Hugh O'Donnell (footballer)
Hugh O'Donnell (15 February 1913 – 9 May 1965) was a Scottish professional footballer. He was the younger brother of fellow footballer Frank O'Donnell. The siblings stayed together for the first sixteen years of their careers, both playing concurrently for Celtic,[2] Preston North End and Blackpool.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hugh O'Donnell[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 15 February 1913 | ||
| Place of birth | Buckhaven, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 9 May 1965 (aged 52) | ||
| Place of death | Preston, England | ||
| Playing position(s) | Left winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1930 | Wellesley Juniors | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1930–1935 | Celtic | 75 | (20) |
| 1935–1939 | Preston North End | 132 | (29) |
| 1939–1946 | Blackpool | 14 | (2) |
| 1946–1947 | Rochdale | 40 | (14) |
| 1947–1948 | Halifax Town | 13 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
O'Donnell made over one hundred league appearances for Preston between 1935 and 1938, scoring 29 goals, before signing for the club's arch-rivals, Blackpool. He made his debut for Blackpool in a goalless draw with Bolton Wanderers at Bloomfield Road on 18 March 1939. He went on to play in the remaining nine games of the season, in the number-11 shirt, and scored their goal in a 2–1 defeat at Arsenal on 10 April 1939.
The following season, 1939–40, was the first season of regional competitions, brought about by the outbreak of World War II in September 1939.
O'Donnell's final game in a Blackpool shirt took place on 23 November 1946, in a 4–2 defeat at Leeds United, his only appearance of the season. He scored the first of Blackpool's goals.
Rochdale became his fourth club, in 1946, and he went on to make forty league appearances for them, scoring fourteen goals.
O'Donnell brought his career to a close with Halifax Town in 1948.
He died on 9 May 1965, aged 52.
References
- "Hugh O'Donnell". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- Celtic player O'Donnell, Hugh, FitbaStats
- Sources
- Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992. Breedon Books Sport. ISBN 1-873626-07-X.