The Thistle Archive

The son of James Wilson (joiner) and Margaret Wilson (née Kelly) who married in Tarbolton in 1865 and later relocated to Glasgow.

Bobby lived and worked in Langside, and naturally played with the local team, Langside Athletic. It was whilst turning out for Inglefield in the Maryhill Charity Cup in 1906 that he came to the attention of the prominent junior side of the area, Maryhill. He joined the Lochburn Park outfit for season 1906-07 and spent three seasons there before answering the call of George Easton to take him to a Partick Thistle club that was in the doldrums, having recently experienced a traumatic season of homelessness and dreadful results. Bobby arrived as an inside forward, but it wasn't long until he settled as a right half first and foremost. He spent four eventful seasons at Thistle's brand new ground and played in the historic 3-1 win over Dumbarton Harp in mid-September, the first game ever to be played at Firhill.

It took a while for Thistle to get back on their feet - they never won a league game at Firhill until December 1909 - and the 16th place of 1909-10 was only marginally better than the preceding season horribilis. There was, however, plenty of evidence that things were turning for the better, and this was dramatically underlined in each of the following two seasons when the Jags finished 4th! Bobby was a popular figure with the fans and was enjoying his football playing in the half back line alongside the great Alec Raisbeck. His form was recognised by the Scottish League during these seasons too, and Bobby was capped against the Irish League in October 1910 (a 3-1 win at Belfast) and October 1911 (a 3-0 win at Firhill!) Playing a team game, Bobby accommodated the selectors by reverting back to the forward line for these games. That was an exceptional month in Bobby's career, as Thistle ran Rangers close for the Glasgow Cup, only losing against the run-of-play by one goal to nil in front of 56,000 @ Celtic Park.

Bobby's time at Thistle ended on a low, the team unfathomably having slumped back to 17th place in the 1912-13 league. Away from the football, Bobby worked as a mechanical engineer and this is likely to be the main reason for his leaving for London at this point. Football seems to have taken a back-seat in his mid 20s, although he had one last hurrah with Chelsea Reserves in the springtime of 1914 before retiring from the game. Bobby would live in London for the rest of his days, although he enjoyed a trip back home for special occasions. One newspaper report in particular tells us that he was back cheering on the Jags in October 1914 (see 'Scrapbook' tab) and Glasgow would be the city where he chose to be married, tying the knot with Janet Angus (a library assistant) on Christmas Eve 1915, the old romantic. The couple raised a family in London; the 1921 census tells us that Hilda (3) and Ronald (1) were the first born. Bobby was working as a mechanical engineer with Alley & MacLellan Shipbuilders at this point. It must have paid well as the Wilson household had a servant, a Glasgow lass by the name of Jeanie Daily. Bobby died in London in May 1960, leaving a sum of £8,350 (approx £250,000 in 2024) to his widow, Janet.

1911 - GLASGOW CUP