Robert Logan "Whitey" McDonald (11 August 1902 – 7 June 1956) was an association football (soccer) player who earned two

caps Caps are flat headgear. Caps or CAPS may also refer to: Science and technology Computing * CESG Assisted Products Service, provided by the U.K. Government Communications Headquarters * Composite Application Platform Suite, by Java Caps, a Ja ...

for

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. He began his professional career in Canada, spent four seasons in the American Soccer League, then finished it in Scotland with

Rangers F.C. Rangers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in the Govan district of Glasgow which plays in the Scottish Premiership. Although not its official name, it is often referred to as Glasgow Rangers outside Scotland. The fou ...

Club career

Born in Ireland, McDonald moved with his parents to Canada when he was two, growing up in

Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario. Hamilton has a Canada 2016 Census, population of 569,353, and its Census Metropolitan Area, census metropolitan area, which includes Burlington, ...

. The nickname "Whitey" was given to him in reference to the colour of his hair, which was a light reddish-blonde. He began his professional career with Hamilton Thistle, playing in Spectator Cup in 1921 and 1922. He also spent time with

Toronto Ulster United Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most pop ...

before signing with

Bethlehem Steel The Bethlehem Steel Corporation was an American steelmaking company headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. For most of the 20th century, it was one of the world's largest steel producing and shipbuilding companies. At the height of its succe ...

of the American Soccer League in 1924. He played four seasons with Bethlehem. In 1928, Scottish club Rangers toured the U.S. and spotted McDonald in its game with Bethlehem. They signed him in 1928 and he spent ten seasons with the

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

club, making over 200 appearances in the Scottish Football League (finishing as champions six times) and the

Scottish Cup The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,1934 Events January–February * January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established. * January 15 – The 8.0 Nepal–Bihar earthquake strikes Nepal and Bihar with a maxi ...

and 1935). While a wing back in Canada and the U.S., he played left full-back for Rangers.

International career

McDonald earned two

with the Ireland national team. His first was against

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

in 1930 and the second against

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

in 1932. In June 1935, he returned to North America with a touring Scottish squad, official eligibility rules not applying; he had also been back in Canada five years earlier with Rangers, captaining the tourists against former club Hamilton Thistle who were led by his brother 'Red'. McDonald was enshrined in the

Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame The Canada Soccer Hall of Fame honours people and institutions for their contributions to Canadian soccer. It was founded in 1997 by the Ontario Soccer Association and was originally located in Vaughan, Ontario. As of 2019, the Canada Soccer Ha ...

as an inaugural inductee in 2000.

References

External links

* / Canada Soccer Hall of Fame 1902 births 1956 deaths American Soccer League (1921–1933) players Bethlehem Steel F.C. (1907–1930) players Canadian expatriate sportspeople in the United States Canadian expatriate soccer players Canada Soccer Hall of Fame inductees Canadian soccer players Expatriate footballers in Scotland Expatriate soccer players in the United States Association football defenders Irish emigrants to Canada (before 1923) Association footballers from Northern Ireland Expatriate association footballers from Northern Ireland Expatriate sportspeople from Northern Ireland in the United States Soccer players from Hamilton, Ontario People from Omagh Rangers F.C. players Scottish Football League players Toronto Ulster United players Ulster Scots people Canadian people of Ulster-Scottish descent Pre-1950 IFA international footballers Canadian National Soccer League players Canadian expatriate sportspeople in Scotland {{Canada-footy-bio-stub