Billy Macdonald (footballer, born 1976)

William James Macdonald (born 17 September 1976) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played in the Scottish Premier Division for Partick Thistle and Dunfermline Athletic.

Billy Macdonald
Personal information
Full name William James Macdonald [1]
Date of birth (1976-09-17) 17 September 1976 (age 48)
Place of birth Irvine, Scotland
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s) Midfield
Youth career
0000–1995 West Bromwich Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1998 Partick Thistle 58 (2)
1998 FF Jaro 2 (0)
1998–1999 Dunfermline Athletic 1 (0)
1999 Livingston 6 (0)
1999 Clydebank 4 (0)
1999–2002 Stranraer 75 (4)
2002–2003 East Stirlingshire 7 (0)
2004 Queen of the South 0 (0)
Managerial career
2015–2016 Lesmahagow
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:35, 21 February 2018 (UTC)

Career

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Having been an apprentice pro at West Bromwich Albion under Ossie Ardiles and Keith Burkinshaw, Macdonald returned to Scotland and made his first league appearances for Partick Thistle in the Scottish Premier Division.[2] Macdonald made headlines after a match against Rangers where he received a red card for a late altercation with Paul Gascoigne although he received the sponsors man of the match award for the same game.[3] Thistle were relegated via a play-off at the end of the 1995–96 season but Macdonald remained at Firhill for two further years. After leaving Thistle, Macdonald had a brief spell in Finland with FF Jaro before making one Premier Division appearance for Dunfermline Athletic then having short spells at several clubs in the Scottish Football League.[4]

Macdonald spent three seasons at Stranraer and was appointed club captain under manager Billy McLaren.[5] He joined Queen of the South in September 2004 but never made a league appearance and was eventually forced to retire due to a cruciate injury.[6]

After coaching locally, Macdonald was appointed manager of hometown team Lesmahagow in November 2015[7] but left this role in April the following year.[8] He has since been part of manager Andy Frame's coaching staff at Thorniewood United and Cumbernauld United.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "William James Macdonald Record vs Heart of Midlothian". londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters Club. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  2. ^ Waddell, Gordon (21 April 2013). "Grassroots 2013: Billy MacDonald vows to instil Gow Valley youths the discipline he felt he was never given as a youngster". Daily Record. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  3. ^ "Nine-man Thistle are denied a share of the spoils Rangers' victory without conviction". The Herald. 5 February 1996. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  4. ^ "Bust-up over walkout by benched Billy". Daily Record. The Free Library. 25 October 1999. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  5. ^ "Sore point as Billy sees red". Daily Record. The Free Library. 10 September 2001. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  6. ^ "Queens sign MacDonald". BBC Sport. 8 September 2004. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  7. ^ "Goals galore as juniors beat the weather". www.falkirkherald.co.uk.
  8. ^ "Boss Billy McDonald calls it quits after Lesmahagow form meltdown leaves them facing relegation dogfight". Evening Times. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  9. ^ Maclean, Ian (2 February 2017). "New Cumbernauld United boss happy to delay debut". Cumbernauld News. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
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