Alex Donaldson Explained

Alex Donaldson
Fullname:Alexander Pollock Donaldson
Birth Date:4 December 1890
Birth Place:Barrhead, Scotland
Death Date:[1]
Death Place:Bolton, England
Height:[2]
Position:Outside-Forward
Youthclubs1:Belgrave Primitive Methodists
Clubs1:Belgrave
Clubs2:Balmoral United
Clubs3:Ripley Athletic
Years4:1912–1921
Clubs4:Bolton Wanderers
Caps4:139
Goals4:5
Years5:1921–1923
Clubs5:Sunderland
Caps5:43
Goals5:1
Years6:1923–1924
Clubs6:Manchester City
Caps6:7
Goals6:0
Clubs7:Chorley
Clubs8:Ashton National
Clubs9:Chorley
Totalcaps:146+
Totalgoals:5+
Nationalyears1:1914–1922
Nationalteam1:Scotland
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:1919
Nationalteam2:→ Scotland (wartime)
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:0

Alexander Pollock Donaldson (4 December 1890 – 1972) was a Scottish footballer, who played for numerous teams in England as well as the Scotland national team. An outside-forward, he stayed with Bolton Wanderers from 1912 to 1921, and also spent time with Sunderland, Manchester City, Chorley, and Ashton National. After his football career ended, he opened a sports shop in Gorton, Manchester.

Club career

Donaldson played for minor teams Belgrave (Leicester), Balmoral United and Ripley Athletic (Derbyshire)[3] before being given his big chance with a trial at Sheffield United which was not a success. However, in 1912 he was signed by Bolton Wanderers from Ripley Athletic and made his debut against Chelsea on 7 September 1912. The Trotters finished the 1912–13 season in eighth place in the First Division. Wanderers finished in sixth position in 1913–14 and ended the 1914–15 campaign in 17th place. The Football League was suspended during World War I. Donaldson guested for Leicester Fosse and Port Vale.[4] He returned to Burnden Park after the war, helping the club to sixth and third-place finishes in 1919–20 and 1920–21. He made 139 league and seven FA Cup appearances for Bolton, scoring six goals.[5] He then signed with Manchester City via Sunderland. He played seven First Division games for the Citizens in 1923–24. After leaving Maine Road, he played non-League football for Chorley and Ashton National.

International career

Donaldson very nearly played for England before being capped by Scotland. While heading for an English international trial match in Sunderland on 21 January 1914, Donaldson revealed that he was born in Scotland,[6] having moved to Central England in his teens after the death of his father.[3]

He earned his first Scotland cap against Wales on 28 February 1914, in a goalless draw at Celtic Park.[7] On 14 March, he played in a 1–1 draw with Ireland at Windsor Park.[8] On 4 April, he played in a 3–1 victory over England at Hampden Park;[9] the game secured Scotland a second-place finish in the 1914 British Home Championship. No official matches occurred for six years because of World War I. However, Donaldson did take part in three unofficial wartime internationals.[10] He returned to international football in the 1920 British Home Championship, playing in the 3–0 home victory over Ireland on 13 March.[11] On 10 April, he scored in a 5–4 defeat to England at Hillsborough.[12] He won his sixth and final cap on 4 March 1922, in a 2–1 home win over Ireland.[13]

Statistics

Club statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bolton Wanderers1912–13First Division27300273
1913–14First Division33231363
1914–15First Division15000150
1919–20First Division30010310
1920–21First Division26010270
1921–22First Division8020100
Total1395711466
Sunderland1921–22First Division800080
1922–23First Division35120371
Total43120451
Manchester City1923–24First Division700070

International statistics

Scotland national team
YearAppsGoals
191430
192020
192210
Total[14] 60

Honours

Scotland

1922

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sunderland AFC - Statistics, History and Records - from TheStatCat . www.thestatcat.co.uk . 1 November 2022.
  2. News: First Division prospects. Bolton Wanderers . Harricus . Athletic News . Manchester . 22 August 1921 . 5.
  3. https://www.scotsfootballworldwide.scot/apdonaldson A.P. – the one who came in from the cold
  4. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 87. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.
  5. Web site: Only shown are players with surnames beginning with the letter D . bwfcstats.com . 18 December 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120315122847/http://bwfcstats.com/play/overall/page4.html . 15 March 2012 .
  6. Web site: Players who have been capped by more than one country. Dart. James. 5 April 2006. The Guardian. 15 May 2009.
  7. Web site: 28 Feb 1914. scottishfa.co.uk. 18 December 2012.
  8. Web site: 14 Mar 1914. scottishfa.co.uk. 18 December 2012.
  9. Web site: 04 Apr 1914. scottishfa.co.uk. 18 December 2012.
  10. Web site: Sat 22 Mar 1919 Scotland 2 Ireland 1 . londonhearts.com . London Hearts Supporters' Club . 1 April 2017.
  11. Web site: 13 Mar 1920. scottishfa.co.uk. 18 December 2012.
  12. Web site: 10 Apr 1920. scottishfa.co.uk. 18 December 2012.
  13. Web site: 04 Mar 1922. scottishfa.co.uk. 18 December 2012.
  14. Web site: Alex Donaldson. national-football-teams.com. 7 August 2015.