A Memorial Plaque for James Wilson. Back in 2015 our research, gleamed from the records at the Mitchell Library, confirmed that a James Wilson who was trainer at Rangers from 1897 until 1914 and a respected individual who also worked tirelessly with the building process of our great Club, had died suddenly due to a bout of double pneumonia in 1914 at 21 Princes Street in Govan aged 52 and was buried at Craigton Cemetery. Bill Struth who was trainer at Clyde at this time was actually offered Mr Wilson’s job at Rangers but he refused to take another man’s place at our Club, that was to change upon the sudden passing of Mr Wilson.
The Club had actually organised a benefit match for Mr Wilson against Everton at Ibrox only a week before he passed.
While James Wilson was trainer at Rangers our Club won:
7 League Titles
2 Scottish Cups
8 Glasgow Cups
6 Glasgow Charity Cups. We were to discover Mr Wilson’s stone at Craigton Cemetery and were incredibly fortunate that although sadly it was off it’s plinth it was lying on the grass inscription side up. A real chill went through us as we cleared the earth and moss from James Wilson’s stone and the words ‘’Trainer of Rangers’’ emerged.
Since then our Restoration team placed new foundations, put the memorial back in place, cleaned and re-lettered the stone.
James Wilson played a very important role in the success of Rangers and we thought it would be appropriate to place a plaque at the base of his stone highlighting his achievements at our Club.
That work was carried out this week.
The plaque was funded by our Restoration of Rangers Graves Project..
James Wilson. Gone but not forgotten.