Laurence Wilson

Laurence Thomas Wilson (born 10 October 1986) is an English retired footballer who last played for Connah's Quay Nomads.

He was on the books at Everton as a teenager, and was capped by England at all youth levels up to and including under-19.

Wilson is a graduate of the Everton F.C. Academy.

He usually plays on the right wing, but can also play left-back.

In November 2004, Wilson signed an 18-month professional contract with Everton.

In the summer of 2005, he signed a contract extension with the club.

He never played for the first-team, but he did make it to the bench, and was an unused substitute in the Champions League qualifier against Villarreal.

Wilson was indeed released by Everton at the end of the 2005–06 season, and was offered a two-year contract by Mansfield.

In January 2006, Wilson joined Mansfield Town on loan until the end of the season.

He made his Football League debut in a 2–2 draw at Wycombe Wanderers in February 2006 as a substitute and started the remaining 14 games of Mansfield's season afterwards, scoring in a 2–2 derby draw at Notts County.

Following this, Wilson had his loan spell with Mansfield Town extended until the end of the season.

Wilson became a crowd favourite at Field Mill.

It was widely believed that he would join Mansfield permanently if he was released by Everton, especially after commenting that "Mansfield is just the type of club I would like to join if things don't work out [at Everton]. I've enjoyed playing here and the fans have been good to me."

However, to the disappointment of the Mansfield fans, it was announced on 11 May 2006 that Wilson had snubbed the Stags and signed for League Two rivals Chester City – one of the clubs closest geographically to Everton.

Wilson made his league debut for Chester City where he set up a header for Drewe Broughton, in a 2–0 opening day of the season, win over Accrington Stanley on 5 August 2006.

Then in a 0–0 draw against Notts County on 12 September 2006, he kept the club a clean sheet throughout the match and was named Man of the Match as a result.

He started 34 of Chester's 46 league games, scoring in a 4–1 win over Lincoln City on 9 December 2006.

He also found the net four times in cup football, which were against Stockport County, Clevedon Town, Chesterfield and Bury.

However, he started every match until he was sent–off, in a 3–0 loss against Macclesfield Town on Boxing Day, resulting him serving a one match suspension.

Although he missed out two matches, due to injury later in the 2006–08 season he would predominantly play in the left wing back slot for the remainder of the season.

Following the arrival of Bobby Williamson as Chester manager in May 2007, the side switched from a regular 3–5–2 formation to 4–4–2, with Wilson playing in the left-back slot.

He remained a first-choice player during 2007–08 and scored a spectacular 30-yard free kick in Chester's 2–1 win at Macclesfield Town on 27 September 2007.

After suffering an injury in late–December, Wilson scored on his return on 8 January 2008, in a 3–3 draw against Accrington Stanley.

However, he then received a red card for a second bookable offence, in a 4–0 loss against Rochdale on 29 January 2008.

Despite this, Wilson returned to the first team and regained his first team place for the rest of the season; eventually making forty–four appearances and scoring two times in all competitions.

At the start of the 2008–09 season, Wilson continued to be in a first team regular.

However, he began facing his own injury concern which last between September and November.

As a result, he 2008–09 campaign saw Wilson score once in 34 league appearances as the club suffered relegation from League Two.

Following the final match of the season, Wilson was released from his contract at Chester.

Wilson later reflected about the club's relegation.

After returning to the first team, Wilson was suspended twice and another was on 27 January 2009, in a 3–0 loss against Port Vale.

After the match, Manager Mark Wright wasn't happy towards Wilson's sending off, stating that it was a disgrace and that he "cost us [Chester] dearly."

For this, Wilson served a three match suspension.

On 14 July 2009, Wilson signed a two-year deal with League Two side Morecambe after leaving Chester.

Wilson made his Morecambe debut in the opening game of the season, starting the whole game, in a 2–2 draw against Hereford United.

Between 22 August 2009 and 5 September 2009, he set up two goals in two separate weeks against Macclesfield Town and Rochdale.

Wilson then scored his Morecambe goal on 21 November 2009, in a 1–0 win over Cheltenham Town, followed up by scoring, in a 4–0 win over Darlington three days later.

Three weeks later, on 12 December 2009, he scored again, in a 5–0 win over Bournemouth.

Since making his debut for the club, Wilson started every match until he was suspended in January for picking five yellow cards this season.

Despite suffering setbacks of another suspension and ankle injury, Wilson finished his first season, making forty–six appearances and scoring three times in all competitions.