Bob Wilson (footballer, born 1943)


Robert John Wilson is an English former professional footballer.

Career

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. In his first season at the club he helped the side to win the Welsh Cup and reach the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners Cup, 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 to reach the semi-final of the Cup Winners Cup, the furthest Cardiff have ever been in a European competition, where they suffered defeat against 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.
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.

Honours

;Cardiff City