671 Steve Wilson

Biography

Born and raised in the Bransholme Estate and educated at Winifred Holtby School, Stephen Lee “Steve” Wilson was a goalkeeper who joined Hull City’s YTS scheme in May 1990 and played for City throughout practically all of the 1990s, one of the club’s trickier decades. Willo was not the tallest goalkeeper and was slightly built, but his shot stopping abilities were rarely questioned. He was prone to the occasional mistake, a tendency that seemed to dog him when he had a run in the first team, and his distribution was sometimes lacking. But Willo was a whole-hearted keeper who clearly loved to play for his hometown club, and he remained fondly remembered long after his departure by those who saw him.

Wilson made his debut at the tail end of the 1990/91 season just ten days after his seventeenth birthday, as City were relegated from the Second Division. He played a support role for another 18 months before becoming first choice netminder in November 1992, anchoring a defence selected by Terry Dolan that competed well in League Division 2. Dropping out of the first team in September 1993, Wilson rarely genuinely dominated the Number 1 jersey and had competition for the shirt and spells out of the first team throughout his time at Boothferry Park. As Terry Dolan piloted the Tigers through financially tough times, and eventually piloted the Tigers down into the Fourth Division, Wilson stuck around.

When City hit rock bottom in the first half of the 1998/99 season then performed the Great Escape under Warren Joyce, Willo was sharing first team duties with Andy Oakes. As the 2000s began and Adam Pearson’s leadership of the club took hold, Wilson was increasingly left out of the side in favour of the crazy antics of Lee Bracey and the assured netminding of Paul Musselwhite. After a barren 2000/01 season without a first team appearance for City, Steve joined League Division 3 side Macclesfield Town on loan in March 2001 and made one appearance for the Silkmen before being handed a free transfer by Hull City in the 2001 close season.

In July 2001 Wilson rejoined Macclesfield Town on a permanent deal and during the next four seasons Willo was mostly first choice goalkeeper for the Moss Rose side. After adding 163 appearances for Macclesfield Town to the one he made on loan, Steve joined League One side Tranmere Rovers in July 2005, reuniting with his former City boss Brian Little. He made 13 senior appearances for Rovers during the 2005/06 season before dropping into the lower leagues with Worksop Town and Mossley. In 2007 he returned to East Yorkshire, spending a season at Hall Road Rangers then had four successful seasons between the sticks at North Ferriby United, making over 130 appearances as the Villagers won promotions and reached Wembley finals – a fitting closing act to a fine goalkeeper’s career. After a short spell helping out Scarborough Athletic in August 2012 Willo hung up his gloves for the final time.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 24 April 1974, Hull
Hull City First Game: 4 May 1991, Plymouth Argyle H (Division Two), 17 years, 10 days old
Hull City Final Game: 6 May 2000, Hartlepool United H (League Division 3), 26 years, 12 days old

Clubs

Hull City (1990-2001), Macclesfield Town (2001, loan), Macclesfield Town (2001-2005), Tranmere Rovers (2005-2006), Worksop Town (2006), Mossley (2006-2007), Hall Road Rangers (2007-2008), North Ferriby United (2008-2012), Scarborough Athletic (2012)

Hull City Record

Career: 219 apps, 0 goals

Steve Wilson
SeasonLGE
App
LGE
Gls
FAC
App
FAC
Gls
FLC
App
FLC
Gls
EUR
App
EUR
Gls
OTH
App
OTH
Gls
1990/912 (0)0
1991/923 (0)01 (0)0
1992/9326 (0)02 (0)03 (0)0
1993/949 (0)02 (0)0
1994/9520 (0)01 (0)02 (0)0
1995/9619 (0)02 (0)04 (0)02 (0)0
1996/9714 (1)02 (0)00 (1)0
1997/9837 (0)01 (0)02 (0)02 (0)0
1998/9923 (0)03 (0)04 (0)01 (0)0
1999/0027 (0)02 (0)01 (0)0
2000/01

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