Players - John McDonald

John McDonald
Birthdate: 1886
Birthplace: Kircaldy, Scotland
Other clubs: Wemyss Harp, Vale of Wemyss, Raith Rovers (1902-07), Rangers (1907-09), Newcastle United (1912-14), Raith Rovers (2 / 1919-20)
Signed from: Rangers
Signed for LFC: 08.05.1909
Liverpool debut: 04.09.1909
Last appearance: 06.04.1912
Debut goal: 11.09.1909
Last goal: 30.09.1911
Contract expiry: May 1912
Win ratio: 38.27% W:31 D:17 L:33
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 2 / 0
League games / goals: 78 / 4
Total games / goals: 81 / 4

Player Profile

Scottish left-winger McDonald arrived at Anfield before the start of the 1909/10 season to replace old favourite Jack Cox. McDonald played in 34 of the 38 League matches that year as Liverpool finished runners-up to champions Aston Villa. Although selected for the opening seven games of the following season, he lost his place for a while and was heavily criticized by the club programme: "MacDonald's performances this season have been completely devoid of skill and determination; even taking into consideration the fact that his inside players have been frail the clever winger of last year has failed in every game in which he has participated. We want to see highly paid professionals exerting themselves to the utmost when taking part in a League game, and not waiting calmly for the ball to be always placed at their toes. Really MacDonald has disappointed all his admirers by his half-hearted endeavours."

The Scotsman returned to the side in January 1911 and only missed one League fixture until the end of the season. McDonald was in and out of the team during his third and final season on Merseyside, 1911/12, and although he was selected on 20 occasions, the most number of consecutive games he played in were just six. McDonald moved to first division Newcastle where he played 24 games in his first season but was only limited to 12 appearances in his second season before returning to Scotland to play for his former club, Raith Rovers.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 78 3 0 0 0 81
1909-1910 34 1 0 0 0 35
1910-1911 25 1 0 0 0 26
1911-1912 19 1 0 0 0 20
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
5 450 Middlesbrough
5 450 Preston North End
5 450 Blackburn Rovers
5 450 Arsenal
5 450 Sheffield Wednesday
4 360 Bradford City
4 360 Notts County
4 360 Bury
4 360 Everton
4 360 Bolton Wanderers
4 360 Sunderland
4 360 Aston Villa
4 360 Manchester United
3 270 Nottingham Forest
3 270 Bristol City
3 270 Sheffield United
3 270 Tottenham
2 180 WBA
2 180 Newcastle United
2 180 Chelsea
2 180 Oldham Athletic
2 180 Manchester City
1 90 Fulham
1 90 Gainsborough Trinity
Total Venue
41 Home
40 Away
Total Competition
78 League
3 FA Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
81 31 17 33 38.3% Tom Watson
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 4 0 0 0 0 4
1909-1910 2 0 0 0 0 2
1910-1911 1 0 0 0 0 1
1911-1912 1 0 0 0 0 1
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Total Competition
4 League
Total Goal origin
4 Open play
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 04.09.1909 Chelsea Stamford Bridge League
50 18.02.1911 Bristol City Ashton Gate League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 0 11.09.1909 Blackburn Rovers Anfield League
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Wemyss Harp Scotland N/A N/A N/A N/A
Vale of Wemyss Scotland N/A N/A N/A N/A
Raith Rovers 1902-1907 Scotland Division 2 N/A N/A N/A N/A
Rangers 1906-1907 Scotland Division 1 5 0 5 0
Rangers 1907-1908 Scotland Division 1 19 4 19 4
Rangers 1908-1909 Scotland Division 1 22 6 24 6
Newcastle United 1912-1913 England Second Division 19 2 24 2
Newcastle United 1913-1914 England First Division 12 2 12 2
Dundee 1914-1919 Scotland N/A N/A N/A N/A
Raith Rovers 1919-1920 Scotland Division 1 5 0 5 0
Total 82 14 89 14