About Andrew Wilson
Lived 1896 – 1973 (aged 77). Andrew Wilson was a British association football player and association football coach.
Heart of Midlothian and Leeds City Wilson debuted for Heart of Midlothian in January 1918, playing for them until the end of the following season. The Scottish League championship continued to be played during the conflict, and he scored 32 times in 33 official appearances. He also played a handful of league matches for Hamilton Academical.
He guested a couple of times for Leeds City in April 1918, scoring twice on his Peacocks debut at Bradford Park Avenue on 6 April.
Dunfermline Athletic and return to Middlesbrough In 1919 Wilson joined Dunfermline Athletic when they were part of the rebel Central League, a body outside Scottish Football League jurisdiction. When this league was absorbed by the SFL in 1921, those players previously contracted to a Scottish or English league side were obliged to return to whichever side held their registration as part of the agreement.
Thus Wilson returned to Middlesbrough in time for the 1921–22 season. He ended that season as not just 'Boro's top scorer but also the League's, with 31 strikes.
Chelsea In November 1923 Wilson joined David Calderhead's sizeable contingent of Scots at Chelsea mid-season for £6,000. He was replaced at Middlesbrough the following month with Ian Dickson from Aston Villa for £3,000. Wilson ended the 1923–24 season as both Middlesbrough and Chelsea's top scorer; both clubs were relegated from the top flight that season.
He made 253 appearances for Chelsea and scored 52 goals in the next eight years. In that time he lined up beside compatriots such as Willie Ferguson, Tommy Law, Hughie Gallacher, Alex Jackson and Alec Cheyne.
Queens Park Rangers, Nîmes He joined Queens Park Rangers in 1931, scoring three times in 20 league games, then spent a two-season sojourn in France with Sporting Club Nîmes.
International At Dunfermline and Middlesbrough, Wilson was capped 12 times by Scotland between 1920 and 1923; he averaged more than a goal per game with 13 goals. He scored another four in two unofficial wartime internationals.
Ten of his Scotland goals, across nine matches, helped the nation to win the British Home Championship three times in a row between 1920–21 and 1922–23.
Managerial and coaching In 1934 he became Walsall manager. He then accepted a series of coaching positions, including at Chelsea, Gravesend and Northfleet, where he was the club's first manager following their formation in 1946.
His younger son, Jimmy, survived a tour as a tail-gunner in the far east during World War II.
International goals Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Wilson goal.
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Important facts
People in Andrew Wilson's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Andrew Wilson's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Andrew Wilson?
Scottish footballer (1896-1973)
When was Andrew Wilson born?
Andrew Wilson was born on 14 February 1896 in Newmains.
When did Andrew Wilson die?
Andrew Wilson died on 15 October 1973 in Putney.
What was Andrew Wilson's occupation?
Andrew Wilson was an association football player and association football coach.
What nationality was Andrew Wilson?
Andrew Wilson was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Andrew Wilson (footballer, born 1896)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Andrew Wilson. https://biography.guide/andrew-wilson-association-football-player-1896/
MLA: "Andrew Wilson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/andrew-wilson-association-football-player-1896/.
Chicago: "Andrew Wilson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/andrew-wilson-association-football-player-1896/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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