[2] He began his career with local juvenile sides before joining Arniston Rangers of the Junior grade,[5] and represented Scotland at that level in two matches.
By that point World War I was intensifying, and in the wake of public scrutiny over the willingness of sportsmen to join up for the armed forces, the squad enlisted en masse into what became known as McCrae's Battalion.
Wilson signed up, but was not initially called to active duty owing to a dislocated shoulder sustained in a match some time earlier.
[5] While several of his teammates fought and perished at the Battle of the Somme, the problematic shoulder meant that Wilson could not fire a rifle effectively, and he was held on reserve.
His top-level career thus resumed,[4] as Cowden achieved an all-time high league placing of fifth in 1924–25 and retained their divisional status up to Wilson's final season, 1928–29 (and for several years beyond).