McDougall John “Jock” Image 3 Aldershot 1933

Description

Buckhaven, Fife born left back John “Jock” McDougall began his football career with Wellesley Juniors after the First World War before joining local Scottish League club Raith Rovers in around 1921. He was part of the Raith Rovers team that achieved the club’s highest ever League position in 1922, when they finished third in the Scottish First Division behind Champions Glasow Celtic and Auld Firm rivals Glasgow Rangers. He went out on loan to Forfar Athletic for a spell in 1922 but is perhaps best known as a member of Raith Rovers’ tour party to The Canary Islands in the summer of 1923 that was famously shipwrecked when their ship ran aground off the coast of Galicia. Raith still managed to win all four of their tour matches.

In November 1928 McDougall signed for Southern League club Aldershot Town and in 1932 he helped them to win the Southern League Championship. He was still with The Shots as they were elected to join the Third Division (South) that summer, replacing Thames Association, McDougall making his Football League debut in their inaugural League fixture against Southend United at The Recreation Ground on 27th August 1932. McDougall missed only 3 fixtures in their debut season, scoring his only goal in open play for The Shots in a defeat at Newport County in January 1933 and playing all five cup ties in Aldershot’s FA Cup run that saw them eventually beaten by First Division high flyers Derby County 2-0 at The Baseball Ground in February 1933.

He was a near ever present in their 1933-34 campaign, missing only one match, but lost his place in Aldershot’s line up in December 1934 and played only 5 more matches before the end of the season, and 5 more matches the following season before his playing retirement, already in his mid thirties, after 5 goals, 4 of which were penalties, in 122 appearances for Aldershot during their League era. He then became the trainer of Spartan League club Slough Town and was with the club both sides of the Second World War, eventually becoming their manager until leaving the position in the 1950’s.

NB the photograph appears to have been taken during an FA Cup tie, probably in the 4th round at Millwall, during Aldershot’s historic 1932-33 Cup run.