Burnley Memorabilia And Programmes

Name: Colin McDonald

D.O.B: 15th October 1930(Tottenham)

Clubs: Burnley

Fee payed by Burnley:Part Time then signed Amateur in 1948, signed full time in 1952

Signed by Cliff Britton

Burnley Debut:10th April 1954

Last appearance for Burnley:

International Honours: 8 Full England Caps

Colin McDonald Burnley's best ever goalkeeper, and few will argue, Colin should have been England's No1 for years, even above the brilliant Gordon Banks in the England ratings.

Born in North London a stone throw away from another great team Tottenham Hotspur, McDonald would have snuck under the Spurs radar because in his school team Colin played left wing, only by chance did Colin don the No1 jersey when Hawkshaw St Marys regular keeper was absent, and with one appearance a star was born, Colin McDonald and the position between the sticks were a match, Colin was a natural.

Like Colin's chance transition from left winger to goalkeeper, his signing for Burnley also went hand and hand with fate, Burnley professional Jack Marshal who turned out for Burnley during the War Years, noticed the potential McDonald had, and arranged a trail for the youngster with then Burnley manager Cliff Britton.

Britton also saw potential in the youngster, singing Colin McDonald as an amateur in 1948, Colin was still learning his trade as a plumber, on his 18th birthday while still making his way amongst the pipes and u-bends, Colin signed as a part time professional.

But his debut for Burnley was still years away, national service was the next obstacle in McDonald's way, while based down south McDonald signed on loan with Oxford United who at the time were called Headington United in the southern league. In 1951/52 McDonald became known at the FA for controversial reasons, his ineligibility to play in the FA cup with Headington, saw the southern league side thrown out of the competition .

On his return to Burnley fresh from his national service, McDonald signed as a full time professional in July 1952, but Colin would have to wait till the end of the 1953/54 season before he made his Burnley bow.

Aston Villa were the opponents on McDonald's debut after Des Thompson was ruled out, and it was a baptism of fire as Villa put 5 past Colin, with Burnley only scoring one in reply, but reports from that day state that Colin although allowed five goals past him, his debut was one to be proud of, keeping the score down, when more of a thrashing looked on the cards.

McDonald kept his place in the Clarets goal for the rest of his debut season, conceding only 4 goals in the remaining 4 games, He was now established as Burnley's No1 missing only 3 games the following season.

The 1955/56 season saw McDonald appear in ever league and cup game, a feat he would have repeated the following year but for a tragic ankle break away at Chelsea on th 15th Dec 1956, this allowed another great Burnley keeper to don the gloves Adam Blacklaw, Colin regained his gloves by March, and he kept out the up and coming Blacklaw out for the remainder of the season.

When Colin came in for pre-season in 1957 a new manager was in place, Billy Dougall a life long Burnley man had taken the reigns from Brown, and Dougall who would have coached Colin through the A teams and Reserves made him his first choice too.

It wouldn't be long before Colin got International recognition, but first would be the Football League would request Colin's presence in the meeting with the Scottish League representative side at Newcastle, Colin stared as the Football League won 4-1.

When the World Cup squad for Sweden 1958 was released, Colin McDonald's name was on the list, and he duly made his debut behind the Iron Curtain, the Soviet Union in Moscow in the May of 58, a fantastic place to make your International bow, with a 1-1 draw in the Lien Stadium which was good enough for Colin to keep hold of the gloves.

Colin was well on the way to making the England No1 jersey his own, after his debut in Russia Colin played in all England's Group games, including the 0-0 draw with eventual winners Brazil in Gothenburg, Colin McDonald was voted best goalkeeper in the tournament in the 58 World Cup Finals, a feat made all the more unbelievable seeing that it was only McDonald's 5th game in England colours.

1958/59 would be the last season McDonald would play professional football for both Burnley and England, just when McDonald was becoming the best ever, disaster struck, the 17th March 1959,would be a red letter day in McDonald's life. When representing the Football League against the Irish counterparts, Colin broke his leg.

(How the news was broke in the Clarets match programme)

His leg break wasn't main reason Colin's career came to an end, it was just the catalyst, complications set in as a result of the leg break Colin contracted pneumonia, his life was thankfully saved but his career was a distant past. Colin tried to come back playing in the junior teams during the championship season of 59/60, and the Reserve teams in the following season, but to no avail the summer of 1961 with his Burnley teammates having taking on the best in Europe Colin McDonald called it a day.

His retirement allowed Burnley to honour him with a testimonial, he was a Claret for his entire career, very few would doubt that he would have been the man in the goal in 1966 when English football reached it pinnacle.

Colin played 8 times for England all in 1958, and made three appearances for the Football League select, his last game for the Football league select would be his last game in professional football.

After football Colin went on to coach Wycombe Wanderers, Bury, Played a few non-league games for Altrincham, before becoming chief scout for both Bury and Bolton, in 1969 he became general manager/administration manager and later Manager at Bury. he also became youth coach at both Oldham and Tranmere.

Colin McDonald is a Claret Legend, and for a another turn of fate in that cruel night in Dublin, we all look in the history books for what should have been.