McDougall Jock Image 3 Airdrieonians 1924

Description

Port Glasgow born centre half Jock McDougall played for Kilmacolm Amateurs in 1919, then Port Glasgow Athletic before signing for Airdrieonians in November 1921. With the signing of Hughie Gallacher from Queen of the South on 9th May 1921, Airdrieonians soon became a front runner for the Scottish title race. With Gallacher scoring the goals and McDougall pivotal in defence, they were runners-up in to Rangers in 1922-23, 1923-24, 1924-25, and to Celtic in 1925-26. On 19th April 1924 they beat Hibernian 2-0 at Ibrox Park to win the Scottish Cup to give McDougall a winners’ medal.

He won a full cap for Scotland against Ireland on 27th February 1926, when Scotland won 4-0 at Ibrox. He also represented the Scottish League on two occasions, on 11th November 1925 he and clubmate Gallacher were in the team that demolished the Irish League 7-3 at Solitude (the home of Cliftonville), Belfast, with Gallacher netting five times, with all but the first and last goals. His second game was far harder as they drew 2-2 with The Football League on 19th March 1927 at Filbert Street, Leicester.

While with Airdrieonians he scored twenty goals in 261 League games before he joined First Division Sunderland for £4,500 in May 1929. Known as “Jackie” while in Scotland he was soon known as “Jock” south of the border. He made his Football League debut for Sunderland on 7th September 1929 against Manchester City in a 5-2 win at Roker Park and was soon installed as club captain. Over the next five seasons he scored 5 times in 187 appearances for The Wearsiders.

In November 1934, Leeds United beat off competition from Plymouth Argyle to bring him to Elland Road for £6,000, as cover for the ageing Ernie Hart. Although approaching the veteran stage when he joined Leeds, the Scottish International was still able to give First Division forwards a tough time. He skippered Leeds for three seasons scoring once in 59 appearances before retiring in the summer of 1937.

His younger brother was Jimmy McDougall, the Partick Thistle, Liverpool and Scotland player.

NB This photograph features Airdrieonians, winners of the 1924 Scottish Cup in a 2-0 victory over Hibernian:

Back Row – G Carrol (Trainer), William Neil, Bob McPhail, Jock McDougall, Jock Ewart, T Preston, D Gordon, Jimmy Allan, John Murdoch, W Reid (Assist Trainer)

Front Row – J Somerville, James Reid, Willie Russell, Hughie Gallacher, G McQueen (Capt), Andrew Dick, Bob Bennie, Jimmy Howieson.