Frank O'Donnell
Encyclopedia
Francis Joseph "Frank" O'Donnell (31 August 1911 — 4 September 1952) was a Scottish
professional football
er. 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, and scored Preston's consolation goal in the 1937 FA Cup Final
defeat to Sunderland.
In 1937, O'Donnell signed for Preston's arch-rivals
, Blackpool. He made his debut on 4 December 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 8 October 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 4 September 1952, aged 41.
in 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
, between 1947 and 1952.
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 older brother of fellow footballer Hugh O'Donnell
Hugh O'Donnell (footballer)
Hugh O'Donnell was a Scottish professional footballer. 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
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...
. He also made six appearances for the Scotland national team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
.
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, and scored Preston's consolation goal in the 1937 FA Cup Final
1937 FA Cup Final
The 1937 FA Cup Final was contested by Sunderland and Preston North End at Wembley. Sunderland won 3–1, with goals by Bobby Gurney, Raich Carter and Eddie Burbanks. Frank O'Donnell's strike on 44 minutes had put Preston ahead.-Match details:...
defeat to Sunderland.
In 1937, O'Donnell signed for Preston's arch-rivals
West Lancashire derby
The West Lancashire derby is a local derby in English football, between Lancashire neighbours Blackpool F.C. and Preston North End F.C. The derby has taken place across all four tiers of the Football League, but not yet in the Premier League...
, Blackpool. He made his debut on 4 December 1937, in a draw at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
. He scored his first goal for the club two weeks later, in a 2–1 victory at West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
. He went on to score another nine goals in his remaining fourteen games of the season.
The following season, 1938–39
Blackpool F.C. season 1938-39
The 1938-39 season was Blackpool F.C.s 38th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing fifteenth....
, O'Donnell scored seven goals in thirteen appearances, including a hat-trick in a 5–1 victory over Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
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 8 October 1938.
O'Donnell left Blackpool during the 1945–46
Blackpool F.C. season 1945-46
The 1945-46 season was Blackpool F.C.s 39th season in the Football League. They competed in the 22-team Football League North, a stop-gap competition introduced between the end of inter-war football and the recommencement of the Football League proper the following season.Stan Mortensen was the...
season, the final inter-war campaign, and signed for Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. In his one season at Villa Park, he scored fourteen goals in 29 league appearances.
O'Donnell finished his playing career with Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
in 1947. He died just five years later, on 4 September 1952, aged 41.
International career
Following his £10,000 transfer to BlackpoolBlackpool 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...
in November 1937, O'Donnell represented Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
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, BuxtonBuxton F.C.
Buxton Football Club are an English football club based in Buxton, Derbyshire. They were established in 1877 and joined the Combination League in 1891. They then joined the Manchester League in 1899 and won the championship in 1932. They reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup in the 1951-52 season....
, between 1947 and 1952.