie Henderson, supported by Jim Baxter.^[8][9] However, there was disappointment in the European Cup Winners' Cup as Fiorentina overcame Rangers in the final.^[11][12]

1961–62 ended with Scottish Cup and League Cup victories,^[11] and Wilson achieved a club record which has never been equalled since when he scored six times against Falkirk (a 7–1 win) 17 March 1962^[10][11] (however Jimmy Smith had achieved the feat twice in the 1930s).^[13] Four days later on 21 March he scored a hat-trick for the Scottish League in a 4–3 victory against the English League at Villa Park. Around that time he declined an approach from Everton for what would have been a British record transfer fee.^[14] The next year brought a League and Cup double and Wilson hit over 30 goals, including four in one match against Partick and one in the replayed cup final against Celtic.^[11]

In 1963–64, Wilson missed a large part of the winter through injury – a broken ankle^[11] – including the League Cup Final, but returned to play in the Scottish Cup Final as Rangers completed the second treble in their history.^[15] However, in 1965 they only finished in fifth place after Baxter broke a leg,^[9] and in the League Cup Wilson was injured in the semi-final and again could not take part in the final.

Rangers regained the Scottish Cup in 1966 against Celtic but lost out in the other competitions to the same opponents, who were beginning a period of dominance. Wilson played in both cup finals^[11] but made only 21 appearances overall, his fewest since 1958. Wilson's last campaign with Rangers was 1966–67, as Willie Johnston and new signing Alex Smith became the preferred choices on the left flank. He made 29 appearances and scored eight goals, being introduced as a substitute for Johnston in the League Cup final loss to Celtic and the infamous Scottish Cup defeat to Berwick. He did not feature in Rangers' second Cup Winners' Cup Final^[11][16] although he played his part in the run including the winning goal in the semi-final, away to Slavia Sofia.^[17]

Wilson departed from Ibrox aged 30, having scored a total of 159 goals in 382 matches in all competitions.^[18] He was naturally right-footed, and became adept at dribbling with either foot, crossing from the byline on the left, and cutting inside to shoot powerfully with his stronger foot or connect with through balls – tactics which brought an impressive goal tally particularly for a player who was not a dedicated striker (he is ranked seventh of all post-WWII scorers for Rangers).^[19] He has since been inducted to the Rangers Hall of Fame.^[8]

Dundee United

In August 1967 Wilson transferred to Dundee United along with teammates Jimmy Millar and Wilson Wood, with Orjan Persson moving in the opposite direction. He spent four seasons at Tannadice, playing over 150 matches (129 in Division One) as the club consistently finished in the top half of the league.^[20] His time with the club coincided with that of future Rangers boss Walter Smith, whose father had worked with Wilson whilst he was apprenticed to a local steelworks in the village of Westburn, and who would later be signed by Wilson's backroom team in his time as an assistant manager.^[9][21] In 2017 Wilson became a member of United's Hall of Fame.^[22]

Dumbarton

Wilson moved to Dumbarton in January 1972, helped the club win promotion at the end of that season. He retired as a player at the end of the following campaign in 1973, aged 36, after helping Dumbarton maintain their status in the top division;^[23] he thereafter became a coach at the club.

International career

Having appeared for the Under-23 side,^[24] Wilson made 22 full appearances for Scotland between 1960 and 1965, scoring ten goals;^[b][25] he was in the squad which won the 1961–62 and 1962–63 editions of the British Home Championship with perfect records. He enjoyed three wins over rivals England, including scoring in 1962 at Hampden, and playing most of the 1963 fixture at Wembley at left back after his Rangers mate Eric Caldow had his leg broken (before the days of substitutions);^[9][11] he had also featured and scored in Scotland's embarrassing 9–3 defeat in 1961.^[9][25] Wilson also represented the Scottish League XI seven times, scoring three goals.^[26]

In 2014, Wilson was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame, which he described as his "greatest honour".^[10][21]

Managerial career

Having served as assistant manager to Alex Wright at Dumbarton – during which time the Sons reached the semi-final stage of the 1975–76 Scottish Cup^[27] – Wilson had two spells as manager of the Boghead Park club (1976–1978^[28] and 1984–1986),^[29] developing players such as Murdo MacLeod, Graeme Sharp and Graeme Sinclair in his first stint and taking the side into the Premier Division in his second, widely regarded as a commendable achievement for a part-time club.

After a short period as assistant to John Lambie at Hamilton Academical, during which they knocked Rangers out of the 1986–87 Scottish Cup,^[30] Wilson also had a spell as manager of Dumfries club Queen of the South, taking over after the surprise resignation of promotion winning Nobby Clark.^[31]

Personal life

In retirement Wilson remained an enthusiastic supporter of Rangers, attending many matches and functions and commenting on the club's struggles.^[32][10][8] He was also an after-dinner speaker.^[33] In his spare time he kept racing pigeons, and was a lifelong teetotaler and non-smoker.^[9]

Davie was a family man who loved his family dearly; his wife Avril, daughter Sheena, son David and his beloved grandchildren Carly, Harry, Anna, David and latterly Billy.

