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Fullname: Peter Wilson
aka: Peter Williamson (birthname)
Born: 25 Nov 1904
Died: 13 Feb 1983
Birthplace: Bogfauld Beith, Ayrshire
Signed: May 1923
Left: 24 Aug 1934 (Hibs)
Position: Right-half
Debut: Motherwell 0-1 Celtic, League, 16 Feb 1924
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 4 caps
International Goals: 0
Biog
| “Cool and quick thinking.” Celtic manager Willie Maley on Peter Wilson |
Whenever you read up on certain players, there’s usually a noun or adjective that seems to be eternally linked to the player that pops up all the time in reports on them. ‘Dig‘ for Barry Robson, ‘jink‘ for Jimmy Johnstone, ‘power‘ for McGrory, ‘sensational‘ for Larsson, ‘brave‘ for John Thompson and so on. Peter Wilson has probably the best one, where you will find in many write-ups and quotes that the word ‘cool‘ seems to pop up very regularly to describe him and his playing style.
The ‘cool-headed’ Peter Wilson was a talented right-half who spent eleven seasons as a Celt.
The Ayrshire-born player signed for the Bhoys from his hometown side Beith in May 1923 and made a surprise debut on 16th February 1924 in a 1-0 league triumph at Motherwell.
Note: There can be some confusion on his date of birth, but confirmed he was born on 25 November 1904 in Beith. The confusion over the date is possibly as he was an adopted child, born as Peter Williamson, and then adopted by Thomas & Janet Wilson.
Coming from the countryside, he had the tag of being “Celtic’s Country Bumpkin” (courtesy of laddish banter). One story claims that he was so overwhelmed once in the shopping store Woolworths in Glasgow that he got lost, but thankfully there was no repeat of this on the pitch.
Wilson had no idea he was set to make his first team debut until the Celtic players had arrived at Fir Park where Maley told the youngster he would have the job of marking Motherwell’s feared wing sensation Bob Ferrier. The lightening quick and talented Ferrier had the ability to torment the very best defenders around but Wilson acquitted himself well as the Bhoys claimed victory and a clean sheet.
One of his most curious moments came early in his time. In a match against Hearts in Oct 1924, Celtic had twice missed the same penalty (with the great Patsy Gallacher & Adam McLean being the culprits). Yet, Celtic were given it to be retaken again (a rare show of non-bias against the Celts). Up stepped Wilson to take the shot and he duly scored, putting his then more illustrious colleagues in the shade. He actually scored very few goals in his time at Celtic, so this was a highlight.
An exquisite passer of the ball, Wilson was a calm and calculated player who would survey his surroundings before setting up a Celtic attack with another inch perfect pass. To define his talent, it was said once that “Peter Wilson didn’t pass the ball, he stroked it“. He was heralded as a very fine player, and was said to have a “cool style“, “easy-oasy“, and was a “carpet artist“.
He was an excellent reader of the game and although his style was unhurried he was an exceptionally quick thinking player who could see and create a chance in the blink of an eye. Season 1925/26 is likely his best time, aided by the wonderful McStay & McFarlane in defence. Notably, despite the lack of success for the club through much of his tenure at Celtic, he himself is actually exempt from much of the criticism from the time which is a reflection of his quality.
At a time when Rangers were the dominant force in Scottish football, Wilson was to pick up just one league title (1926) but he enjoyed plenty of success in the Scottish Cup with four winners’ medals to his name (1925. 1927, 1931, 1933).
A Scotland international, this fine servant to the Hoops eventually left Celtic in August 1934 for Hibernian after a total of 395 league & Scottish Cup appearances and 15 goals.
Some may query why having played so often for Celtic, why is he not referenced more often. He didn’t necessarily have the showmanship that other characters in the club’s history have had, so fewer tales to tell on him. Also, he was a defender with relatively few goals to his name, and it’s usually the strikers and wingers who get all the plaudits. Full-backs in Wilson’s day were not always the attacking force as has become the modern trend. However the main reason is likely that during his tenure, the club had begun a slow decline (not his fault) and league titles were no longer being churned out as once was the norm.
In his time, Celtic only won one league title and had become more a cup side. This sadly hampers reflections on the period and players like Peter Wilson are thus unintentionally overshadowed by others from other more successful eras. Peter Wilson though deserves greater recognition by the support.
He had amassed four caps for his country, and played his part in the defeat of England in 1933 (the day the ‘Hampden Roar‘ was born).
After playing, he became manager of Dunfermline for a period, then joined the Royal Navy during the war. He later became a cabinet maker in Beith.
He passed away in 1983, and his passing was much mourned by all. Still very proud of his Celtic record, his family had added a befitting epitaph on his gravestone of:
“The finest right half of his era. He played for his country“.
A fine man and an all-time great Celt, and a very cool chap to boot.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1923-34 | 344 | 51 | N/A | N/A | 395 |
| Goals: | 14 | 1 | – | – | 15 |