Peter McDonnell

Peter McDonnell spent four years at Liverpool without making a competitive first-team appearance, yet left with UEFA Cup and European Cup winners’ medals. His task was to provide cover for Ray Clemence, whose outstanding form and remarkable durability left the reserve goalkeeper with little opportunity to progress beyond the second team.

Born in Kendal, McDonnell played for Netherfield and Bury before joining Liverpool for £20,000 in July 1974. The transfer was delayed when Hughie McAuley, who was expected to move to Bury as part of the deal, declined to leave Anfield. Once the move was completed, McDonnell faced the considerable challenge of competing with one of the finest goalkeepers in the game. Domestic substitution rules offered him little prospect of an appearance from the bench. With only one substitute permitted, clubs generally selected an outfield player. European matches provided a different experience, allowing McDonnell to travel with the senior squad and take his place among the substitutes. He was on the bench for Liverpool’s UEFA Cup final triumph over Club Brugge in 1976 and the European Cup victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach in Rome the following year.

“The fact I didn’t play in the first team didn’t bother me at the time,” McDonnell told SportsBoom.com in 2019. “I look back on it now and think maybe had there been just one (appearance). But it wasn’t for me.” Rather than dwell on the opportunity that never came, he remembered the experiences Liverpool had given him. “I travelled the length and breadth of Europe with the first team and sat on the bench and got to watch those games first hand.” His admiration for Clemence extended beyond his goalkeeping. McDonnell recalled a teammate who helped him settle at Liverpool and treated him with consideration. “But Ray was very helpful when I joined Liverpool. We used to do odd appearances together and he would always come and pick me up and take me home again afterwards.”

By 1978, however, McDonnell was ready to seek regular senior football. After spending the summer on loan with Dallas Tornado, he joined Second Division Oldham Athletic on loan at the beginning of the English season. The move soon became permanent. The Liverpool Daily Post reported on 7 September that Liverpool had received a £20,000 fee the previous day, recovering the amount they had paid Bury four years earlier. McDonnell made 137 league appearances for Oldham over four seasons before moving to Hong Kong Rangers in 1982. He returned to England to join Barrow in 1983 and became player-manager the following year. His managerial spell ended in November 1984, although he continued playing before moving to Morecambe towards the end of the season.

A second spell at Barrow began in August 1988 and brought the most memorable achievement of his later career. Having watched Liverpool win major European honours from the bench, McDonnell was now on the pitch as Barrow won the FA Trophy at Wembley in 1990. He remained with the club until the summer of 1993, accumulating 345 appearances across his two spells and establishing a strong reputation in non-league football. His involvement in the game continued through refereeing and service with the Westmorland Football Association. Despite never playing competitively for Liverpool, he looked back on his career with satisfaction: “And football has been good to me. I have had a lot out of the game and certainly had very few dark days.”