Born in the mining village of Newton, just outside Glasgow, Davie Wilson grew up a Rangers supporter, dreaming of the day he would don the famous blue jersey. That day came in 1956 when he was signed by the club after a stint with Baillieston Juniors, having previously been rejected by Cambuslang Rangers for being too small—a decision that must have haunted them for years to come.

PART ONE

Making his first-team debut on 2 January 1957, just before his 20th birthday, Wilson wasted little time in proving his worth. He featured in European matches against AS Saint-Étienne and AC Milan, gaining invaluable experience on the continental stage.

However, it wasn’t until the 1959–60 season that he truly established himself as a mainstay in the Rangers lineup. That campaign saw him net 22 goals from 50 appearances, a significant improvement from the modest eight goals he had managed across his previous three seasons combined. Moreover, Rangers reached the semi-finals of the European Cup and lifted the Scottish Cup, setting the stage for even greater triumphs to come.

The 1960–61 season was arguably one of Wilson’s finest. Rangers secured the Scottish Football League title as well as the Scottish League Cup, with Wilson playing every single minute of the club’s gruelling 56-match campaign. His contributions in attack, alongside the likes of Ralph Brand, Jimmy Millar, Willie Henderson, and the mercurial Jim Baxter, helped forge one of the most formidable forward lines in Rangers’ history. Then again, there was heartache in Europe as Fiorentina denied them in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final, proving that silverware on the continent would remain elusive for the time being.

Wilson’s reputation continued to grow, and the 1961–62 season saw him achieve a club record that stands to this day—six goals in a single match, coming in a 7–1 demolition of Falkirk on 17 March 1962. A mere four days later, he starred for the Scottish League, netting a hat-trick in a thrilling 4–3 victory over the English League at Villa Park. Everton, sensing a potential game-changing acquisition, attempted to lure Wilson to Goodison Park with what would have been a British record transfer fee, but he remained loyal to Rangers, opting to stay in Glasgow.

The following season brought yet another league and cup double, with Wilson at the heart of Rangers’ attacking play. His tally of over 30 goals in all competitions was a testament to his goal-scoring prowess, and among his many standout performances was a four-goal haul against Partick Thistle and a vital strike in the replayed Scottish Cup final victory over Celtic.

Nevertheless, football, as ever, is a game of ups and downs, and Wilson suffered a significant setback in the 1963–64 season when he broke his ankle. The injury ruled him out of much of the winter campaign and forced him to miss the League Cup final, though he did recover in time to play in the Scottish Cup final, helping Rangers secure yet another domestic treble.

PART TWO

By the mid-1960s, however, change was in the air. The balance of power in Scottish football was beginning to shift towards Jock Stein’s Celtic, and Rangers struggled to maintain their dominance. Wilson, too, found himself grappling with injuries and increased competition for places.

In the 1965–66 season, he played in both domestic cup finals, but his overall contribution dipped, with just 21 appearances—the lowest tally he had managed since his early years at Ibrox. The following season, with the emergence of Willie Johnston and the arrival of Alex Smith, Wilson’s opportunities became increasingly limited. Though he played 29 times and even contributed crucial goals—including the winner in the Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final against Slavia Sofia—he was omitted from the squad for the final, in which Rangers lost to Bayern Munich.

In the summer of 1967, Wilson departed Rangers, having scored 157 goals in 373 appearances. But his career was far from over. He joined Dundee United and quickly became a key figure at Tannadice, making over 100 appearances for the club. Though he no longer played in the dominant Rangers side of the early 60s, his experience and skill were invaluable to United, and he continued to perform at a high level for several more years.

Beyond his club career, Wilson also made his mark on the international stage, earning 22 caps for Scotland. His international career included memorable performances against some of Europe’s finest sides, though he never quite managed to cement his place as an undisputed starter, given the fierce competition for places at the time. Nevertheless, he remains one of Scotland’s most gifted wingers of his generation, a player whose dribbling ability and finishing prowess made him a constant threat.

Following his retirement from playing, Wilson moved into management, where he found his most notable success at Dumbarton, the club where he had brought his playing career to an end. His time in the dugout may not have been as illustrious as his playing days, but he remained a respected figure in Scottish football, passing on his vast knowledge of the game to future generations.