Terry Wilson

Terry Wilson

Born 8 February 1969 (Age 27 at debut)

Position: Midfielder/Defender

(Diamonds player #60)

Total appearances 16 – 1 goal

(9 League, 4 FA Cup, 1 League Cup, 1 Hillier Senior Cup, 1 Championship Shield)

Debut:

10 August 1996 (Home Nuneaton Borough)

Final game:

23 November 1996 (Away Morecambe)

Terry started out at Nottingham Forest as a youngster under Brian Clough, making his debut as an 18 year old in September 1987 and the Scottish midfielder had become a regular by the end of the season. After losing his place in midfield the following season, he switched positions to become a central defender until an injury brought his season to a premature end. He made over 160 appearances for Forest, scoring 62 goals, and after losing his place again, went on loan to Honefoss BK of Norway, and Newcastle United. Terry played for the Scotland Under-21 side, and was also a member of the Forest side that was involved in the tragic events at Hillsborough on 15 April 1989. His Forest career was brought to an end on 12 January 1993 when he shattered his knee in a League Cup game against Arsenal. After some six operations, he finally gave up the fight to play top flight football again and played at a lower level with Whitburn and Spartans of Edinburgh.

Terry played briefly in Scandinavia as part of a comeback before trying his luck with Diamonds in August 1996. He made his debut in the annual match between the Southern League Champions (us), and the League Cup winners, Nuneaton Borough on August 10th having signed on a temporary/trial basis.

Having played abroad just before signing, he was ineligible for the first League game of the new season – the club’s Conference debut at Altrincham due to incomplete paperwork and it was several weeks before he eventually appeared in the drawn home match against Stalybridge. The Diamonds were still coming to terms with football at the higher level and although his treatment of Macclesfield’s Tony Hemmings was an object lesson in subduing a dangerous opponent, it was not the ideal situation in which to attempt a comeback. He scored in the 2-1 win at Northwich but the depressing defeat at Morecambe on November 23rd proved to be his final game. There was no disputing the touch of class that still characterised his play, but injuries had taken their toll and the luckless midfielder clearly lacked stamina to merit a place in a struggling side.

He left Diamonds in December 1996, and joined Ilkeston Town before deciding on a coaching career. He coached at Sunderland, Fulham, Hearts and Glenrothes, before going across to the States, taking up a positions at the United Soccer Academy until 2003, before moving to Virginia. He was last spotted coaching at the Women’s Soccer Academy at Santa Barbara in California. He is now CEO & Technical Director of Total Soccer institute in California.

Appearances

1996/1997