Wilson Hughie Image 1 Sunderland 1896

Description

Mauchline, Ayrshire born inside forward Hughie “Lalty” Wilson began his football career with Mauchline in 1887 and played Army football with the 2nd Ayrshire Rifle Volunteers in 1888, joining Newmilns in 1889, and while  playing for them he won his first cap for Scotland when he scored in a 5-0 win over Wales at Underwood Park.

He was signed by Football League club Sunderland in the summer of 1890, making his Football League against Burnley that September. He soon became a pivotal figure in Sunderland’s “Team of all talents”, becoming club captain, and he was a member of their teams that won the League Championship in 1892, 1893 and 1895. Additionally he was three times a beaten FA Cup semi finalist, losing to Notts County in 1891 and Aston Villa in 1892 and 1895. In addition to playing inside forward he spent a considerable number of seasons playing at wing half on either side and could also play at full back. While at Sunderland he was again capped by Scotland, playing in a 2-1 win over England at The Crystal Palace in April 1897. His Sunderland career spanned 9 seasons, during which he scored 47 goals in 257 appearances, before he joined Southern League Bedminster in 1899, which merged to form Bristol City in 1900.

Wilson stayed with the club until returning to Scotland in 1901 to join Third Lanark. He enjoyed success with Thirds, winning the Scottish League in 1904, the Scottish Cup the following year when in the Final they beat Rangers 3-1 at Hampden Park, again reaching the Final in 1906 where they lost 1-0 to Heart of Midlothian. While at Third Lanark he was capped two further times by Scotland against Wales in March 1902 and Ireland in March 1904, and also represented The Scottish League in a 3-0 win over The Irish League at Dens Park in February 1902. Wilson ended his playing days at Kilmarnock, joining them in the 1906 close season.

His son Jock Wilson made over 460 appearances in the Scottish League for Heart of Midlothian, Dunfermline Athletic, Hamilton Academical and St Johnstone between 1915 and 1932.