Born in Motherwell in July 1928, Wilson Humphries joined the club as a seventeen year old in the mid 1940’s. John ‘Sailor’ Hunter had plucked him from Dalziel High School, he immediately showed he had a sensible head on his shoulders as despite being eager to sign for his local club he wanted to spend his first season as an amateur so that he could finish his studies at Glasgow University.

John Hunter had watched the talented side that he had built over the years grow old over the war years and knew the playing squad would need to be reshaped for the commencement of official competition again, Wilson was just one of many young players who would be brought in as the team was rebuilt. Hunter of course would relinquish the reigns as the league returned in 1946/47, but the basis of a side that could challenge for trophies was left as George Stevenson took over the helm.

At Fir Park, Humphries would spend a decade playing with the club featuring in 284 first team games scoring 105 goals in all competitions.

Wilson had man career highlights with Motherwell, in 1950 he was a League Cup winner and in 1952 a Scottish Cup winner as the club finally broke their jinx. It was in 1952 that he also won his first and only cap for Scotland with this coming in a 1-3 defeat against Sweden, in the same year he also made an appearance for the Scottish League XI.

In a match versus Dundee United in 1954, Motherwell recorded a fantastic 12-1 victory over Dundee United recording their highest ever win in competitive competition. Humphries of course scored six goals in the game, only two other players had achieved this feat previously and they were Alex Stewart against Celtic in 1937 and George Watson against Falkirk in 1928, however Ian St John and Willie McFadyen did net double hat tricks in friendly matches.

Described as a powerful attacker who had a venomous shot with his right foot, he scored a nice drive against Dundee in the 1952 Scottish Cup Final which put Motherwell 3-0 ahead in the game.

Perhaps surprisingly, when new ‘Well boss Bobby Ancell arrived on the scene he looked to freshen up the playing squad and many of the old guard were allowed to move on for free in 1956 as a new batch of youngsters were about to make there first team bow. Humphries was snapped up by St Mirren, he later served Dundee United and Hamilton Academical where he would also work as a coach.

He did make a return to Motherwell where he joined the coaching staff on a part time basis. In 1970 he was named manager of St Mirren but he suffered relegation during his spell on Love Street and he resigned in 1972.

His career went full circle when he eventually returned to Dalziel High School, he took up the post of an English teacher and at the same time helped the with the coaching of the football sides at the School.

In 1988, Wilson helped form the Motherwell Former Players Club. Such was the impression he made during his stay at Fir Park that the club named a corporate box after him in the newly built South Stand just as a small tribute for his sterling service.

Name:	Wilson Humphries
Height:	5 ‘9″
Weight:	11st
Date of Birth:	1928
Place of Birth:	Motherwell
Position:	Inside Right
Nationality:	Scottish

Football Career:

Motherwell	1946	1956
St Mirren	1956	1957
Dundee United	1957	1959
Hamilton Accies	1959	1961

Well Career:

	Apps	Goals
League:	199	68
Scottish Cup:	32	14
League Cup:	51	21
Other:	2	2
Total:	284	105