Wilson (left) shaking hands with East Germany's Bernd Bransch before their match at the 1974 FIFA World Cup
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Peter Frederick Wilson | ||
| Date of birth | (1947-09-15) 15 September 1947 (age 76) | ||
| Place of birth | Felling, England | ||
| Position(s) | Sweeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| St. Mary's Boys Club | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1966–1968 | Middlesbrough FC | 1 | (0) |
| 1968–1969 | Gateshead | 2 | (0) |
| 1969–1971 | South Coast United | 62 | (0) |
| 1972 | Club Marconi | 21 | (1) |
| 1973–1974 | Safeway United | 44 | (0) |
| 1975–1978 | Western Suburbs | 83 | (3) |
| 1979–1982 | APIA Leichhardt | 86 | (2) |
| Total | 299 | (6) | |
| International career‡ | |||
| 1970–1979 | Australia | 65 | (3) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1973–1974 | Safeway United | ||
| 1982 | APIA Leichhardt | ||
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 August 2007 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 August 2007 | |||
Peter Frederick Wilson (born 15 September 1947[1]) is an Australian former soccer player. He was the captain of the Australian squad at the 1974 World CupinWest Germany. His nickname is Big Willie and his position was sweeper.
Wilson was born in England of Scottish descent. Often regarded as one of the toughest defenders in the modern era, Wilson was a dominating figure in the Australian team in the 1970s. Born in Felling, England in 1947, Wilson migrated to Australia in 1969 to join South Coast United after failing to break into the first team for English club Middlesbrough. He began his career as a full back but injury to another player switched him to sweeper where he had his biggest success.
Between 1970 and 1979, he made a then-record 116 appearances for the national team, and captained Australia from 1971, including the 1974 FIFA World Cup finals. When he signed with Sydney club Western Suburbs, Wilson travelled 257 kilometres four times a week for training. He also played with Marconi and APIA Leichhardt and in later years coached South Coast and APIA.
Peter Wilson is now living as a recluse near Wollongong in New South Wales. After not speaking publicly for more than two decades, an Australian newspaper tracked him down and reported that he was living in a small town south of Sydney. "There's nothing I want to say," he said. "I've got nothing to add."[2]
His last match for Australia was a home friendly against Partizan Belgrade on 29 June 1979. The match ended on a 1–1 draw.[3]
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