Tom Donnelly (footballer)
Thomas Donnelly (born 12 March 1947) is a Scottish former footballer who played as a right half or inside right.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Thomas Donnelly | ||
Date of birth | 12 March 1947[1] | ||
Place of birth | Irvine, Scotland | ||
Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[2] | ||
Position(s) | |||
Youth career | |||
1964–1966 | Rangers | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1966–1968 | Rangers | 0 | (0) |
1968–1971 | Motherwell | 74 | (10) |
1971–1978 | East Stirlingshire | 216 | (26) |
1978–1980 | St Roch's | ||
Total | 290 | (36) | |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Having come to the attention of professional clubs as part of a successful school team at Cumnock Academy, Donnelly began his career at Rangers in 1964[3][2] but failed to break into the first team.[4] Released in 1968, he joined Motherwell and quickly became an important part of the team as they won the Scottish Division Two title in 1968–69 to regain the top-tier status they lost a year earlier.[2][4] Donnelly's importance in the side began to diminish, and in 1971 he moved on to part-timers East Stirlingshire,[5][6] where he was a regular for the next seven years[4][7] before retiring via a spell with St Roch's in the junior leagues.[7] By that point he had qualified as a school teacher in Glasgow.
His son Simon was also a footballer who played for clubs including Celtic and Partick Thistle, and for the Scottish national team.[3]
References
- Tom Donnelly | Record vs Heart of Midlothian, London Hearts Supporters Club
- Tom Donnelly, MotherWELLnet
- No Rangers player would get in Celtic team – Simon Donnelly, The Scotsman, 10 April 2017
- Tom Donnelly, David Ross, ScottishLeague.net
- Alex Ferguson's touchline debut at East Stirlingshire inspired sensational comeback from 3-0 down, Daily Record, 10 August 2014
- 1970s, East Stirlingshire FC
- East Stirlingshire players, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database