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Theres only ONE Ted MacDougall


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I couldnt believe that we had a question day yesterday and my young compatriots dared to feckin disbelieve my answer - The question was how many players were born in Inverness and went on to play fer Scotland as a full cap - OK - Don Cowie and McGinlay I knew - never knew Pat Nevin was a Sneckie babe though - but they feckin ridiculed me when I put "ted feckin who?" into the mix:

Edward John "Ted" MacDougall (born 8 January 1947 in Inverness) is a retired Scottish footballer who is currently coaching with Atlanta Silverbacks in the USA.

MacDougall was a prolific goalscorer who played for eight teams, scoring 256 goals in 535 League appearances and winning seven full international caps for Scotland.

In an FA Cup tie for Bournemouth, in November 1971, he scored nine goals in an 11?0 win against Margate. He formed a successful striking partnership with Phil Boyer at four of his clubs.

Playing career

MacDougall was raised in Inverness, moving to Widnes, Cheshire, with his parents shortly after his 12th birthday. He subsequently became a sensation in a local men's amateur league, and worked as a trainee compositor on a local newspaper.

[edit] Liverpool

MacDougall joined Liverpool as a trainee in 1964 and, on the day he turned 19, he was offered a professional contract at Anfield by legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly. However, MacDougall did not make it at Liverpool, where Ian St. John, Roger Hunt and Tony Hateley shared the goal-scoring duties, and he only made one first-team appearance as a substitute in a UEFA Cup match.

[edit] York City

In 1967 MacDougall left Liverpool to join fourth division York City for ?5,000.

He quickly established himself as a prolific centre forward. He scored on his debut against Workington and went on to finish with 15 goals in his first season at Bootham Crescent.

In the following season MacDougall linked up for the first time with Phil Boyer who helped him score 19 times despite the fact that York were struggling near the bottom of the table.

Despite MacDougall's efforts ? 40 goals in two seasons ? York twice had to apply for re-election during his two seasons at the club

[edit] Bournemouth

In the summer of 1969, manager Freddie Cox brought in three new strikers at Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic (which was later named AFC Bournemouth, in an attempt to make the club seem more go ahead and "continental"). One of the new strikers, Ted MacDougall, was to become the legendary "SuperMac". A bargain ?10,000 was paid to the Minstermen for MacDougall's signature.

Despite MacDougall's signing, and the 21 league goals he contributed, the Cherries were relegated to the 4th Division in 1970 and Freddie Cox was sacked by the then chairman Harold Walker.

In came the colourful boss John Bond who, at first, didn't rate MacDougall. But by October, he had netted 16 goals helping the team to climb to the top of the table. That season also saw the club record for the number of goals scored in a game smashed as SuperMac put six past Oxford City in an FA Cup replay that eventually finished 8?1.

In December 1970, on MacDougall?s recommendation, Bond snapped up Phil Boyer from York City to be re-united with MacDougall. The pairing helped Bournemouth and Boscombe to promotion in second place, with MacDougall scoring 42 league goals, many of them with his "trademark" flying or diving headers.

On their return to Division 3 in the 1971?72 season, and with the new name change to A.F.C Bournemouth implemented, Bournemouth finished in third place in Division 3, narrowly missing a second successive promotion at a time when only two clubs went up.

On 20 November 1971, Ted MacDougall netted nine goals in Bournemouth's 11?0 victory over Margate in the first round of the FA Cup. MacDougall scored five in the first half ? at which point the Margate boss jokingly asked Bond to substitute their tormentor ? and another four after the interval. This is still the largest-ever individual haul of goals by any player in a FA Cup match.

MacDougall was becoming hot property with 35 league goals to his name. Aside from his Margate exploits, he also hit the headlines in February of that season for his spectacular flying header away to Aston Villa in front of 48,000 supporters and the Match of the Day cameras.

Wolves, West Ham, Coventry and Crystal Palace were all chasing the striker over the summer of 1972 but MacDougall stayed and pledged his loyalty to Bournemouth. But in September 1972, John Bond received an offer he couldn't refuse when Manchester United offered ?200,000 for MacDougall (which was a Third Division transfer record at the time).

