Don Greenlees
Encyclopedia
Donald "Don" Greenlees was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back
for St. Mirren
in Scotland and Southampton
in England around the turn of the 20th century.
, Greenlees started his professional career with nearby St. Mirren
where he gained a reputation as "one of the best half-backs in Scotland".
In May 1899, Greenlees moved to southern England
to join Southern League
champions Southampton
. He made his debut for the "Saints" at The Dell, taking the place of Samuel Meston
at right-half for a 5–1 victory over Queen's Park Rangers on 21 October 1899. Greenlees was never able to command a regular place in the Southampton line-up and was used as an under-study for fellow-Scots Meston, Peter Meehan
and Bob Petrie
, making a total of eight appearances.
After one season on the south coast, Greenlees returned to Scotland and re-joined St. Mirren
in the 1900 close-season. In 1908, he returned to Southampton
and settled in the Shirley Warren
area of the town.
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
in Scotland and Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in England around the turn of the 20th century.
Football career
Born in Bridgeton, GlasgowBridgeton, Glasgow
Bridgeton is a district to the east side of Glasgow city centre. It is bounded by Glasgow Green to the west, Dalmarnock to the east and south and Calton to the north-west at Abercromby Street/ London Road...
, Greenlees started his professional career with nearby St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
where he gained a reputation as "one of the best half-backs in Scotland".
In May 1899, Greenlees moved to southern England
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
to join Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
champions Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. He made his debut for the "Saints" at The Dell, taking the place of Samuel Meston
Samuel Meston
Samuel Meston was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back for Stoke and Southampton. Whilst with Southampton, he appeared in two FA Cup Finals and won six Southern League championship medals and was the only player ever to do so.-Playing career:Meston was born in Arbroath and...
at right-half for a 5–1 victory over Queen's Park Rangers on 21 October 1899. Greenlees was never able to command a regular place in the Southampton line-up and was used as an under-study for fellow-Scots Meston, Peter Meehan
Peter Meehan
Peter Meehan was a Scottish professional footballer best known for making nineteen appearances in Sunderland's English Title winning team of 1895....
and Bob Petrie
Bob Petrie
Robert "Bob" Petrie was a professional footballer who won the FA Cup with Sheffield Wednesday in 1896 and was on the losing side in the 1900 FA Cup final with Southampton.-Playing career:...
, making a total of eight appearances.
After one season on the south coast, Greenlees returned to Scotland and re-joined St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
in the 1900 close-season. In 1908, he returned to Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and settled in the Shirley Warren
Shirley, Southampton
Shirley is a district on the Western side of Southampton, England. Shirley's main roles are retailing and residential. It is the most important suburban shopping area in the west of the city. Housing is a mixture of council houses in the centre of the district surrounded by private housing, with...
area of the town.