Robert Logan “Whitey” McDonald

Born: Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, August 11, 1902.

Died: Millport, Scotland, June 7, 1956.

One of Hamilton’s most famous sportsmen, McDonald was brought to Canada at the age of two by his parents. He progressed through the schoolboy and junior ranks in the Steel City and graduated to the senior game with Hamilton Thistle. One of twelve children, he played for the Thistles in the Spectator Cup finals of 1921 and 1922, and later briefly with Toronto Ulster United. In the summer of 1924, after turning down an offer to play for English club Stockport County, he signed for Bethlehem Steel in the professional American Soccer League where he played four seasons helping the team win the national championship in 1926 and the American Soccer League championship in 1927.

When Glasgow Rangers toured North America in 1928, they spotted Whitey, and that fall he was on his way to Ibrox Park to play for the world-famous Glasgow club. From 1928 to 1939, McDonald won four Scottish championship medals and four Scottish Football Association Cup winner’s medals. He also played in two internationals for Northern Ireland against Scotland in 1930 and England in 1932. He toured Canada and the United States with Rangers in 1930, and captained his new team in the game against Hamilton All-Stars, who in turn were captained by his brother, known as “Red.” He toured North America a second time in 1935 as a member of a Scottish Football Association team, made up of many famous Scottish players. A wing half during his days with Hamilton Thistle and Bethlehem Steel, Rangers converted him into a left back with outstanding success. Later in life, he became a physiotherapist. At the time of his death, he was preparing to start the next season at Ibrox Park as Rangers trainer.