Alex Donald

For the player of the same name born in 1900, see Alec Donald. For the New Zealand seaman and ship owner, see Alexander Bell Donald.

Alex Donald
Personal information
Full name Alexander Donald[1]
Date of birth (1948-06-05) 5 June 1948 (age 76)[1]
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland[1]
Position(s) Right winger
Youth career
Winchburgh Albion
Pumpherston Juniors
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1965–1968 Port Vale 43 (0)
1968–1971 Derry City
1971–1983 Ballymena United
Managerial career
1983 Ballymena United (caretaker)
1983 Ballymena United (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Alexander Donald (born 5 June 1948) is a Scottish former footballer who played as a winger for English club Port Vale between 1965 and 1968, and later played in Northern Ireland for Derry City and Ballymena United.

Early life

Donald won the West Lothian County Schools sprint title while at Kirkliston Primary School and then Winchburgh Secondary.[2]

Career

Donald played youth-team football for Winchburgh Albion and Pumpherston Juniors.[2] He had a successful trial with Jackie Mudie's Port Vale over the summer of 1965, having joined in July he signed as a professional by October.[1] He made his debut on 12 January 1966 in a 2–0 defeat by Bradford City at Valley Parade, in what was the youngest ever front-line in the history of the Football League – consisting of Donald (17), Roddy Georgeson (17), Mick Cullerton (17), Paul Bannister (18), and Paul Ogden (19).[1] He played 11 Fourth Division games in 1965–66, before making 24 appearances in the 1966–67 campaign.[1] He featured ten times in the 1967–68 season under Stanley Matthews before he was given a free transfer in May 1968.[1]

He moved to Northern Ireland to sign with Derry City, who were managed by his former Vale teammate Jimmy Hill.[3] He spent three years with Derry, before turning part-time at Ballymena United whilst working a job as a manager at a factory.[2] Ballymena manager Alex McCrae had previously tried to sign him whilst he was the Falkirk manager.[3] He was granted a testimonial match against Southampton in 1976 that was attended by George Best and Mick Channon.[2] He played 260 games in a 12-year stay.[3] He served the club as caretaker manager twice in 1983, taking charge after Ivan Murray left in February; Ian Russell served as manager between April and November, and Jim Platt was appointed manager in December.[4] He returned to the club as assistant to caretaker-manager Gary Erwin in October 1984.[5]

Personal and later life

He married Ann, a radiographer.[6] In 2018, Donald claimed a gold medal in the 400 metres event in his age category at the Scottish Masters Athletics Championships at Grangemouth Stadium.[2]

Career statistics

Source:[7]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Port Vale 1965–66 Fourth Division 11 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
1966–67 Fourth Division 23 0 1 0 0 0 24 0
1967–68 Fourth Division 9 0 0 0 1 0 10 0
Total 43 0 1 0 1 0 45 0

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 86. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Kirkliston's ex-pro footballer Alex still a speed merchant at 70". www.linlithgowgazette.co.uk. 29 July 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Sherwin, Phil (12 January 2019). "Where Are They Now?". Port Vale FC matchday programme: 27.
  4. ^ "WE continue looking back at "The Glory Years", starting with a few managerial changes in between the 1980/81 and 1983/84 cup victories". www.ballymenaunitedfc.com. 1 May 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Twice In A Blue Moon". BUFC Archive. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Agent News". Ballymena United Football Club Official Website. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  7. ^ Alex Donald at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)