Frank O'Donnell

Football player infobox
playername = Frank O'Donnell


fullname = Francis Joseph O'Donnell
nickname =
dateofbirth = August 31 1911
cityofbirth = Buckhaven
countryofbirth = Scotland
dateofdeath = death date and age|1952|9|4|1911|8|31
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
height =
position = Forward
youthyears = -1930
youthclubs = Wellesley Juniors
years = 1930-1935
1935-1937
1937-1946
1946
1946-1947
clubs = Celtic
Preston North End
Blackpool
Aston Villa
Nottingham Forest
caps(goals) = 78 (51)
92 (36)
30 (17)
29 (14)
11 0(5)
manageryears = 1947-1952
managerclubs = Buxton
nationalyears = 1937-1938
nationalteam = Scotland
nationalcaps(goals) = 06 0(2)

Francis Joseph "Frank" O'Donnell (August 31 1911 — September 4 1952) 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. He also made six appearances for the Scotland national team.

For Celtic, O'Donnell made 78 league appearances and scored 51 goals, which equated to an average of a goal every 1.5 games.

His scoring touch remained when he signed for Preston North End in 1935, netting 36 goals in 92 league games.

In 1937, O'Donnell signed for Preston's arch-rivals, Blackpool. He made his debut December 4, 1937, in a draw at Middlesbrough. He scored his first goal for the club two weeks later, in a 2–1 victory at West Bromwich Albion. He went on to score another nine goals in his remaining fourteen games of the season.

The following season, 1938–39, O'Donnell scored seven goals in thirteen appearances, including a hat-trick in a 5–1 victory over Chelsea at Bloomfield Road on October 8, 1938.

O'Donnell left Blackpool during the 1945–46 season, the final inter-war campaign, and signed for Aston Villa. In his one season at Villa Park, he scored fourteen goals in 29 league appearances.

O'Donnell finished his playing career with Nottingham Forest in 1947. He died just five years later, on September 4, 1952, aged 41.

International career

Following his £10,000 transfer to Blackpoolin November 1937, O'Donnell represented Scotland on two occasions, adding to the four appearances made while with Preston North End, scoring goals in each of his first two appearances, against England and Austria

Management

Upon retiring, O'Donnell managed one club, Buxton, between 1947 and 1952.

ee also

*Blackpool F.C. season 1937–38
*Blackpool F.C. season 1938–39
*Blackpool F.C. season 1939–40
*Blackpool F.C. season 1940–41
*Blackpool F.C. season 1941–42
*Blackpool F.C. season 1942–43
*Blackpool F.C. season 1943–44
*Blackpool F.C. season 1944–45
*Blackpool F.C. season 1945–46

References

*cite book | first=Roy | last=Calley| coauthors= | title=Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887-1992 | publisher=Breedon Books Sport | location= | year=1992 | editor= | id=ISBN 1-873626-07-X
* [http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/PRESTONodonnelF.htm O'Donnell's profile at Spartacus Educational] (erroneously states his date of birth as August 31, 1913)
* [http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/player_details.cfm?playerid=113315&CFID=596659&CFTOKEN=65276183 Profile at the Scottish FA's website]