Hugh O'Donnell (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Hugh O'Donnell was a Scottish
professional football
er. 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
, Preston North End
and Blackpool
.
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 March 18, 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 April 10, 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 November 23, 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 May 9, 1965, aged 53.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er. He was the younger brother of fellow footballer Frank O'Donnell
Frank O'Donnell
Francis Joseph "Frank" O'Donnell was a Scottish professional footballer. He was the older brother of fellow footballer Hugh O'Donnell. The siblings stayed together for the first sixteen years of their careers, both playing concurrently for Celtic, Preston North End and Blackpool...
. The siblings stayed together for the first sixteen years of their careers, both playing concurrently for 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...
, Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
and Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
.
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
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
on March 18, 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
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...
on April 10, 1939.
The following season, 1939–40
Blackpool F.C. season 1939-40
The 1939-40 season was Blackpool F.C.s first season in special wartime football during World War II. Upon the abandonment of League football in September 1939 , they competed in the North-West Regional League, finishing third.Jock Dodds was the club's top scorer for the second consecutive...
, was the first season of regional competitions, brought about by the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in September 1939.
O'Donnell's final game in a Blackpool shirt took place on November 23, 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 May 9, 1965, aged 53.