Martin McDonnell

Who was Martin McDonnell?

Martin McDonnell was an English footballer who played as a centre half. He made 412 appearances in the Football League, playing for Southport, Birmingham City, Coventry City, Derby County and Crewe Alexandra.

McDonnell was born in Newton-le-Willows, then in Lancashire, in 1924. During the Second World War, in which he served as a paratrooper, he played local football for Earlestown and Haydock C&B before joining Everton. He left the club for Southport before the Football League resumed after the war. After one season Harry Storer signed him for Birmingham City as deputy for Ted Duckhouse. Two years later, Storer, now managing Coventry City, signed him again, and McDonnell remained at the club for six seasons and played 250 games in all competitions. When Storer took over as manager of Derby County, he promptly signed McDonnell for the third time. After three seasons with Derby, where he played more than 100 games in all competitions and helped the club to the championship of the Third Division North in 1956–57, McDonnell finished off his professional career at Crewe Alexandra. He died in Coventry in 1988.