Alan Mcdonald is not the most gifted individual
for skill and flair but Macca is here in the hall of fame for
many other reasons such as loyalty, determination and a pride
in wearing the blue and white hoops.
Macca signed for QPR as a schoolboy but struggled
to get a chance in the first team for a few seasons. The defence
under manager Terry Venables, had the likes of Bob Hazel, Terry
Fenwick and Steve Wicks so Macca found it hard to get his chance.
He actually made his league debut whilst on loan at Charlton
where he picked up some valuable experience.
Macca's chance came after the departure of Bob
Hazel where he played alongside England international Terry
Fenwick. Macca was a strong centre half with a no nonsense approach.
Rather than the play his way out of trouble he would just clear
the ball and the shouts of "four" whenever he pumped a ball
forward towards Wayne Fereday always amused me anyway.
Alan Mcdonald got to play in Europe with QPR
in the UEFA cup in 1984. Rangers had to play their home matches
at Highbury due to the plastic pitch but the experience gained
in these matches helped Macca two years later in one of his
finest moments. Now a first team regular, Macca became a Northern
Ireland international and was in the team, which was trying
to qualify for the 1986 World Cup.
Ireland were in the same group as England and
the last match was at Wembley between the two teams. Macca's
Northern Ireland needed a point to qualify along with England.
A dull 0-0 draw followed as many people felt the game was "a
fiddle" to put it mildly. Both teams qualified for Mexico '86
and Macca spoke out about the controversy. "If anyone thinks
that game was a fix, they can come and see me outside".
I
won't comment on the queue, which formed from Loftus Road to
Wembley, but Macca was to play in the World Cup. Also that season,
Macca led QPR back to Wembley. A memorable cup run with Macca
at the heart of every match. His biggest contribution came in
the Quarter finals. Rangers drew at home with Chelsea and were
forced into a replay.
Chelsea were hot favourites and a top six team.
Macca scored the first goal in extra time to take Rangers into
the semi finals. In the semi finals Rangers beat Liverpool to
stop them becoming the only English side ever to complete the
domestic treble. Sadly, Alan Mcdonald like so many others was
disappointing in the final as QPR lost to Oxford 3-0.That wasn't
the only high of the season though. Alan Mcdonald also stared
in a certain 6-0 win on Easter Monday. We beat some team called
Chelsea who at the time thought they could win the league.
Macca will always remember his time in the summer
heat of Mexico. Northern Ireland were handed a tough group and
Alan Mcdonald got to face some of the best players in the world.
Northern Ireland started against the minnows of the group, Algeria
and a 1-1 draw ended both sides' hopes of qualifying.
Macca's next task was to face Spain and mark
Butragueneo one of the most feared strikers in Europe. Macca
had a good game but as on the losing team 2-1. He then came
up against, Zico as Brazil ran riot but the experience was one
he will never forget and he flew the flag not only for his country
but also for his club.
Alan Mcdonald returned to Rangers for a disappointing
season in 1986/87 as the club went through many changes. The
take-over of David Bullstrode overshadowed a poor season for
QPR, but things improved the following season with a new defence.
Danny
Maddix and Paul Parker were signed to help out as Jim Smith
played with a sweeper system. Paul Parker became the man marker
before the departure of Fenwick who had been sweeper. Alan Mcdonald
was the stopper and worked very well along side Paul Parker.
Macca and Parker formed a strong defence and a final league
placing of fifth was just reward.
That partnership continued the following two
seasons, as Rangers became an established first division team.
Macca could also chip in with the odd goal and his international
career continued but their was to be no more World Cup finals
for him as Northern Ireland began to struggle at the highest
level. Macca was awarded a testimonial in 1989, which must have
earned him some deserved money. His Rangers team lost 4-2 to
Chelsea but he managed to score a penalty.
Macca was by no way finished at club level though,
despite being written off most seasons by the critical QPR supporters
for his lack of pace. He played his part in one of the most
entertaining QPR teams in the 90's under Don Howe. Rangers got
to the FA Cup Quarter finals before losing to Liverpool but
the standard of football was excellent and Macca was holding
everything together at the back.
He was the steel of the team with so many flair
players around him. Alan Mcdonald played under ten different
QPR managers in his time and probably had his most successful
time under Gerry Francis. Macca was part of the team which finished
fifth in 1993 and he helped groom Darren Peacock alongside him
into a £2million player.
Macca
was always known as a joker in the changing room and his practical
jokes were well known. At the end of the 1992/92 season, Macca
teamed up with David Bardsley to handcuff Andy Sinton in the
showers. This was one of the milder jokes, Macca played on his
team-mates.
Despite being ultra competitive on the pitch,
Macca was a great guy off it. He was and still is always ready
to sign an autograph and have a chat about QPR and was very
popular with hi steam mates. One player Macca didn't get on
with was a certain Mr Mark Hughes. During both players peak
they had some classic battles on and possibly off the pitch.
Whenever these two players met you could be sure
something would happen. The most memorable incident for me was
in the 192/93 season. For the past few season before this, Hughes
had made habit of getting QPR players, and Mcdonald in particular,
booked or sent off. This night proved pay back.
In front of a live television audience. Macca
went through Hughes with a two-footed tackle down the back of
the legs, leaving stud marks like you have never seen before.
Hughes went off and Macca was booked to the biggest ovation
heard on the night from QPR supporters. Another memorable moment
was the 4-1 victory at Old Trafford.
Macca seemed to take great delight in winding
Hughes up that day and his celebrations at the end was like
a cup final win. His final years at the club saw his biggest
disappointment when he saw his beloved team relegated in 1996.
Macca had suffered more than most as he had the club at heart
and he vowed to take the club back to the Premiership.
This never happened though and despite playing
some of the best football of his career he was given a free
transfer by Stewart Houston after 17 years at the club. Despite
being ultra competitive on the pitch, Macca was a great guy
off it. He was and still is always ready to sign an autograph
and have a chat about QPR and was very popular with his team
mates.