As mentioned earlier this week on The Celtic Star, around three years ago I met with David Potter and Matt Corr to discuss future Celtic books we’d like to publish over the next few years…
The late David Potter
After much discussion it was agreed that Matt would fulfil a personal ambition by writing the history of Celtic in the 1930s while David would jump ahead half a century and do exactly the same thing for the 1980s.
As we always do, we work closely together and David immediately started to assist Matt by writing a large number of articles about Celtic player in the 1930s for Matt’s benefit and to assist with his research.
Celtic in the Thirties, Volumes One and Two
Celtic in the Thirties image from Celtic Curio from Matt Corr’s new books out on 5 November on Celtic Star Books.
These articles were appreciated by Matt and will have been referenced in his new books one on 5 November 2024, Celtic in the Thirties, Volumes One and Two. And as we build up to the books arriving we will publish an article by David Potter and we started with David’s article on ALEC THOMSON before cover David’s essay on WILLIE BUCHAN. This evening we turn our attention to another star player from Celtic in the Thirties – PETER WILSON.
Bertie & Alec Thomson. Playing for Celtic in the Thirties. Graphic by Celtic Curio for Matt Corr’s new book Celtic in the Thirties, out 5 November 2024.
These articles have never been published before and are especially poignant for those of us who knew him well.
David Potter’s Celtic in the Eighties book was finished by David before his passing in July 2023 and will be published by Celtic Star Books in 2025. The standard of both the 1930s and 1980s books are incredibly high.
Born: November 25 1904 Died: February 13 1983 Appearances: 395 Goals: 15 Scottish League medals: 1925/26 Scottish Cup medals: 1924/25, 1926/27, 1930/31, 1932/33 Glasgow Cup medals: 1926/27, 1927/28, 1928/29, 1930/31 Glasgow Charity Cup medals: 1925/26 Scotland Caps: 4
Peter Wilson, Celtic in the Thirties. Image created for the book by Celtic Curio
There can be few better compliments paid to Peter Wilson than that of Jimmy McGrory when he was asked who was the best right half he had played alongside. Jimmy thought long and hard, and said it was a toss-up between Peter Wilson and Bobby Murdoch. Eventually Jimmy plumped for Murdoch – but the fact that Peter Wilson could be mentioned in the same breath as Bobby Murdoch surely says it all.
“Celtic’s country bumpkin”
Sometimes called “Celtic’s country bumpkin” because of his rustic background in Beith, Ayrshire, Peter once famously got lost in the new and famous department store in Glasgow called Woolworth’s, when he wandered away from this team mates, fascinated by the glitter and the lights of the shop. His friends never let him forget that one, but Peter never got lost on the football field, and for ten years from 1924 until 1934 he was the mainstay of Celtic’s midfield during these turbulent, romantic but occasionally under-performing years.
Peter Wilson, Celtic FC.
He was born Peter Williamson in 1904 but was adopted a year later by Mr and Mrs Wilson of Beith. He was just too young to be involved in the Great War and joined Celtic at the end of the 1923 season after playing for Beith Juniors. Maley had heard good reports of this young man with great passing ability.
Shy and gauche, Peter cut his teeth in the poor season of 1923/24. He had played a game in a bizarre experimental friendly against Third Lanark which had involved two referees on a Scottish Cup day after both teams had been knocked out, but then he was given his debut in a game at Fir Park, Motherwell on a Wednesday afternoon of February 13 1924. Celtic won 1-0 that day with a goal attributed to Andy McAtee, Peter played his part in the taming of the strong ‘Well side, and the right half position remained his more or less for the next ten years.
Peter Wilson was a deceptive player
Peter was a deceptive player. He did not really look like a football player. His walk about the field was slow and measured, but he could suddenly turn on the pace when he had to, he was a good ball winner, never shirking the tackle and he could pass a ball – something that very soon became his trademark. “Peter Wilson doesn’t pass the ball – he strokes it and caresses it, before he delivers it to a good home” claimed one of his admirers in The Weekly News.
A contemporary chronicler in the Glasgow Observer wrote: “I like the way that Wilson surveys the position before he makes a pass. He is cool, quick-thinking and a shrewd constructor. The crisp, inch-accurate passes to a well-placed colleague stamp him as a half-back who knows just what is required . . . no flurry or hurry . . . just cool and calculating . . . he will be a top-notcher yet.”
Peter Wilson, Celtic FC.
Some idiot threw a stone which hit the Hearts goalkeeper
The year 1924 is not generally reckoned to be one of the best in Celtic’s history and October 4 1924 saw a dreadful defeat in the Glasgow Cup Final 1-4 to Rangers where it was generally agreed that Celtic were outclassed. Defeats from Rangers are never easily recovered from, and the following week Celtic were playing a dreadful game against Hearts at Parkhead with the 18,000 crowding turning on the players, and some idiot threw a stone which hit the Hearts goalkeeper.
The atmosphere was febrile
The atmosphere was febrile, when late in the game with the score at 0-0 and most players more interested in vendettas than anything else, Celtic were awarded a penalty. Patsy Gallacher took it and fired weakly at the goalkeeper. But some Hearts players had encroached, and it was a re-take! Patsy now sulked (as he did sometimes, and being Patsy Gallacher he got off with it) and refused to take the re-take.
