Dave Wilson, then only Exeter City’s third manager in twenty years as a professional club, was briefly in charge of team affairs between March 1928 and February 1929. A Scottish international wing-half, and veteran of over 500 games, it was to be his final appointment in English football before working as a stockbroker. 

Commencing his career in his native Ayrshire with Irvine Meadow, he joined St Mirren in 1901 and also played for Hamilton Academical and Bradford City before signing for Oldham Athletic in 1907 where he was to play over 400 matches either side of the Great War. During his time at Boundary Park he won one Scottish cap against England in April 1913 when he played alongside his brother Andrew Wilson (Clyde and Sheffield Wednesday). Two other brothers were also professional footballers: James (St Mirren and Preston) and Alec (Preston and Oldham).

Becoming player-manager of Nelson in 1921, he steered the East Lancashire club to the Division Three (North) title in 1922/23 before departing Seedhill following relegation from Division Two after a solitary season. Subsequently making his first foray into stockbroking, he returned to football with Exeter City in March 1928 when he became the slightly-delayed replacement for Fred Mavin.

Keeping the pot on the boil, City finished 8th at the end of the 1927/28 but immediately struggled during the following campaign and, having suffered 21 losses in his 42 league games as the Grecians’ manager, Dave Wilson left St James’ Park in February 1929. Losing Stan Charlton and Billy Compton during his time at the club, Mr Wilson’s most notable achievement was probably the signing of Harold Houghton who for many years was the club’s record goalscorer.

On leaving Exeter, he became coach of Stuttgarter Kickers ahead of returning to stockbroking in the London area where he died in April 1959 aged seventy-five.