Whitey McDonald

Robert Logan McDonald (11 August 1902 – 7 June 1956) was an association football (soccer) player who earned two caps for Ireland. He began his professional career in Canada, spent four seasons in the American Soccer League, then finished it in Scotland with Rangers F.C..

Whitey McDonald
Personal information
Full name Robert Logan McDonald
Date of birth (1902-08-11)11 August 1902
Place of birth Omagh, Ireland
Date of death 7 June 1956(1956-06-07) (aged 53)
Place of death Millport, Scotland
Position(s)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Hamilton Thistle
Toronto Ulster
1924–1928 Bethlehem Steel 119 (7)
1928–1938 Rangers 185 (1)
National team
1930–1932 Ireland 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Born in Ireland, McDonald moved with his parents to Canada when he was two, growing up in Hamilton, Ontario.[1] The nickname "Whitey" was given to him in reference to the colour of his hair, which was a light reddish-blonde. He began his professional career with Hamilton Thistle, playing in Spectator Cup in 1921 and 1922. He also spent time with Toronto Ulster United before signing with Bethlehem Steel of the American Soccer League in 1924.[2] He played four seasons with Bethlehem.

In 1928, Scottish club Rangers toured the U.S. and spotted McDonald in its game with Bethlehem. They signed him in 1928 and he spent ten seasons with the Glasgow club,[3] making over 200 appearances in the Scottish Football League (finishing as champions six times) and the Scottish Cup (which he won twice, in 1934 and 1935). While a wing back in Canada and the U.S., he played left full-back for Rangers.

National team

McDonald earned two caps with Ireland national football team.[4] His first was against Scotland in 1930 and the second against England in 1932. In June 1935, he returned to North America with a touring Scottish squad, official eligibility rules not applying;[5] he had also been back in Canada five years earlier with Rangers, captaining the tourists against former club Hamilton Thistle who were led by his brother 'Red'.[6][7]

McDonald was enshrined in the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame as an inaugural inductee in 2000.

References
  1. "Bethlehem Steel F.C. player profile". Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2010.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. Jose, Colin (2001). On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Vaughan, Ontario: Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. p. 217.
  3. "[Rangers player] McDonald, Robert L." FitbaStats. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  4. Whitey McDonald at National-Football-Teams.com
  5. "Scottish Football Association Tour, 1935". Canadian Soccer History. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  6. "Glasgow Rangers Tours, 1928 and 1930". Canadian Soccer History. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  7. "Our Full Story". Hamilton Soccer. Retrieved 26 August 2020.


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