He began his club career with Burnley and went on to play League football for Brighton & Hove Albion, Preston North End, Darlington and Hartlepool United.
[8][9] Shortly after his 20th birthday, after 18 months of second-eleven football,[7] Wilson and fellow long-term reserve Ronnie Welch were signed by Brian Clough for Brighton & Hove Albion for £70,000 the pair.
[7][12] In the 1977 close season, Albion signed Mark Lawrenson and Gary Williams from Third Division club Preston North End, and supplied Wilson and Graham Cross in part exchange.
The club had had to apply for re-election the previous season, and targeted Wilson to fill a vacancy at left back and to add experience to a small and very young squad.
[16] He made 90 appearances over three years with the financially struggling club, the third of which was interrupted by injury,[7][17] before finishing his Football League career with Darlington's local rivals Hartlepool United.