JAMES WILSON

Full Name: James Steven Wilson

Born: 26 February 1989

Came from: Ipswich Town   Went to: Bristol Rovers

First game: 07 August 2021   Last game: 07 May 2023

Appearances: 95 (90/5)   Goals: 1

Born in Chepstow, Wilson began his career in the youth system at Bristol City, although his Football League debut came in August 2008 when on loan at Brentford, where the 19-year-old helped the Bees to the League Two title during his three-months at Griffin Park.

He returned to Bristol to make his debut for the Robins in November 2008, but re-joined Brentford on a half-season loan in League One the following season. He then found it hard to re-establish a place in City's side until the 2011-12 campaign, when he notched up 23 Championship and cup appearances.

Capped for Wales at under-19 and under-21 levels, Wilson’s development at Ashton Gate earned him a call-up for his country's senior side in October 2013, making his debut in a 1-1 draw against Belgium in a World Cup qualifier in Brussels, where he appeared as a 57th minute substitute to face the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne.

Following a month's loan at nearby Cheltenham Town, Wilson made a permanent switch to Oldham Athletic in January 2014, and hardly missed a League One game over the next two and a half years. In the summer of 2016, after 109 appearances in Greater Manchester, he rejected a further contract offer and instead moved to Sheffield United, where he won a League One winner’s medal in his first season with the club.

Finding first team opportunities limited after the Blades’ elevation to the Championship, Wilson enjoyed a successful loan move to Walsall before joining Lincoln City on a permanent deal in January 2018. A broken ankle limited his first team opportunities but he recovered to make 16 appearances for the Imps in their 2018-19 League Two title-winning season, pipping Ryan Lowe and Steven Schumacher’s Bury to the title.

In August 2019 Wilson moved on to Ipswich Town, where he was a regular in his first season with the club, a campaign that was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite an injury that kept him out for four months of his second season, Wilson was named in May 2021 as Ipswich's Player of the Year. However, just days later, he was released by the Suffolk Club.

Ryan Lowe was quick to react. Having identified Wilson as his first-choice target, the Argyle manager signed the 32-year-old centre-back a fortnight later, so becoming the Pilgrims' first new face of the summer.

Wilson was a near ever-present in his first season at Home Park, making 49 appearances in a campaign that started with Ryan Lowe in charge and ended with Steven Schumacher at the helm and a near miss with the playoffs following the crushing 5-0 home defeat by MK Dons on the last day of the season.

His second season fared similarly, making 46 appearances for Schumacher's Pilgrims as the club romped to the League One title with 101 points, and even chipping in with his first and only goal for the club in a 3-1 home win against MK Dons in January 2023.

Having ended the season with EFL Trophy runners-up and League One champions medals, Wilson was offered a new contract at Home Park, but after the club's deadline for signing had passed, it was announced that he would be moving to League One Bristol Rovers. Returning to the city where his career began, albeit with their neighbours, he signed a two-year deal in June 2023 and made 31 appearances, scoring once, in 2023-24, and remained a regular with the Pirates into the 2024-25 season.