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Alex Donald

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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
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

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

Career

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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, and moved on to Derry City.[1] He spent three years with Derry, before turning part-time at Ballymena United whilst working a job as manager at a factory.[2] He was granted a testimonial match against Southampton in 1976 that was attended by George Best and Mick Channon.[2] 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.[3] He returned to the club as assistant to caretaker-manager Gary Erwin in October 1984.[4]

Personal and later life

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He married Ann, a radiographer.[5] 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

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Source:[6]

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

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  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. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "Twice In A Blue Moon". BUFC Archive. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Agent News". Ballymena United Football Club Official Website. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  6. ^ Alex Donald at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)