An authorised biography, Wilson on the Wing, was published in 2020.^[34]

He died on 13 June 2022, aged 85, released to press on 14 June.^[6][7]

Career statistics

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Wilson goal.

List of international goals scored by Davie Wilson

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	15 April 1961	Wembley Stadium, London, England	England	2–3	3–9	1961 British Home Championship
2				3–5[b]
3	7 October 1961	Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland	1–0	6–1	1962 British Home Championship
4	14 April 1962	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	England	1–0	2–0	1962 British Home Championship
5	8 May 1963	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	Austria	1–0	4–1	Friendly
6				2–0
7	13 June 1963	Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain	Spain	4–1	6–2	Friendly
8	25 November 1964	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	Northern Ireland	1–1	3–2	1965 British Home Championship
9				3–2
10	27 May 1965	Olympiastadion, Helsinki, Finland	Finland	1–1	2–1	1966 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

As player

Rangers^[18]

• Scottish League Championship: 1958–59, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64
• Scottish Cup: 1959–60, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1965–66
• Scottish League Cup: 1960–61, 1961–62^[c]
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: runner-up 1960–61^[d]

Scotland

• British Home Championship: 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64 (shared)

As manager

Dumbarton

• Scottish First Division promotion: 1983–84
• Stirlingshire Cup: 1985–86

Notes

1. Birth year given as 1939 in most sources.^[1]
2. The Scottish Football Association archive^[2] credits the 3rd Scotland goal to Wilson, and footage from the match^[3][4] appears to confirm this; most sources (and the contemporary commentary on the footage) credit the goal to Pat Quinn.
3. Did not play in 1963–64 or 1964–65 League Cup finals.
4. Did not play in 1967 European Cup Winners' Cup Final.

References

1. Davie Wilson at the Scottish Football Association
2. "Match Details". Scottish Football Association. 27 September 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
3. Footage #1 – 2:05
4. Footage #2 – 1:29
5. Ronnie McDevitt (2016). Scotland in the 60s: The Definitive Account of the Scottish National Football Side During the 1960s. Pitch Publishing. ISBN 9781785312458.^{[permanent dead link]}
6. Rangers legend Davie Wilson passes away aged 85, Ibrox club confirm, Aiden Smith, The Herald, 14 June 2022
7. "Scotsman Obituaries: Davie Wilson, legendary Rangers and Scotland footballer". The Scotsman. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
8. "Tribute to one of Newton's favourite sons Davy Wilson". Daily Record/Rutherglen Reformer. 19 July 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
9. "Interview: Davie Wilson on golden era at Ibrox and Hampden". The Scotsman. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
10. "Hall of Fame honour for former Rangers star Wilson". Evening Times. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
11. "Hall of Fame Profile: Davie Wilson". Rangers F.C. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
12. Murray, Keir (22 April 2008). "When Rangers met Fiorentina in '61". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
13. "Football mourns the loss of Rangers legend Jimmy Smith". The Herald. 6 December 2003. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
14. Davie Wilson The First £100,000 Everton Player – Almost, Steve Zocek, EFC Heritage Society, 10 April 2019
15. "Classic matches: Rangers 3–1 Dundee, April 1964". Rangers F.C. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
16. "When Euro glory evaded Rangers". BBC Sport. 30 May 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
17. "Drama and controversy on road to 1967 European Cup-Winners' Cup Final". Evening Times. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
18. "Rangers player profile". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
19. "Rangers Postwar Player Records". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
20. "Dundee United player Davie Wilson profile". Dundee United FC Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
21. "Walter Smith reveals how long-running internal warfare at Rangers has kept him away from Ibrox". The Daily Telegraph. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
22. "Davie Wilson - Hall of Fame inductee 2017". official website. Dundee United F.C. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
23. "Dumbarton player Davie Wilson profile". Dumbarton Football Club Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
24. "Scotland U23 profile". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
25. "The Cambuslang lad who went on to help Scotland beat the old enemy". Daily Record / Rutherglen Reformer. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
26. "Scotland FL Players by Appearances". Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
27. "Dumbarton supermo Gilbert Lawrie yearns after another cup semi-final despite memory of Walter Smith's own-goal clanger". Daily Record. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
28. "Dumbarton manager Davie Wilson profile (1st spell)". Dumbarton Football Club Historical Archive. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
29. "Dumbarton manager Davie Wilson profile (2nd spell)". Dumbarton Football Club Historical Archive. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
30. "31st January – 30th Anniversary of one of our most famous victories". Hamilton Academical F.C. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
31. Nobby Clark career profile and interview Archived 17 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine
32. "Rangers legend Davy Wilson recalls day he was pelted with beer bottles as he calls for football booze ban to stay". Daily Record. 2 May 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
33. "Davie Wilson celebrity speaker profile". Scotbase entertainments. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
34. Rangers fan writes Davie Wilson book after contacting club legend on Facebook, Glasgow Times, 21 February 2020

External links

• International stats at Londonhearts.com
• Scottish Football Hall of Fame profile
• Davie Wilson at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
• Photo of Gateside School football team, 1952 hosted at Glesca Pals