Donald McLeod (footballer)

For the Motherwell player of the 1940s and 1950s, see Don McLeod (footballer).

Donald McLeod (28 May 1882 – 6 October 1917) was a Scottish professional footballer who made over 260 appearances in the English and Scottish Leagues for Middlesbrough and Celtic respectively.^[1] A right back, he was capped by Scotland and represented the Scottish League XI.^[4][5][6] McLeod was nicknamed 'Slasher'.^[7]

Donald McLeod

Personal information
Full name	Donald McLeod[1]
Date of birth	28 May 1882
Place of birth	Laurieston, Scotland
Date of death	6 October 1917(1917-10-06) (aged 35)[2]
Place of death	Dozinghem, Belgium[3]
Height	5 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1.74 m)[3]
Position(s)	Right back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
0000–1901	Stenhousemuir Thistle
1901–1902	Stenhousemuir
	Ayr
1902–1908	Celtic	131	(0)
1908–1913	Middlesbrough	138	(0)
	→ Caledonian (loan)
International career
1905–1906	Scotland	4	(0)
1905–1906	Scottish League XI	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Personal life

Born in Laurieston, McLeod grew up in Grangemouth and Stenhousemuir and was married with three daughters.^[3] After his retirement from professional football in 1914, he took over the Lord Byron pub in Middlesbrough.^[3] In 1916, two years after the outbreak of the First World War, McLeod was conscripted into the Royal Garrison Artillery.^[3] He was subsequently transferred to the Royal Field Artillery and became a gunner.^[3] On 5 October 1917, during the Battle of Passchendaele, McLeod was wounded in action, losing his right leg below the knee and part of his left foot.^[8][9][10] He died of wounds the following day at the 47th Casualty Clearing Station in Dozinghem, near Poperinge.^[3] McLeod was buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery.^[2]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Celtic	1902–03[11]	Scottish First Division	20	0	1	0	3[a]	0	24	0
	1903–04[11]		10	0	6	0	1[a]	0	17	0
	1904–05[11]		25	0	4	0	3[a]	0	32	0
	1905–06[11]		21	0	3	0	2[a]	0	26	0
	1906–07[11]		25	0	9	0	3[a]	0	37	0
	1907–08[11]		26	0	1	0	0	0	27	0
	1908–09[11]		4	0	—		1[a]	0	5	0
	Total		131	0	24	0	13	0	168	0
Middlesbrough	1908–09[12]	First Division	32	0	1	0	—		33	0
	1909–10[12]		35	0	2	0	—		37	0
	1910–11[12]		34	0	3	0	—		37	0
	1911–12[12]		24	0	4	0	—		28	0
	1912–13[12]		13	0	0	0	—		13	0
	Total		138	0	10	0	—		148	0
Career total			269	0	34	0	13	0	316	0

1. Appearances in Glasgow Cup

Honours

Celtic

• Scottish League First Division (4): 1904–05, 1905–06, 1906–07, 1907–08^[12][13]
• Scottish Cup (2): 1906–07, 1907–08^[12][13]
• Glasgow Cup (2): 1904–05, 1906–07^[14][15]