Gary McDonald (footballer, born 1982)

Gary McDonald
Personal information
Full nameGary Matthew McDonald[1]
Date of birth10 April 1982
Place of birthIrvine, Scotland
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Peterhead
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2001–2006Kilmarnock106(11)
2006–2008Oldham Athletic78(11)
2008–2010Aberdeen52(8)
2010–2011Hamilton Academical25(0)
2011–2013Morecambe85(6)
2013–2015St Johnstone45(0)
2015–Peterhead2(1)
National team
2005Scotland B1(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 04:12, 22 February 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Gary Matthew McDonald (born 10 April 1982 in Irvine, North Ayrshire) is a Scottish professional footballer who currently plays for Peterhead. He has previously played for Kilmarnock, Oldham Athletic, Aberdeen, Hamilton Academical, Morecambe and St Johnstone.

Club career

McDonald started his career at Kilmarnock, playing there for five seasons between 2001 and 2006, where he played in 106 league matches, scoring 11 goals.

On 18 June 2006, McDonald signed for English League One side Oldham Athletic, becoming John Sheridan's first signing as Oldham manager.[2] On 5 January 2008, McDonald scored from 23 metres (25 yd) in Oldham's 1–0 win over Premier League side Everton in the third round of the FA Cup.[3] Interviewed on Match of the Day after the match, McDonald described the goal as the best of his career.

In late April 2008, McDonald agreed a pre-contract to sign for Aberdeen in the summer.[4] On 21 November 2009, McDonald was sent off during Aberdeen's 1–1 draw against Motherwell, shown a second yellow card having removed his shirt after scoring Aberdeen's equaliser.[5] During his second season at Aberdeen, McDonald, along with team-mate Mark Kerr was the subject of booing from some Aberdeen fans. McDonald said this didn't bother him, describing it as "water off a duck's back".[6]

McDonald left Aberdeen once his contract expired, and he joined fellow SPL club Hamilton Academical on 4 August 2010.[7] On 14 May 2011, he was one of eight players released by Hamilton following their relegation to the First Division.[8]

On 23 June 2011, McDonald returned to England, signing for Morecambe of League Two.[9] It was announced on 27 May 2013, that McDonald would be leaving Morecambe after turning down a new contract with the club.[10]

McDonald signed for St. Johnstone on 13 June 2013.[11] He made his debut for the club on 18 July 2013, in a 1–0 win away to Rosenborg in the Europa League.[12] On 6 January 2014, McDonald signed a new contract, keeping him at St. Johnstone until 2015, with an option for another year.[13] On 2 February 2015, McDonald was released by St. Johnstone.[14]

On 12 February 2015, McDonald signed for Peterhead until the end of the 2014–15 season.[15]

International career

McDonald has been capped by Scotland at Under-21 level.

He was capped in a Scotland B international against Poland, in 2005, at his then club ground, Rugby Park, scoring the opening goal in a 2–0 victory.[16]

Career statistics

As of 22 February 2015
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kilmarnock 2001–02 6010000070
2002–03 122001000132
2003–04 233210000254
2004–05 383312100435
2005–06 273001000283
Total 1061162410011614
Oldham Athletic 2006–07 437400020497
2007–08 354522010436
Total 78119220309213
Aberdeen 2008–09 285102100316
2009–10 243211020294
Total 5283131206010
Hamilton Academical 2010–11 250001000260
Morecambe 2011–12 423102010463
2012–13 433312010494
Total 856414020957
St. Johnstone 2013–14 290413140402
2014–15 160001020190
Total 450414160592
Peterhead 2014–15 2100000021
Career total 3933726718313045047

References

  1. Hugman, Barry J. (ed) (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
  2. "Oldham sign Killie star McDonald". BBC Sport. 18 June 2006. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  3. Phil McNulty Everton 0–1 Oldham, BBC Sport, 5 January 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2008
  4. "Aberdeen sign Oldham midfielder". BBC Sport. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
  5. "Motherwell 1–1 Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 21 November 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  6. "Aberdeen's Gary McDonald unaffected by fans' boos". BBC Sport. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  7. "Hamilton Accies sign midfielder Gary McDonald". BBC Sport. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  8. "Hamilton wield axe for the drop". BBC Sport. 14 May 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  9. "Morecambe net Gary McDonald & Lewis Alessandra". BBC Sport. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  10. "Morecambe: Gary McDonald to leave after rejecting new deal". BBC Sport. 27 May 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  11. "St Johnstone sign Gary McDonald after Morecambe exit". BBC Sport. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  12. "Magnificent Sainst upset the odds". perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  13. "EXTENDED DEALS FOR MIDFIELDERS GARY AND SCOTT". perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  14. "GARY MCDONALD RELEASED". St. Johnstone F.C. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  15. "Gary McDonald: Peterhead sign experienced midfielder". BBC Sport. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  16. "Scotland Future 2–0 Poland Future". BBC Sport. 6 December 2005. Retrieved 7 January 2014.

External links