So after an amazing 126 goals in just 165 appearances for the Cherries, one of the club?s most prolific strikers packed his bags and headed for Lancashire.

Whilst at Bournemouth, MacDougall also demonstrated his entrepreneurial flair by starting his own business ? a sports shop in Boscombe called "Ted MacDougall Sports", with another branch opened in Poole later on. The Boscombe branch was given a grand opening by Geoff Hurst.

He is still revered by the present generation of Bournemouth fans at Dean Court where couples can be married in the Fitness First Stadium's "MacDougall Suite", opened in honour of the club's one and only living legend.

[edit] Manchester United

In 1972, MacDougall moved to Old Trafford after Manchester United offered Bournemouth ?200,000 for his services.

At this time, United were struggling to replace their legendary manager Matt Busby who had passed control over to Wilf McGuinness, but had then returned before handing over to Frank O'Farrell, the man who actually signed MacDougall. United were facing similar problems on the pitch trying to replace players such as Denis Law and Bobby Charlton who were now past their prime, and George Best was also getting more and more out of control.

MacDougall ? a young man who had been happy to stay with little Bournemouth and burdened with the responsibility of a massive transfer fee ? stepped into this turmoil. Unfortunately, within weeks of his arrival O'Farrell had left the club to be replaced by Tommy Docherty.

Although MacDougall scored on his debut at Old Trafford against Birmingham City, the rest of his time with Manchester United is best forgotten.

Before the season was over MacDougall had left Old Trafford, transferred to West Ham United, as Docherty, with typical impatience, set out to fashion a new United. In his brief time at United he scored five goals in only eighteen games.

[edit] West Ham United

Things did not work out for MacDougall during his short stay at West Ham either, which ended after a dressing room punch up with Billy Bonds following a 5?1 defeat at the hands of Leeds.

[edit] Norwich City

In 1973, MacDougall moved to Norwich City where he was reunited with John Bond, who had managed him at Bournemouth, together with several of his former Dean Court colleagues. (Bond's move to Norwich and subsequent "raiding" of his old club's best players caused great angst at the time and is still remembered.) Most importantly, he linked up again with Phil Boyer who had played alongside MacDougall to such effect at both Bournemouth and York. MacDougall's direct power was superbly fed by Boyer's sharp thought and quick movement as the pair once more revelled in each other's company.

It is also probable that the quieter nature of life at Carrow Road was also more to MacDougall's taste compared to the glare of publicity in Manchester and London.

At the end of the 1973?74 season the Canaries were relegated to the Second Division, although in the following season they not only regained their First Division status but also reached the final of the League Cup.

In the semi-final Norwich defeated MacDougall's former club Manchester United (who were also spending a season in the Second Division). The final against Aston Villa was a tense, scrappy affair in which MacDougall had few scoring opportunities, with Villa winning 1?0. It would be MacDougall's only cup final appearance.

At the end of the 1974?75 season MacDougall was given his only run in the Scottish national side. He made a scoring debut in Sweden and managed three goals in seven games before being, somewhat harshly, passed over as competition for places in the Scottish team was fairly intense at this time.

In the 1975?76 season, Norwich were able to maintain their First Division place with MacDougall contributing 23 goals, making him the division's top scorer. Highlights include two hat tricks for MacDougall in the space of four games.

Despite this, however, in the autumn of 1976 MacDougall moved on to second division Southampton to work with charismatic manager Lawrie McMenemy (then re-building the side) for ?50,000 and Kevin Reeves was signed for the same sum from Bournemouth to replace him.

[edit] Southampton

At Southampton, managed by Lawrie McMenemy, he scored 23 league goals in his first season playing alongside other talented players such as Mick Channon and Peter Osgood, although they were unable to gain promotion to Division One.

In the 1976?77 season MacDougall had his only taste of European football as the Saints progressed to the quarter finals of the Cup Winners Cup before losing to Belgian team Anderlecht although MacDougall did score the winner in a 2?1 victory in the second leg at The Dell.

In the following season (1977?78), Southampton were finally promoted back to Division One. By now MacDougall had once again renewed his partnership with Phil Boyer, with the pair scoring an astonishing 31 of the team's 70 league goals.

