James Wilson (born 6 April 1882) was a Scottish footballer who played for St Mirren and Preston North End, mainly as an inside right.^[1][2] While with St Mirren, he was selected once for the Scottish Football League XI, playing against the Irish League XI in 1904 a matter of weeks before he moved to England.^[3] He was a member of the Preston team which finished runners-up in the 1905–06 Football League,^[4] and was the club's top scorer in 1908–09. Wilson finished his career together with Jimmy McLean in summer 1911.^[5]

Born into a farming family in Colmonell and raised in Dundonald, South Ayrshire,^[6] James Wilson had two brothers who were also prominent footballers in England: Andrew was a forward with Sheffield Wednesday and David a wing half with Oldham Athletic (where a fourth brother, Alex, was also a reserve team member);^[7] both played for Scotland: Andrew gaining six caps, David one.^[8]