Name: Matthew WilsonBorn: c.1842
Died: 20 May 1897
Position: Right-Back
Representative Honours: Ireland: 3 Full Caps (1884).
Club Honours: (with Distillery) Irish Cup Winner 1883/84, 1885/86.
Club Career:
Distillery 1881/82-1886/87 (23 competitive and 59 friendly appearances).
Biography:
Famed for his 15-inch long ginger beard, “Daddy” Wilson was an early captain for Distillery. He was already in his late-thirties when he first took to the football field, making his Distillery debut in October 1881 and he remained their regular right-back for six seasons. For the 1883/84 season he was joined by his son, Bob, who featured at left-back, and the pair played in that season's Irish Cup and Charity Cup Finals.
In January 1884, Wilson was selected for all of Ireland’s Home Nation matches, making his entrance on the international scene against Scotland already past the age of 40 and as the oldest player to make his Ireland debut.
At 44(ish) Wilson took to the field with his 19 year-old son Bob for an Irish Cup Final for the second time in 1886, Limavady defeated 1-0. This unique situation in the Irish Cup of father and son earning winners medals in the same match was only approached by the appearance of George Eastham Sr and Jr in the 1953/54 Gold Cup Final for Ards. To add to the father-son achievements, Bob also went on to earn international recognition.
Ireland Cap Details:
26-01-1884 Scotland H L 0-5 BC
09-02-1884 Wales... A L 0-6 BC
23-02-1884 England. H L 1-8 BC
Summary: 3/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 3.
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