Gerald McDonald

Gerald MacDonald was born February 22, 1941, the son of Ranald (Hughie Ranald) McDonald and his wife the former Agnes MacMillan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. “Little Alex” MacMillan. Fourth Lochiel, Gerald was active in soccer sport from day one in Greenfield. When only 13 years old he was Greenfield’s star goalie in senior soccer. That was beginning that led to his winning the Louis Shepherd best goalie trophy. And the installation of soccer field lights promoted by Father Bernard Cameron and local sportsmen that followed.

Gerald’s stellar play in the nets was to infringe on his loyalty to his beloved Greenfield that eventually lured him to the Glengarry Stars playing in the Ottawa League. He was a star in this brand of soccer and when the Stars switched to the Cornwall League Gerald remained the class of the goalies.

Among the highlights of Gerald’s career was competing with the Stars in the Hawaii Royal Soccer Tournament against teams from Canada, U.S., Australia, Taiwan and China. Heading towards retirement Gerald first filled the role of chief referee and a member of the Glengarry Soccer League board of directors.

During that lengthy period of being occupied in soccer during the summer months Gerald didn’t rest in the off season winter weeks. In 1962 Gerald coached Greenfield’s junior hockey team to the championship of the Glengarry Gardens league.

Gerald's health suddenly began to fade in 1983, faced with terminal illness. Gerald McDonald died on January 24th, 1984, at the age of 43. The annual Gerald McDonald Soccer Tournament in Alexandria, for young GSL players from U12 to U19, was named in his honour.