Bob Wilson (footballer, born 1943)

Robert John Wilson (23 May 1943 – 3 October 2020)[1] was an English professional footballer.

Bob Wilson
Personal information
Full name Robert John Wilson
Date of birth (1943-05-23)23 May 1943
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Date of death 3 October 2020(2020-10-03) (aged 77)
Place of death Exeter, Devon, England
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1958–1961 Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1961–1964 Aston Villa 9 (0)
1964–1970 Cardiff City 115 (0)
1969Bristol City (loan) 1 (0)
1970–1976 Exeter City 205 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Born in Birmingham, Wilson began his career with Aston Villa as a youth player. He went on to make nine league appearances for the club before he was sold to Cardiff City in August 1964 as manager Jimmy Scoular's first signing for a fee of £2,000.[2] In his first season at the club he helped the side win the Welsh Cup and reach the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners Cup,[3] where they were knocked out by Real Zaragoza. The following season the club reached the semi-finals of the League Cup against West Ham United. Wilson was dropped after conceding five goals in the first leg, only for his replacement to also concede five in the second leg. It was during this season that Wilson helped the club reach the semi-final of the Cup Winners Cup; the furthest Cardiff have ever been in a European competition, where they were defeated by Hamburg. Despite constant pressure from Dilwyn John and Lyn Davies he managed to hold on to the number one spot for the majority of his stay at the club.[4]

He left Cardiff in January 1970, after a short loan spell at Bristol City, for Exeter City where he was the club's first choice goalkeeper for several years before retiring in 1976.[4]

Wilson died on 3 October 2020 in Exeter, aged 77.[5][1]

Honours

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Cardiff City
1965,[6] 1967[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b Robert John Wilson
  2. ^ "Wilson, Robert John (Bob)". Aston Villa Player Database. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  3. ^ "Welsh Cup final 1964/65". Welsh Football Data Archive. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  4. ^ a b Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 204. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.
  5. ^ "Remembering Bob Wilson: 1943–2020". Exeter City FC. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  6. ^ Vowles, Charlotte (5 October 2020). "Tributes paid to former Exeter City goalkeeper Bob Wilson following his death". Devon Live. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  7. ^ "The FAW Welsh Cup". Napit. Retrieved 5 October 2020.