Frank McDougall

Douglas Francis McDougall (21 February 1958 – 1 October 2023) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a striker for Clydebank, St Mirren and Aberdeen in the 1970s and 1980s.

For the Australian farmer and economic adviser, see Frank Lidgett McDougall.

Frank McDougall
Personal information
Full name Douglas Francis McDougall[1]
Date of birth (1958-02-21)21 February 1958
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Date of death 1 October 2023(2023-10-01) (aged 65)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
Heart of Midlothian
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1976 Duntocher Hibernian
1976–1978 Glasgow Perthshire
1978–1979 Clydebank 38 (25)
1979–1984 St Mirren 115 (43)
1984–1987 Aberdeen 54 (36)
Total 207 (104)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Early career

McDougall was brought up in the Cadder neighbourhood of Glasgow and, in his teens, showed promise as a boxer. His first involvement in professional football came after Hearts manager Bobby Seith saw him in a local amateur game and signed him on a schoolboy form for the Edinburgh club.[2]

McDougall's progress at Hearts was interrupted after an incident on a bus left him hospitalised for six months while his damaged eyesight was repaired. He later dropped to Junior level with Duntocher Hibs and Glasgow Perthshire, and despite an unsuccessful trial with Partick Thistle, signed for Clydebank in 1978.[2][3]

After scoring 28 goals in the 1978–79 season for Clydebank, he was bought by St Mirren for £150,000.[4] This was a record transfer between two Scottish clubs at the time.[4][5]

Aberdeen

Aberdeen signed McDougall in 1984 from St Mirren for a transfer fee of £100,000.[6] His 22 league goals (24 in all competitions)[5] in his first season made him the top scorer in the Scottish Premier Division, and helped The Dons win the league championship.[6][7] McDougall scored a hat-trick as Aberdeen clinched the championship with a 3–0 win at Hearts on 4 May 1985.[5] His second season saw fewer goals, but did include a four-goal haul in a 4–1 win over Celtic in November 1985.[6][7] At Aberdeen, McDougall was troubled by a persistent back injury, diagnosed as traumatic spondylitis, and played his last game for Aberdeen in August 1986 against Hibernian. Six months later, as his condition did not improve, he was forced to retire on medical advice around the time of his 29th birthday.[8]

Personal life and death

McDougall lived in England for a few years with his Brazilian wife before moving to Brazil, although he later returned to England.

While running his pub in Bury, Lancashire, he played a season with Clitheroe FC. [9] He died on 1 October 2023, at the age of 65.[10][11]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[12][13][14]
Club Season League Scottish cup League cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Clydebank 1978-79 Scottish First Division 382532414528
St Mirren 1979–80 Scottish Premier Division
1980–81
1981–82
1982–83
1983–84
Total 1154316964
Aberdeen 1984–85 Scottish Premier Division 28222200003024
1985–86 25144164313820
1986–87 1000000010
Total 54366364316944
Career total 2071049+5+10+5+3+1+283136

References
  1. "Douglas Francis McDougall Record vs Heart of Midlothian". London Hearts Supporters Club. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  2. "Frank McDougall". afc.co.uk. Aberdeen FC. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  3. "Yob blinded me for months after hurling brick through bus window". Daily Record. 21 November 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  4. Holmes, Jeff (10 December 2010). "Big Mac returns to Paisley". Paisley Daily Express. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  5. Currie, David (4 May 2020). "On This Day: Frank McDougall guides Aberdeen to title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  6. "Frank McDougall". AFC Heritage. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  7. "Aberdeen v Celtic - the history". afc.co.uk. Aberdeen FC. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  8. "I was stunned when surgeon told me career was over at just 29". Daily Record. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  9. "Pittodrie goal legend Frank McDougall: I'd love to see Niall McGinn break my record". Daily Record. 15 November 2012.
  10. "Frank McDougall: Former Aberdeen and St Mirren striker dies aged 65". BBC Sport. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  11. Frank McDougall dead at 65 as Aberdeen legend passes away in hospital
  12. "Frank McDougall | Player Statistics | Clydebank FC (Bankies Archive)". www.clydebankfc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  13. "Past Saints Mc". StMirren.info. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  14. "Aberdeen Football Club Heritage Trust Player Profile". afcheritage.org. Retrieved 25 March 2023.

[[Category:Footballers from Glasgow ]]


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