Dean McDonald
Encyclopedia
Dean Louis McDonald is an English
professional footballer who signed for Carshalton Athletic
in June 2011.
from Arsenal
where he started his career as a youth player. He opened his account with Ipswich against Crewe Alexandra
, with the Tractor Boys going on to win the game 2-1.
McDonald is primarily an attacking midfielder, although he can play in a more of a striker role. He spent a month on loan with Hartlepool United
, scoring one goal, before bring recalled due to an injury crisis at Ipswich, with Ipswich rejecting a fee for the player.
In May 2006 he signed for Gillingham
on a two year contract. On his debut for his new club in August 2006 he scored the winner in a 2-1 win over Huddersfield Town
.
It was announced in July 2007 that, despite having a year left on his contract with the Kent
club, McDonald had agreed terms for a move to Scottish Premier League
side Inverness Caledonian Thistle
. He scored in his first pre-season match for his new club, a 2-0 win over Qatar
's U-21 team, on 11 July 2007.
Following the arrival of Craig Brewster
at the club, he was restricted to just substitute appearances and was on trial during January 2008, including Gillingham
and Toronto FC
. Although offered a contract by Toronto FC, he decided to stay at Inverness Caledonian Thistle until the end of the 2007/08 season. Despite having a year left on his contract it was cancelled by mutual consent in July 2008.2007-08 season
. He then signed for Conference National
side Rushden & Diamonds
in July 2008. Having been transfer-listed, he signed for Grays Athletic
on loan from 20 November 2008 until January 2009. However, McDonald failed to make an appearance in the Conference National
and only made three appearances in the Conference League Cup
, FA Trophy
and Essex Senior Cup
. McDonald was released by Rushden & Diamonds in January 2009, and was signed by Northwich Victoria
on non-contract terms. He left Northwich Victoria
after the manager, Steve King
, left the club in February. This led to a short spell at Tooting & Mitcham United
, which lasted until the end of the season.
On 11 October 2009 it was reported in the Non League Paper that Celtic
were preparing a bid for McDonald. Scouts were watching his match for Farnborough against Cambridge City
four days earlier, in which he scored his 10th goal in 10 league games.
In June 2011, McDonald signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side Carshalton Athletic
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who signed for Carshalton Athletic
Carshalton Athletic F.C.
Carshalton Athletic F.C. is an English football club based in Carshalton in the London Borough of Sutton, London. They currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division, and are based at the War Memorial Sports Ground.-Early years:...
in June 2011.
Career
McDonald was noticed for his skill rather than size when signed by Ipswich TownIpswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
from Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
where he started his career as a youth player. He opened his account with Ipswich against Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
, with the Tractor Boys going on to win the game 2-1.
McDonald is primarily an attacking midfielder, although he can play in a more of a striker role. He spent a month on loan with Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
, scoring one goal, before bring recalled due to an injury crisis at Ipswich, with Ipswich rejecting a fee for the player.
In May 2006 he signed for Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
on a two year contract. On his debut for his new club in August 2006 he scored the winner in a 2-1 win over Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
.
It was announced in July 2007 that, despite having a year left on his contract with the Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
club, McDonald had agreed terms for a move to Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
side Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club from Inverness who compete in the Scottish Premier League. They are currently managed by Terry Butcher and assistant manager Maurice Malpas...
. He scored in his first pre-season match for his new club, a 2-0 win over Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
's U-21 team, on 11 July 2007.
Following the arrival of Craig Brewster
Craig Brewster
Craig James Brewster is a Scottish football player and coach. He made his name in a long and successful career playing as a striker for numerous clubs in Scotland, particularly Forfar Athletic, Raith Rovers, Dundee United and Dunfermline Athletic...
at the club, he was restricted to just substitute appearances and was on trial during January 2008, including Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
and Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
. Although offered a contract by Toronto FC, he decided to stay at Inverness Caledonian Thistle until the end of the 2007/08 season. Despite having a year left on his contract it was cancelled by mutual consent in July 2008.2007-08 season
2007-08 in Scottish football
The 2007-08 season was the 111th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:* Gretna were competing in the Scottish Premier League for the first time, their first ever season in the top-flight, after being promoted as First Division champions the previous season.* Dunfermline Athletic...
. He then signed for Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Rushden & Diamonds
Rushden & Diamonds F.C.
Rushden & Diamonds Football Club was an association football club based in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Formed by a merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992, the club played in the Conference National following a short spell in the Football League at the start of...
in July 2008. Having been transfer-listed, he signed for Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
on loan from 20 November 2008 until January 2009. However, McDonald failed to make an appearance in the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
and only made three appearances in the Conference League Cup
Conference League Cup
The Conference League Cup was an English football competition open to clubs playing in levels 5 or 6 of the English football league system , which covers the three Football Conference divisions.The Conference League Cup was formed...
, FA Trophy
FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
and Essex Senior Cup
Essex Senior Cup
The Essex Senior Cup is a knock-out system football competition that has been running since 1884, and is the most prestigious cup competition in the county of Essex. The competition is run mainly for non-league clubs in the region, although league sides have been known to enter the competition,...
. McDonald was released by Rushden & Diamonds in January 2009, and was signed by Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
on non-contract terms. He left Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
after the manager, Steve King
Steve King (footballer)
Steve King is an English football manager who is currently managing Lewes, in his second tenure at the club.-Career:As manager of Lewes, he took them from the Isthmian League Division Three to the Conference National in seven years. However after new owners took over his contract was not renewed....
, left the club in February. This led to a short spell at Tooting & Mitcham United
Tooting & Mitcham United F.C.
Tooting & Mitcham United Football Club are a semi-professional association football club representing the south-west London areas of Tooting and Mitcham, within the London Borough of Merton. The club's stadium, Imperial Fields is located in Morden. The club are nicknamed The Terrors or...
, which lasted until the end of the season.
On 11 October 2009 it was reported in the Non League Paper that Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
were preparing a bid for McDonald. Scouts were watching his match for Farnborough against Cambridge City
Cambridge City F.C.
Cambridge City Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:The club was founded in 1908 Cambridge Town F.C., as Cambridge had not been granted city status at that point, and were committed to amateur sport...
four days earlier, in which he scored his 10th goal in 10 league games.
In June 2011, McDonald signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side Carshalton Athletic
Carshalton Athletic F.C.
Carshalton Athletic F.C. is an English football club based in Carshalton in the London Borough of Sutton, London. They currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division, and are based at the War Memorial Sports Ground.-Early years:...