YOUR greatest ever player is Hamilton's David Wilson, a Famous Five
When Hamilton Academical fell 2‑1 to Rangers in the 1935 Scottish Cup final, the decisive moment was not a Wilson strike but his absence, underscoring the striker’s importance to the Accies’ golden era. Supporters still recall the 25,000 crowd at Hampden, yet Wilson failed to find the net that day.
By PAUL FORSYTH, EDDIE ISAAC AND ALAN HENDRY, 2 October 2026. HAMILTON Academical: DAVID WILSON. Supporters of Hamilton Academical will have a hard job believing it, but the club once stood among Scotland’s strongest, powered by a striker to match.
A record‑breaking striker
David Wilson plundered no fewer than 246 league goals between 1928 and 1939, a tally that still tops the Scottish League record. In total he netted 405 goals in 532 appearances, including a remarkable 34‑goal haul in the 1936‑37 season. His record features 20 league hat‑tricks and three occasions when he scored four in a match.
At just 5ft 9in, Wilson was not a towering centre‑forward, but his clever movement made him a constant threat. He also supplied numerous assists, linking well with Alex Herd and later Bertie Harrison. The consensus among historians is that he was a complete striker deserving wider recognition.
The 1935 Cup final and its legacy
The Accies’ high point came in 1935 when they finished fourth in the first division and reached the Scottish Cup final, only to lose 2‑1 to Rangers. Around 25,000 supporters filled Hampden that day, yet Wilson failed to score, breaking his usual pattern. Hamilton have not returned to a Scottish Cup final since that defeat.
Wilson never earned a full England cap, but he was selected for an SFA squad that toured North America in 1935. In six unofficial matches he struck 11 goals, including two hat‑tricks, showcasing his scoring instinct on foreign soil.
Other legends and lasting memory
Rivals in the club’s Hall of Fame include goalkeeper Rikki Ferguson, who made the most appearances between 1974 and 1988, and academy graduates James McCarthy, James McArthur and Lewis Ferguson, who generated the highest transfer income. Midfielder John McNaught, nicknamed Worzel, moved to Chelsea for £80,000 in 1986 before a severe blood and kidney disorder forced his early retirement at 32.
Across the border, Heart of Midlothian’s own legend Dave Mackay fulfilled his childhood dream of playing at Tynecastle. Signed at 16 in 1952, Mackay captained the 1957‑58 side to a League title and added a Scottish Cup and two League Cups during a four‑year golden spell. Veteran broadcaster Archie Macpherson recalled, ‘He was a giant of a player, a ferocious tackler and a natural leader who dominated games.’