| Rod McDonald | |
| Fullname: | Rodney Troy McDonald[1] |
| Birth Date: | 11 April 1992 |
| Birth Place: | Liverpool, England |
| Position: | Defender |
| Currentclub: | Notts County |
| Youthyears1: | 2003–2005 |
| Youthclubs1: | Manchester City |
| Youthyears2: | 2005–2009 |
| Youthclubs2: | Stoke City |
| Years1: | 2009–2010 |
| Clubs1: | Stoke City |
| Caps1: | 0 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2009 |
| Clubs2: | → Nantwich Town (loan) |
| Caps2: | 1 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2010–2011 |
| Clubs3: | Oldham Athletic |
| Caps3: | 0 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2010 |
| Clubs4: | → Stafford Rangers (loan) |
| Caps4: | 3 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2011 |
| Clubs5: | → Nantwich Town (loan) |
| Caps5: | 14 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2011 |
| Clubs6: | Colwyn Bay |
| Caps6: | 15 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Years7: | 2011–2013 |
| Clubs7: | Nantwich Town |
| Caps7: | 44 |
| Goals7: | 1 |
| Years8: | 2013–2014 |
| Clubs8: | Hereford United |
| Caps8: | 48 |
| Goals8: | 4 |
| Years9: | 2014–2015 |
| Clubs9: | AFC Telford United |
| Caps9: | 22 |
| Goals9: | 2 |
| Years10: | 2015–2017 |
| Clubs10: | Northampton Town |
| Caps10: | 30 |
| Goals10: | 3 |
| Years11: | 2017–2018 |
| Clubs11: | Coventry City |
| Caps11: | 37 |
| Goals11: | 0 |
| Years12: | 2018–2020 |
| Clubs12: | AFC Wimbledon |
| Caps12: | 38 |
| Goals12: | 0 |
| Years13: | 2020–2022 |
| Clubs13: | Carlisle United |
| Caps13: | 60 |
| Goals13: | 1 |
| Years14: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs14: | Crewe Alexandra |
| Caps14: | 33 |
| Goals14: | 2 |
| Years15: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs15: | Harrogate Town |
| Caps15: | 23 |
| Goals15: | 0 |
| Years16: | 2024– |
| Clubs16: | Notts County |
| Caps16: | 0 |
| Goals16: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 14:34, 25 June 2024 (UTC) |
Rodney Troy McDonald (born 11 April 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Notts County.
McDonald joined Stoke City's academy from Manchester City's academy in 2005. He became a regular in the club's youth and reserves side but was released in the summer of 2010. In October 2009 he joined Nantwich Town on loan to gain some first team experience.[2] However Stoke recalled McDonald after just one substitute appearance after academy manager Adrian Pennock wanted him to start on his debut.[3]
McDonald signed for Oldham Athletic in early August 2010 after impressing in a series of trial games at the club.[4] He made his debut on 31 August 2010 in a Football League Trophy match against Shrewsbury Town as a 45th-minute substitute.[5]
On 29 October 2010 he joined Stafford Rangers for a month-long loan period to gain some first team experience.[6] He returned to Oldham at the end of November having made four appearances whilst on loan, including three league matches.[7]
On 22 February 2011, McDonald joined Northern Premier club Nantwich Town on a month-long loan deal.[8] The loan was extended on 24 March until the end of the season.[9]
At the end of the season he was informed by Oldham that he was out of contract and would not be offered a new deal.[10]
In July 2011, McDonald agreed to join Colwyn Bay.
In late 2011 he rejoined his former loan club, for the third time, this time on a permanent deal.[11]
On 28 January 2013, McDonald joined Hereford United on a contract lasting until the end of the season.[12]
After impressing Hereford manager Martin Foyle, McDonald signed a new one-year contract on 11 June 2013.[13]
Following Hereford's relegation from the Conference Premier Division, McDonald departed the club and signed for AFC Telford United, following Martin Foyle in joining the Bucks.[14]
After leaving Telford, McDonald joined Northampton Town on a trial, and impressed manager Chris Wilder enough to earn a 12-month contract with the Cobblers.[15] McDonald made his debut for Northampton in a 3–0 win over Exeter City on 15 August 2015, as a substitute for Zander Diamond.[16] He eventually established himself as a regular starter in the side as they went on to win the 2015/16 League Two title, signing a new contract with the club until the summer of 2018 in February 2016.
Following Chris Wilder's departure as Northampton Town manager in May 2016,[17] McDonald struggled to establish in the side during the following season in League One, making just nine appearances in all competitions during the 2016/17 season. At the end of the campaign, McDonald was transfer-listed by manager Justin Edinburgh, alongside three other players.[18]
On 19 May 2017, McDonald was signed by Coventry City on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[19] McDonald made his debut for the Sky Blues in a 3–0 victory over Notts County on the opening day of the 2017–18 League Two season.[20]
On 2 August 2018, McDonald joined League One side AFC Wimbledon for an undisclosed fee.[21]
On 3 August 2020, McDonald joined Carlisle United on a two-year deal.[22] He was released by the club at the end of the 2021–22 season.[23]
On 27 June 2022, McDonald agreed to join Crewe Alexandra upon the expiration of his Carlisle United contract.[24] He started in Crewe's opening game of the 2022–23 season, a 2–1 victory over Rochdale at Spotland on 30 July 2022.[25] Five weeks later, on 3 September 2023, he scored his first Crewe goal in a 2–1 League Two defeat by Stevenage at Gresty Road.[26] At the end of the season, he was offered a new contract by the club.[27]
On 9 June 2023, it was announced that McDonald had declined the contract extension from Crewe Alexandra, in order to sign for Harrogate Town upon expiry of his contract.[28] He made his Harrogate debut in the club's opening game of the season, a 1–0 win at Doncaster on 5 August 2023, and scored his first Harrogate goal on 4 November 2023, in Harrogate's 5–1 FA Cup first round win at Marine.[29]
On 24 June 2024, McDonald signed for fellow League Two side Notts County on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[30]
His father, Rodney, was a professional footballer for Partick Thistle as well as many other clubs, as is his older brother Clayton.[31]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Oldham Athletic | 2010–11 | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Stafford Rangers (loan) | 2010–11 | National League North | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ~ | ~ | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Colwyn Bay | 2011–12 | National League North | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ~ | ~ | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| Hereford United | 2012–13 | Conference Premier | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ~ | ~ | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2013–14 | Conference Premier | 37 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ~ | ~ | 1[32] | 0 | 40 | 2 | ||
| Total | 48 | 4 | 2 | 0 | ~ | ~ | 1 | 0 | 51 | 4 | |||
| AFC Telford United | 2014–15 | Conference Premier | 22 | 2 | 5 | 1 | ~ | ~ | 1 | 0 | 28 | 3 | |
| Northampton Town | 2015–16 | League Two | 23 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[33] | 0 | 28 | 3 | |
| 2016–17 | League One | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 30 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 3 | |||
| Coventry City | 2017–18 | League Two | 37 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | |
| AFC Wimbledon | 2018–19 | League One | 23 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| 2019–20 | League One | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Total | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 0 | |||
| Carlisle United | 2020–21 | League Two | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | League Two | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 1 | ||
| Total | 60 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 66 | 1 | |||
| Crewe Alexandra | 2022–23 | League Two | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 2 | |
| Harrogate Town | 2023–24 | League Two | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 1 | |
| Career total | 309 | 12 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 351 | 14 | |||
Coventry City
2018[34]