Bob Wilson: The Arsenal goalkeeping icon who actually began his career at Wolves

To football fans of a certain generation, he was one of the most distinctive and authoritative voices of the sport across all major competitions over almost three decades.

To those aged between 16 and 40 who have been helped by the Willow Foundation, the charity which he co-founded, he has helped provide a beacon of hope lit by the desire to do something positive after the devastation of losing his daughter Anna.

After an extraordinary career – more to the point four different careers - Bob Wilson OBE still means so many different things to so many different people. And yet, many fans of a Wolves persuasion may be completely unaware that his career actually began at Molineux. And that two true club icons – Stan Cullis and Billy Wright – delivered key contributions in those formative years.

The word career may be stretching it slightly in terms of Wolves, as Wilson only ever put pen to paper on a contract for expenses to appear in the Central and Midland Intermediate Leagues – which prompted a lengthy and almighty row when the Gunners came in to secure his services - and he never actually made a first team appearance.

But he certainly remembers his time at Wolves, which dove-tailed with studying at Loughborough College, with great affection.

Not least as it offered an opportunity to eventually embark on a footballing journey which, initially, his father William was unwilling to encourage.

“I had always loved football, and loved goalkeeping, from the time my brother, who was a couple of years older, would smash balls at me on our back lawn,” Wilson recalls.

“But my father, who was a Borough Engineer & Surveyor in my hometown of Chesterfield, wasn’t as keen on me becoming a footballer.

“I’d actually spent time at Manchester United, who wanted to sign myself and Nobby Stiles from the England schoolboy team of 1957.

“My Dad met Matt Busby, who offered me schoolboy forms, but he told me on the way home that he had said ‘no’ and that I needed to get a proper job.

“I can still hear him now, my Scottish Dad, saying: ‘och son, football’s not a proper job, you know that.’

“So, he told me to go and learn another career, and once I’d got that sorted, if I still wanted to be a footballer, and there was someone who wanted me, then he might think about it.

“I wasn’t going to disagree with him, so I headed to Loughborough College to learn to teach physical education and history, because of all the sporting aspects of studying there.

“It was whilst playing in a friendly for the college against Wolves that I was spotted by Stan Cullis, obviously a legend and manager of the club who had excited the land with the very first floodlit games against foreign opposition.

“Stan had an intensity about him that was quite hypnotic, and I quickly agreed to sign amateur forms for Wolves and play, whenever college commitments permitted.

“I know Stan was something of a severe gentleman, at least he appeared to be, but he was always terrific with me, and stayed in touch as my career progressed.”

Wilson thoroughly enjoyed his association with Wolves. Although not involved with the first team, he recalls rubbing shoulders with club greats such as Ron Flowers, Peter Broadbent and Malcolm Finlayson. On one occasion, when taking part in consecutive days of pre-season training, he lodged 100 metres away from Molineux at the house of Mrs Shorthouse, mother of Wolves legend Bill, who used to look after promising young players during their visits. Wilson roomed with Peter Knowles.

He received what he describes as ‘generous expenses’ to cover his travel costs from Loughborough to Wolverhampton, although on one occasion, he ‘thumbed a lift’, so as to be able to keep some of those expenses.

“Imagine that happening today,” he laughs.

And pre-match nutrition? Very often that involved a Chinese meal picked up enroute for Molineux after arriving at the station.

Wilson is now 83 years old, but his powers of recollection are exemplary. And he remains, of course, a huge football fan, especially when it comes to his beloved Arsenal.

He still treasures, and feels ‘very lucky’, to have a seat in the Directors’ Box at the Emirates, and will continue to use that for as long as he is able. He does have to be more selective about how many engagements he attends, but is very much looking forward to the London Football Awards, at Wembley next month.

And yet, what has turned into an ongoing 62-year affiliation with the Gunners was only launched after a frustratingly challenging process that nearly ended up in court.

Wilson had never signed a proper contract with Wolves, but they believed there was a sufficient tie entitling them to his registration when Arsenal wanted to take him on. A tense stand-off, during which Wilson continued his studies on his three-year teacher training course, lasted almost a year until, even amid full confidence of winning a court case should it be required, Arsenal decided to bring an end to the negotiations by splashing out £6,500 on the young goalkeeper, the first ever transfer fee paid for an amateur.