Wilson resigned his position to be replaced by Ben Watts-Jones. Wilson instead returned to his administrative role within the club. A Western Mail reporter did however offer support to Wilson, writing that the manager had "been unduly handicapped in his duties because the directors have taken too strong a grip on the managerial side instead of allowing the manager to manage". To mark his 80th birthday, Wilson was presented with a golden pencil after the club's players, led by Ken Hollyman, pooled money to purchase a gift. Wilson retired in May 1954 having been employed in some capacity by the club he helped found over 50 years previously for 44 years. The board of directors agreed to pay him a wage of £4 a week for the remainder of his life. During his tenure with the club, he had served as first team manager, reserve team manager and secretary in various spells and had also written the club's match reports in the South Wales Echo for a period. Personal life Wilson married Sarah Ellen in December 1894 and the following year, the couple moved to 6 Green Street, Riverside, Cardiff. Together they had three children, John Bartley, Alma May, and Donald Bartley. John was killed during World War I while serving with the 17th Welsh Regiment in France. In addition to his job at Cardiff City, Wilson managed a local cricket side during the late 1920s. During World War II, Wilson and his wife were forced to move in with their daughter in Fairwater after their home in De Burgh Street in Cardiff was irreparably damaged by a bombing raid. They eventually purchased a new house in Llanfair Road. Wilson's wife died in August 1951 and was buried in plot 246 of Western Cemetery in Ely, Cardiff, which Wilson had purchased from Cardiff Council. Wilson died on 19 November 1954 at his home in Llanfair Road, Canton and his funeral, attended by numerous Cardiff City players, was held at St John's Church. He was buried in Western Cemetery next to his wife. His funeral had originally been scheduled for 23 November but was postponed until the following day after torrential rain caused flooding at the site. In the confusion, Wilson's headstone had been placed under a nearby tree and was forgotten after the ceremony was rearranged. His unmarked grave was discovered in December 1998, and Cardiff City initially commissioned a