Biography
Pacy outside right William “Billy” McDonald joined Hull City in February 1912 from junior side Craghead United, who played close to his home village of Quebec in the North County Durham coalfields. He quickly came into City’s first team and his close control and crossing ability assisted City’s forward line, notably another recent signing Sammy Stevens. McDonald opened his scoring account in his second start, a March 1912 3-0 win over Wolves, and while Charles Best was initially preferred in the outside right role at the start of the 1912/13 season by manager Ambrose Langley, when McDonald came back into the side in November 1912 and scored the opener in a 6-2 win over Leeds City his first team berth was assured. Between November 1912 and December 1913 McDonald started 47 consecutive senior matches for Hull City, and he continued to appear regularly until his final start in April 1914.
McDonald left the Tigers in the 1914 close season and joined Midland League side Chesterfield Town. His career at Chesterfield was cut short after one season when the Football League was suspended for World War 1 in the 1915 close season, when the senior game resumed McDonald briefly served Durham City before joining Fulham in September 1919. McDonald was a regular starter for the Cottagers for two seasons and stayed with the club until the 1924 close season, even though the last of his 79 first team appearances – which yielded three goals – came in November 1922. In September 1924 McDonald had an extended trial with Division Three North side Durham City, making six starts, but he was not retained and drifted into the Derbyshire non-league football scene at Shirebrook and Alfreton Town. Billy died in December 1948.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: Q3 1892, Quebec
Hull City First Game: 2 March 1912, Leeds City A (Division Two), 19 years old
Hull City Final Game: 4 April 1914, Leicester Fosse H (Division Two), 21 years old
Clubs
Craghead United, Hull City (1912-1914), Chesterfield Town (1914-1915), Durham City (1919), Fulham (1919-1924), Durham City (1924), Shirebrook (1924-1925), Alfreton Town (1925-1926)
Hull City Record
Career: 74 apps, 5 goals
Billy McDonaldSeason | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1911/12 | 12 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
1912/13 | 28 | 3 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
1913/14 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |