Soldier Wilson

Who was Soldier Wilson?

David "Soldier" Wilson was an English professional footballer who played as a centre forward. Born in Hebburn, he earned his nickname as a teenager while serving with the Cameron Highlanders and the 1st Battalion, Black Watch. He also served in South Africa during the Boer War.

Wilson began his footballing career in Scotland with Raith Rovers. He left the Army to play professional football with Scottish Football League First Division side Dundee and later had a spell with Edinburgh club Heart of Midlothian. At the start of the 1905–06 season Wilson moved to England to join Football League Second Division side Hull City. After scoring three goals in ten league matches, Wilson was signed by Leeds City for a transfer fee of £150. During his first season at Leeds he made 15 league appearances and scored 13 goals, making him the club's top scorer in the 1905–06 campaign.

While playing for Leeds City against Burnley on 27 October 1906, Wilson left the pitch during the second half after suffering chest pains. When two of his team-mates sustained injuries at the same time, he returned to the field of play against medical advice. However, he was unable to complete the match and had departed the pitch when Burnley inside forward Arthur Bell scored a late winner for the visitors. Wilson collapsed and had to be carried to the Leeds dressing rooms where he died despite efforts to resuscitate him. A subsequent post mortem found that Wilson had died from a heart attack.