Dick Donald
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Richard MacNaughton Donald | ||
Date of birth | 20 February 1911 | ||
Place of birth | Aberdeen, Scotland | ||
Date of death | 30 December 1993 | (aged 82)||
Place of death | Aberdeen, Scotland | ||
Position(s) | Utility player | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1928–1933 | Aberdeen | 12 | (2) |
1933–1934 | Dunfermline Athletic | ||
1934–1939 | Aberdeen | 4 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Richard MacNaughton Donald (20 February 1911 – 30 December 1993)
Early life
Donald was born in Aberdeen, the youngest of four brothers. Their father,
Playing career
Donald signed for Aberdeen as a professional in 1928, and had a playing career which consisted of two five-year spells at his hometown club, interrupted by one season at Dunfermline Athletic in 1933–34. Donald was a versatile player, who is reported to have played in every outfield position for Aberdeen.[1] He ended his playing career at the outbreak of World War II, but continued to be a successful businessman, and rejoined Aberdeen as a board member in 1949.
Football administrator and later life
Donald served on the board of directors of Aberdeen from 1949 until his death in 1993, becoming vice-chairman in 1960, and Chairman ten years later.[1] The club enjoyed unprecedented success during his chairmanship, winning each of the Scottish domestic trophies more than once, and becoming the only Scottish team to win two European trophies in 1983. Donald had a reputation for running the club frugally – his most famous manager, Sir Alex Ferguson recounts several tales of his chairman's parsimony[5] in his autobiography, but also notes that
As a chairman, he was a colossus, and nobody had to tell me that I had little chance of ever working for his like again.[5]
Another of Donald's managers, Ian Porterfield, observed:
I have been all over the world, and worked with many different people including Nelson Mandela on the day of his inauguration, but one of the best men I ever met was Mr Dick Donald he epitomised what Aberdeen was all about.[6]
For the majority of the most successful years at Aberdeen, the board of directors consisted of Donald, his vice-chairman
Donald died, following a stroke and a battle with Alzheimer's disease in 1993, shortly after the dedication of the Richard Donald Stand at Pittodrie, Aberdeen's home ground.
References
- ^ a b c Macdonald, Alastair (8 January 1994). "Obituary: Richard M Donald (registration required)". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
- ISBN 0-340-82344-5.
- ^ "Overview of Frederick W.P. Wyndham". The Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
- ISBN 0-340-82344-5.
- ^ ISBN 0-340-72856-6.
- ^ Fisher, Stewart (8 October 2006). "Worldly traveller's tales played out on many a field far from home". Sunday Herald. Retrieved 13 January 2008.
- ^ "Black L.A. 1947: Heavyweight Fighter George Godfrey, 'The Black Shadow of Leiperville,' Dies at 50". 21 August 2018.