Player profile

Charlie Wilson

Charlie Wilson

Birthdate: February 1877
Birthplace: Sutton, Shropshire, England
Other clubs: Earlestown (1893-94), Haydock (1894-95), Stockport County (1895-97)
Bought from: Stockport County
Signed for LFC: 15.12.1897
 Liverpool debut: 19.03.1898
Last appearance: 01.04.1905
Debut goal: 29.09.1900
Last goal: 25.12.1902
Contract expiry: 1907
Win ratio: 50% W:46 D:20 L:26
Honours: League Championship 1900/01
LFC league games/goals: 85 / 3
Total LFC games/goals: 92 / 3

Player profile

After joining from Lancashire League's Stockport County in 1897 utility defender Charlie Wilson made a single appearance towards the end of the 1897/98 season but only seven more the next season. He became more established in 1899/00, when he played in 22 of the 34 first division fixtures. The highlight of his career was no doubt winning the first division title in 1901 where he featured in 26 out of 34 League games. His playing style was so described by the club programme from 26 November 1904: "A sturdy, vigorous, and well-built youth, he plays football with all the energy he possesses, and his very exuberance of vitality is often mistaken for roughness by biassed individuals."

The night before Liverpool were due to play Middlesbrough on 28 February 1903 Wilson dreamt that he would break his leg and told his comrades on the way to the game that he was worried it might come true. Only a minute had passed of the Boro game when Wilson broke his leg! He returned eight months later but only played nine times for Liverpool in two seasons after that. The club programme from 15 December 1906 reflected on what could have been: "Before he broke his leg Wilson was a sound centre half, who studied the game, and played it accordingly. Indeed, there are many who think that he would have disputed pre-eminence with the great Raisbeck himself but for the unfortunate accident which practically stopped his First League career. He can score goals, and his offensive work was always splendid. Especially dangerous was he when corner kicks were taken. The juniors can learn much from Wilson if they will. He is bulky now, and must be one of the weightiest men playing in Combination football."

Wilson's final appearance for Liverpool's first team came against Bolton Wanderers on 1 April 1905, but he stayed on at the club working as a scout and trainer at Liverpool until 1939.

Appearances per season

Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 85 7 0 0 0 92
1897-1898 1 0 0 0 0 1
1898-1899 7 0 0 0 0 7
1899-1900 22 2 0 0 0 24
1900-1901 26 2 0 0 0 28
1901-1902 8 3 0 0 0 11
1902-1903 12 0 0 0 0 12
1903-1904 4 0 0 0 0 4
1904-1905 5 0 0 0 0 5

A more detailed look at the player's appearances

Total Opponent
7 Derby
7 Bury
7 Wolves
7 Notts County
6 Everton
6 Aston Villa
5 Bolton Wanderers
5 WBA
5 Blackburn Rovers
4 Newcastle United
4 Preston North End
4 Sheffield United
4 Nottingham Forest
3 Stoke City
3 Sunderland
3 Burnley
3 Sheffield Wednesday
2 Manchester City
2 Middlesbrough
1 Blackpool
1 Southampton
1 West Ham United
1 Grimsby Town
1 Glossop North End
Total Competition
85 League
7 FA Cup

Goals per season

Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 3 0 0 0 0 3
1897-1898 0 0 0 0 0 0
1898-1899 0 0 0 0 0 0
1899-1900 0 0 0 0 0 0
1900-1901 1 0 0 0 0 1
1901-1902 0 0 0 0 0 0
1902-1903 2 0 0 0 0 2
1903-1904 0 0 0 0 0 0
1904-1905 0 0 0 0 0 0

A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring

Total Opponent
2 Bolton Wanderers
1 Sunderland
Total Competition
3 League
Total Goal minute period
1 1-15 minutes
2 46-60 minutes
Total Open play/Penalty
3 Open play

Milestone Appearances

# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 19.03.1898 Bolton Wanderers Anfield League
50 25.12.1900 Derby Anfield League

Milestone Goals

# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 55 29.09.1900 Sunderland Anfield League

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