Once Southampton had secured their place back in the First Division, MacMenemy deemed MacDougall "surplus to requirements" ? rumoured to have been encouraged to do so by MacDougall himself who was finding himself a tad "off the pace" as his career progressed towards its culmination, and he was transferred back to his "happy hunting ground", Dean Court.

[edit] Back to Bournemouth

In November 1978, six years after departing, MacDougall rejoined the Cherries, under manager John Benson, on a free transfer from Southampton. Benson was soon replaced by Alec Stock and things were on the up after his first game, in which the Cherries thumped Doncaster 7?1, but the good fortune didn't continue as Bournemouth finished a terrible season in 18th place. As is often the case with prodigal sons and their return home, MacDougall's second spell at Bournemouth was not

Ted_MacDougall_150.jpg

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The second person that I chose was George Ross - again I was scoffed at and ridiculed - SURELY George must have got a full cap - didnt he ?

George Ross (born 15 April 1943) is a Scottish former footballer who played as a Full back in the Football League during the 1960s and 1970s, most notably with Preston North End.

He started with Preston as a junior and after making his debut for them in the early 1960s he went on to play 386 league games for them. This included a place in the 1964 FA Cup Final team.

In the early 1970s he left to join Southport and played 31 league games for them in Football League Division Four.

As of April 2009 he was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award by Preston, and he still works for them in the commercial department on matchdays.[1]

Date of birth 15 April 1943 (1943-04-15) (age 66)

Place of birth Inverness, Scotland

Plus - Jhesus - I saw both of them feckinplay !!!

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If I'm not mistaken, wasn't Ted McDougal's old man the famous Clach goalkeeper, 'Eck' Mcdougal, of the 40s and early 50s?

George Ross was a contempory of mine in Inverness Royal Academy in the mid 50s. He was also a good cricketer btw.

Unfortunately I don't think he ever got a full Scotland cap. He spent his full senior career with Preston where I believe he still acts as a hospitality host on matchdays.

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Pat Nevin commented on this once on a tv/radio programme .... cant remember how it came up, or which programme it was, but he categorically stated he was not born in Inverness, he was born somewhere in the Glasgow area.

Having said that, his STV bio does say he was born in the Sneck: http://scotland.stv.tv/greatest-scot/panel...-michael-nevin/

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Aye Nevin is definately a Glaswegian.

There was an interesting question doin the rounds on TAMB recently. Asked how many Highlanders had been capped since the war.

Believe it was only 6.

Ted Macdougall (Inverness)

Stewart Houston (Dunoon)

Bryan Gunn (Thurso)

Duncan Shearer (Fort William)

John McGinlay (Inverness)

Don Cowie (Inverness)

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Aye Nevin is definately a Glaswegian.

There was an interesting question doin the rounds on TAMB recently. Asked how many Highlanders had been capped since the war.

Believe it was only 6.

Ted Macdougall (Inverness)

Stewart Houston (Dunoon)

Bryan Gunn (Thurso)

Duncan Shearer (Fort William)

John McGinlay (Inverness)

Don Cowie (Inverness)

Would Stephen 'half **** half human' Pressley not be in that list?

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Aye Nevin is definately a Glaswegian.

There was an interesting question doin the rounds on TAMB recently. Asked how many Highlanders had been capped since the war.

Believe it was only 6.

Ted Macdougall (Inverness)

Stewart Houston (Dunoon)

Bryan Gunn (Thurso)

Duncan Shearer (Fort William)

John McGinlay (Inverness)

Don Cowie (Inverness)

Would Stephen 'half **** half human' Pressley not be in that list?

He would indeed coming from Elgin. As well as Colin Hendry, from Kieth

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Is Elgin not part of the Highlands? Where does the Highlands end? I thought Forres/Elgin area, Perth and Fort William.......

Sometimes you see some publications showing maps of the Highlands as a diagonal line going from just north of Glasgow running to Stonehaven.

The correct line runs in a kinda arc.

I've had a wee look at wikipedia, if you type in "Scottish Highlands" you get the right idea :lol:

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