Adam McLean then stepped up and blazed the ball over the bar. But once again, Hearts had encroached and a third attempt was awarded. Adam was now sacked from taking the kick, and Jimmy McStay who might have taken the kick himself or called on old reliable Alec McNair, turned to young Peter instead. Peter then scored, via the bar, and won the day for Celtic.
Winning the respect and admiration of the prickly Patsy Gallacher
Peter then took part in the glories of the next few years, coping with and eventually winning the respect and admiration of the prickly Patsy Gallacher and the even more difficult task of trying to understand the quixotic Tommy McInally. With Gallacher he won the Scottish Cup in 1925, but it is generally agreed that, for consistently good football, 1925/26 was one of Celtic’s best seasons as they romped to the League title with Peter Wilson “spraying passes” and being consistently rated as one of the best.
By 1927 he had two Scottish Cup medals and one Scottish League medal, and was clearly a well-respected and loved member of the Celtic team. One of his best games in 1926/27 was the Scottish Cup semi-final against Falkirk at Ibrox. Patsy Gallacher was playing for Falkirk, but the veteran wizard never got a look in today, for Peter Wilson was on top of him throughout. Peter also won a Scottish cap in a 4-0 defeat of Northern Ireland in 1926, and many supporters and journalists were puzzled that he was not given more games for his country. In particular, it was felt that he deserved a chance against England that year, but he is hardly the only man to feel hard done by in terms of International appearances.
The late 1920s were not happy times at Celtic Park
The late 1920s were not happy times at Celtic Park with the club clearly obsessed by their need to build a new stand, for which, of course, they needed money. Tommy McInally and Adam McLean went to Sunderland, attempts were made to sell John Thomson and Jimmy McGrory to Arsenal, and supporters wondered whether Peter Wilson might have been punted as well. There was no real danger of that happening, for Peter, now a married man, was content where he was, loving his football, loving his club and being so glad to be able to earn his living doing what he did.
He now had confidence in his own abilities, including social skills, and on “away days” when the team was staying in a hotel, and entertainment was required, Peter did not let anyone down. Being an Ayrshire man, he was expected to be good at Burns songs and recitations – and he was.
Peter was at his peak in 1930
Peter was at his peak in 1930 when he regained his Scottish cap against France in Paris. He played well that day, and the following season he was absolutely axiomatic to Celtic’s wonderful season on 1930/31 when they lifted the Glasgow Cup, the Scottish Cup in breath taking style against Motherwell and came very close to winning the Scottish League as well. He had bad luck with injuries but he was there when it mattered at the end.
Celtic 1930/31. Back; Willie Cook, Peter Kavanagh, Hugh Smith & Peter Wilson.
With the Scottish Cup with them, they went off to America (a huge adventure for the country boy from Beith) and then came the tragic event of September and the death of John Thomson. It was an indication of how highly Peter was regarded that he was asked to do a reading in Church for John at the Memorial Service, along with Davie Meiklejohn of Rangers. Sadly the sheer pressure of the crowd prevented Peter from getting into the Trinity Congregational Church in Hope Street to do the needful, and that must have saddened him considerably.
Photograph taken in Detroit while on their visit to play Michigan all Stars who they beat 5-0 at the University of Detroit Stadium. While in the city they were given a tour of the famous Ford Motor Works.
It was not easy for Celtic or Wilson to recover from the blow of losing John Thomson, and it was 1933, the year where disturbing and ominous signs were appearing from Germany of the rise of the dangerous demagogue called Adolf Hitler, before Celtic and Wilson were back. But he had a wonderful fortnight in April, winning for Scotland against England at Hampden on April 1, and then two weeks later winning his fourth Scottish Cup medal for Celtic when they beat Motherwell 1-0. In each case, it was McGrory who scored the goal but it was Peter Wilson who won the game.
The swan song to the Celtic career of Peter Wilson
That was more or less the swan song to the Celtic career of Peter Wilson. Season 1933/34 saw many injuries to Peter and a poor season for Celtic as Maley seemed to lose interest in his job, forever comparing the current Celts to his great sides of long ago. Wilson was probably quite glad to leave in 1934 and to go to Hibs, a club who had recently been in the Second Division. He played well enough for the Edinburgh side, but never reached the heights of what he had done for Celtic. He did however manage to keep them from returning to the Second Division when in 1936 in particular they came mighty close!
In May 1938, Peter was appointed Player-Manager of Dunfermline Athletic. It was not exactly a plum job in Scottish football at that time as the Pars were ninth in the Second Division but season 1938/39 saw a distinct improvement with Dunfermline reaching fifth.
Who knows what might have happened after that?
Who knows what might have happened after that? The Second World War came along, and Wilson, thinking erroneously that football was finished for several years, resigned his job and went home to Beith. He subsequently joined the Royal Navy and then after the war became a cabinet maker. He did a little scouting for some clubs, and for a brief spell was a part time coach with Kilmarnock, but he had no full time involvement with football, leading a quiet life until his death in 1983.
If you have already ordered Celtic in the Thirties, your books will be posted on Wednesday 6 November. You can also get your copies sent in the post on Wednesday 6 November by ordering now from celticstarbooks.com and we’ll do the rest!
Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW!
The Celtic Star founder and editor David Faulds has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk
