Charles Plumpton Wilson (1859–1938) was an English sportsman and clergyman who achieved distinction in both association football and cricket during the late 19th century. He is documented as a "double blue," having represented Cambridge University at the varsity level in both sports.
Early Life and Education Born on May 12, 1859, in King's Lynn, Norfolk, Wilson attended Marlborough College before matriculating at Trinity College, Cambridge. His athletic ability became prominent during his university years, where he excelled in multiple disciplines.
Athletic Career Wilson’s sporting career was characterized by high-level participation in the two most prominent English team sports of the era:
- Association Football: Wilson played as a forward. He earned two international caps for the England national team, both occurring in 1884. His debut was against Ireland on February 23, 1884, followed by a match against Scotland on March 15, 1884. At the domestic level, he played for Cambridge University and Hendon.
- Cricket: Wilson was a right-handed batsman. He played first-class cricket for Cambridge University from 1880 to 1882, appearing in a total of 18 first-class matches. After leaving university, he represented Norfolk in minor county cricket.
Professional Life and Later Years Following his sporting career, Wilson entered the clergy. He was ordained as a deacon in 1882 and as a priest in 1884. He balanced his ecclesiastical duties with educational work, serving as a schoolmaster. He notably served as the headmaster of Sandroyd School, a preparatory school in Surrey.
Charles Plumpton Wilson died on June 9, 1938, in Sanderstead, Surrey, at the age of 79. His career remains a cited example of the "amateur gentleman" era of British sports, where individuals often competed at international or first-class levels across multiple sports while pursuing professional careers in the church or education.
