Jimmy McDonald

A City scout was sent to watch a striker playing for Edinburgh club St Bernards. His eye strayed from his intended target and focussed on Jimmy McDonald. The Scotsman signed in April 1907.

At Valley Parade he linked up with forwards George Handley and Frank O'Rourke. The trio played a major part in securing the Second Division Championship in 1908. Between them they notched up 50 goals as City gained promotion to the top flight. However, Jimmy was not an out-and-out goalscorer. He was a great distributor of the ball; many of Handley's and O'Rourke's goals were provided by the cultured Aberdonian.

Jimmy played in the FA Cup Final of 1911 and captained the side in the days leading up to the First World War. During the war he served in the Royal Field Artillery as a driver.

After the conflict Jimmy never really recovered his form and in May 1920 he signed for Raith Rovers. Sadly, before he had played a game he became ill and died in Batley hospital, aged just 40.

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