Alex Wilson

Who was Alex Wilson?

Alexander Wilson was a Scottish football defender.

Alex joined Portsmouth on leaving school in 1949 having signed from his local junior club, Buckie Rovers, in Banffshire, in the north east of Scotland. His local senior club, Buckie Thistle of the Highland Football League, just missed out on signing Alex. He turned professional with Portsmouth the following year, and played there for 18 years, winning a Division 3 championship in 1962. In 1967 he moved to Chelmsford City for a short spell before retiring.

He won his only cap for Scotland in their final preparation match for the 1954 FIFA World Cup Finals against Finland, this coming after just 25 league matches. Although named in Scotland's 22 man squad for Switzerland, Scotland decided to take only 13 of the 22 to the finals. Wilson stayed at home on reserve with the likes of Bobby Combe and Jimmy Binning. Inside forward George Hamilton was also on reserve but traveled after Bobby Johnstone withdrew through injury.