Alex Donaldson

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.

For other uses, see Alexander Donaldson.

Alex Donaldson
Personal information
Full name Alexander Pollock Donaldson[1]
Date of birth (1890-12-04)4 December 1890[1]
Place of birth Barrhead, Scotland[1]
Date of death 1972 (aged 81–82)
Place of death Bolton, England[2]
Height 5 ft 7 3⁄4 in (1.72 m)[3]
Position(s) Outside-Forward
Youth career
Belgrave Primitive Methodists
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Belgrave
Balmoral United
Ripley Athletic
1912–1921 Bolton Wanderers 139 (5)
1921–1923 Sunderland 43 (1)
1923–1924 Manchester City 7 (0)
Chorley
Ashton National
Chorley
Total 146+ (5+)
National team
1914–1922 Scotland 6 (1)
1919 → Scotland (wartime) 3 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Donaldson played for minor teams Belgrave (Leicester), Balmoral United and Ripley Athletic (Derbyshire)[2] 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, and Donaldson guested for Leicester Fosse and Port Vale.[1] 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 a total of 139 league and seven FA Cup appearances for Bolton, scoring six goals.[4] He then signed with Manchester City via Sunderland. He played just 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 actually born in Scotland,[5] having moved to Central England in his teens after the death of his father.[2]

He earned his first Scotland cap against Wales on 28 February 1914, in a goalless draw at Celtic Park.[6] On 14 March, he played in a 1–1 draw with Ireland at Windsor Park.[7] On 4 April, he played in a 3–1 victory over England at Hampden Park;[8] the game secured Scotland a second-place finish in the 1914 British Home Championship. No official matches took place for six years because of World War I, though Donaldson did take part in three unofficial wartime internationals.[9] He returned to international football in the 1920 British Home Championship, playing in the 3–0 home victory over Ireland on 13 March.[10] On 10 April, he scored in a 5–4 defeat to England at Hillsborough.[11] He won his sixth and final cap on 4 March 1922, in a 2–1 home win over Ireland.[12]

Statistics

Club statistics

Source:[13]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bolton Wanderers 1912–13 First Division 27300273
1913–14 First Division 33231363
1914–15 First Division 15000150
1919–20 First Division 30010310
1920–21 First Division 26010270
1921–22 First Division 8020100
Total 1395711466
Sunderland 1921–22 First Division 800080
1922–23 First Division 35120371
Total 43120451
Manchester City 1923–24 First Division 700070

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

Honours
Scotland

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 87. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. A.P. - the one who came in from the cold, Scots Football Worldwide
  3. Harricus (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Bolton Wanderers". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
  4. "Only shown are players with surnames beginning with the letter D". bwfcstats.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  5. Dart, James (5 April 2006). "Players who have been capped by more than one country". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  6. "28 Feb 1914". scottishfa.co.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  7. "14 Mar 1914". scottishfa.co.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  8. "04 Apr 1914". scottishfa.co.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  9. "Sat 22 Mar 1919 Scotland 2 Ireland 1". www.londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  10. "13 Mar 1920". scottishfa.co.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  11. "10 Apr 1920". scottishfa.co.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  12. "04 Mar 1922". scottishfa.co.uk. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  13. Alex Donaldson at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  14. "Alex Donaldson". national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
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