| Personal information | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 24 December 1861 | |||||||||||
| Place of birth | Inverness, Scotland | |||||||||||
| Date of death | 29 August 1938 (aged 76) | |||||||||||
| Place of death | Edinburgh, Scotland | |||||||||||
| Position(s) | Centre half | |||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | ( Gls) | |||||||||
| Edinburgh University | ||||||||||||
| 1884–1885 | Queen's Park | |||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||
| 1886 | Scotland | 1 | (0) | |||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||
Dr. John Macdonald (24 December 1861 – 29 August 1938) was a Scottish sportsman who represented Scotland at both football and cricket, the first Scotsman to represent his country at both sports. He was also a qualified medical doctor.
Early life
Macdonald was born in Inverness on 24 December 1861, the eldest of eight children. [1] His father was a house painter, local magistrate, and town councillor, while his mother was the daughter of a local farmer. [1] He attended Inverness Royal Academy where he played cricket, tennis, and rugby. [1]
Edinburgh University and cricket career
Macdonald attended the University of Edinburgh, graduating with a medical degree in 1884. [1] He played for the University at cricket, and while a student he represented Scotland at cricket in a three-day international against the Australians in September 1880, at the age of 18. [1] He also played for Scotland in an exhibition game against a group of American tourists, the Gentlemen of Philadelphia, in June 1884. [1] He was captain of the University side throughout 1884 and scored over 1,000 runs that year. [1] During his time at the university, he also switched from rugby football to association football. [1] He captained the University's football team. [2]
Football career
Macdonald represented a Glasgow select side in 1885 in a 5–2 victory against a London select side at The Oval. [1] He made one appearance for Scotland in March 1886, against England. [2] In doing so he became the first Scotsman to represent their country at both cricket and football; it would be another 50 years before another sportsman ( Scot Symon) represented Scotland at both sports. [1] In that match he played as a left half, [1] though he usually played as a "strong and capable centre-half." [2] He also played as an amateur for Queen's Park, [2] making 11 appearances. [3]
Later life and death
Macdonald returned to Inverness to set up a medical practice, and he eventually became Chief Medical Officer for both Inverness Burgh and Inverness County Council. [1] He was married with five children. [1] He continued his involvement in both cricket and football - captaining local team Northern Counties and representing a North of Scotland XI in the former, and becoming a Patron of the Highland League in 1932 in the latter. [1] Macdonald died in Edinburgh on 29 August 1938, at the age of 76. [1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o David Gordon (26 February 2014). "FORGOTTEN CRICKET/FOOTBALL INTERNATIONAL REDISCOVERED". Cricket Scotland. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
- ^ a b c d Paul Smith (2013). Scotland Who's Who: International Players 1872–2013. Pitch Publishing. p. 161.
- ^ "QPFC.com - A Historical Queen's Park FC Website".
- 1861 births
- 1938 deaths
- Scottish men's footballers
- Scotland men's international footballers
- Edinburgh University A.F.C. players
- Queen's Park F.C. players
- Men's association football defenders
- Scottish cricketers
- Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
- 19th-century Scottish medical doctors
- 20th-century Scottish medical doctors
- Cricketers from Inverness
- People educated at Inverness Royal Academy
- Footballers from Inverness