Bartley Wilson facts for kids

Walter Bartley Wilson (born January 3, 1870 – died November 19, 1954) was a talented lithographic artist from England. He is most famous for being the person who started Cardiff City Football Club. Bartley Wilson was born in Bristol. In 1897, he moved to Cardiff. There, he became very involved with the Riverside Cricket Club.

He noticed how popular football was becoming. This led him to help create Riverside A.F.C. This club later grew into the well-known Cardiff City F.C. Wilson played a huge part in the club's journey. He helped it become a professional team in 1910. He also worked hard to find land for a home stadium, which became Ninian Park. Later, in 1933, he even managed the team for a short time.

Who Was Bartley Wilson?

His Early Life

Bartley Wilson was born on January 3, 1870, in St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. His father, Thomas Wilson, was a brushmaker. His mother, Sarah Hathaway, was a teacher. Sadly, Bartley became an orphan when he was young. He was also born with a clubfoot, which meant he needed sticks to walk. His grandmother, Jane Hathaway, raised him and his cousin, Arthur Spurll. Arthur later became the editor of a newspaper called the Bristol Evening Post.

Starting Cardiff City Football Club

The First Steps

In 1897, Bartley Wilson moved from Bristol to Cardiff. He loved cricket and quickly joined the Riverside Cricket Club. He and other club members worried about what the cricket team would do in winter. Wilson saw that football was growing in Bristol. Two teams there, Bristol City and Bristol Eastville Rovers, had become professional in 1897.

Wilson had an idea: why not start a football team in Cardiff? He shared his idea at the Riverside Pavilion. The first meeting had only five people. But a second meeting brought together about a dozen members. This is how Riverside A.F.C. was formed in 1899. Bartley Wilson was chosen as the club's secretary. The team decided to wear chocolate and amber shirts. They set a small yearly membership fee.

The club started by playing friendly matches against local teams. Their first game was on October 7, 1899. Wilson balanced his club duties with his job at a local printing company. In 1900, the club joined the Cardiff & District League. This was their first time playing in an organized league. In 1902, Wilson helped combine Riverside with another local team, Riverside Albion.

A few years later, in 1905, Cardiff officially became a city. Wilson quickly asked to change the team's name to Cardiff City. However, the club was playing at too low a level. To improve, they joined the South Wales Amateur League. In September 1908, Riverside A.F.C. was finally allowed to use the name Cardiff City.

Becoming a Professional Team

With the new name, Wilson wanted the club to grow even more. The secretary of the Southern Football League offered Cardiff City a spot. But the club had to say no because their Sophia Gardens ground was not good enough. Wilson and the club leaders then focused on finding a better place to play.

They found a piece of land on Sloper Road. The city council even offered to help build a new ground. On April 1, 1909, the club leased the land. They worked hard to clear the site, which used to be a rubbish dump. This new ground would become Ninian Park.

In 1910, Cardiff City became a professional club. They joined the Southern Football League. A club director, Herbert Frew Jones, praised Wilson. He said, "It was always Bart who was the prime mover. Cardiff City would never have been Cardiff City if it had not been for Bart." Wilson was first in charge of the team. He even made the club's first player transfer. He signed Jack Evans for a very small fee. Wilson joked that it was "all we had." The club soon hired its first official manager, Davy McDougall. Wilson then took charge of the club's reserve team.

Joining The Football League

In 1920, Cardiff became the first Welsh club to join The Football League. They started in the Second Division. The club then had a very successful period. They moved up to the First Division in their first year. They finished second in the 1923–24 season. They also reached two FA Cup finals, winning one in 1927.

However, after this success, the club faced tough times. They were relegated twice by 1932. This also caused money problems for the club. In 1933, the long-time manager, Fred Stewart, resigned. Bartley Wilson, at 63, was appointed as the new manager. He brought in former captain Jimmy Blair as a coach. But the club had very little money.

Wilson's time as manager was difficult. By January, the team was at the bottom of the league. After more losses, Wilson resigned on March 7, 1934. He went back to his important administrative role. A reporter from the Western Mail felt Wilson was unfairly treated. They wrote that the club directors had too much control.

To celebrate his 80th birthday, the players bought Wilson a golden pencil. Wilson retired in May 1954. He had worked for the club he helped start for 44 years! The club decided to pay him a small wage for the rest of his life. During his time, he was a first-team manager, reserve team manager, and secretary. He even wrote match reports for a local newspaper.

Bartley Wilson's Later Years

Bartley Wilson married Sarah Ellen in December 1894. They had three children: John Bartley, Alma May, and Donald Bartley. Sadly, John was killed during World War I while serving in France. Besides his work with Cardiff City, Wilson also managed a local cricket team in the late 1920s.

During World War II, Wilson and his wife had to move in with their daughter. Their home in Cardiff was badly damaged by a bombing raid. They later bought a new house. Wilson's wife died in August 1951. She was buried in Western Cemetery. Wilson died on November 19, 1954, at his home. Many Cardiff City players attended his funeral. He was buried next to his wife.

In 1998, Wilson's unmarked grave was found. Cardiff City helped get a new headstone for him. The original headstone was later found nearby. The club restored it, and a special ceremony was held.

His Lasting Legacy

In 2010, Ninian Park was torn down after Cardiff City moved to a new stadium. A new housing area was built where the old ground used to be. The main road there was named Bartley Wilson Way. This was done to honor the man who founded the club.

Bartley Wilson Way, on the former site of Ninian Park

Managerial Record

Team	Country	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	Win %
Cardiff City		May 1933	7 March 1934	28	8	4	16	28.57
Total				28	8	4	16	28.57
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