The Drama of Malcolm Mcdonald, How He Wasted his Career...

#malcolmmcdonald #mcdonald #footballicon
Malcolm Macdonald soared as a football icon. Yet, behind the scenes, his battle with alcohol cast a shadow over his brilliant career, revealing the stark contrast between his public triumphs and personal struggles.
Malcolm Ian Macdonald, known as "Supermac," was born on January 7, 1950, and grew into an iconic figure in English football as a former professional player, manager, and media personality. His football career was marked by his incredible pace, physical strength, and an exceptional goal-scoring ability, which made him a standout striker.

[@kevinrichard100]

It wasn't a wasted career. That's insulting. It was a career wrecked by injury.

[@bigbernie7260]

Great player who's career was destroyed by injuries not alcohol.

[@stevegordon2032]

Supermac. We couldn’t believe our eyes when we watched him bag his hat trick against Liverpool on his debut. He was the ultimate entertainer and a magnificent scorer of every type of goal. His partnership with midfield icon Terry Hibbit was a joy to see. All the Geordies were gutted when he left to join Arsenal. Supermac. A true Newcastle United legend.

[@peterkent1582]

He never should have gone to the Gunners. Grass greener on other side ? No way. He would have been bigger than Shearer - if he had stayed. Great team, without the dirty Saudi money.....Mags don't need it .

[@cuibono6872]

I used to deliver his evening post (local paper) when luton bought him and I was a kid, he lived in one of the club houses backing onto the oak road end, was a great bloke, tipped me every week, and was a phenomenal player at Luton, we gave him the nick name super Mac, he was a legend and hero, we loved him and were heartbroken when he went to Newcastle, many years later I was fortunate enough to to meet him when his career was over, through a friend, had a cup of tea with him and Carol in his kitchen and he treated us to lunch in his local pub, absolutely fantastic man, true gentlemen and still revered in Newcastle, never wasted his talent at all, injury got him because his pace was just so explosive, fantastic player, fantastic human being, I wish him all the very best.

[@bottletree33]

What a lovely story and being able to meet him years later too.

[@peterkent1582]

Superman's paper boy what an honour ! Thanks for your story.

[@redd605]

I remember when small getting my regular comics of tiger and Roy of the rovers and he was I think in a story of Roy of the rovers .had he had his injury now , he would of been back in ,9 mouth s as good as New but back then it was longer or even career Ending

[@martinbirmingham4450]

Are you Clarke's brother Peter ?​@@peterkent1582

[@peterkent1582]

Supermac - sorry. Well he played like Superman most of time. !

[@geordieceltic2]

Your headline is totally inappropriate. He ended his career in football because of injury. Whilst he did have personal problems in life, like many people, he certainly has not wasted his career. The best centre forward at Newcastle in the past 50 years, by far,until the current team. He was an exception sprinter also. Pure magic.

[@nebod1556]

Complete waste of a talent and physical strength due to alcoholism...should have been one of the best center forward of all time and without injuries ....drinking destroyed his body and caused an early retirement....he hasn't won anything it looks like...

[@garymacdonald7165]

I remember him chewing gum on the BBC Superstars programme in the late 70s! Very quick sprinter!

[@jamescorlett5272]

I loved ol SuperMac - Geezer .

[@jamesvickers5998]

Well said

[@jamesvickers5998]

@@nebod1556rubbish. His alcoholism started after his playing days

[@dlamiss]

Another inaccuracy Charlie George was NEVER his colleague at Arsenal George left A YEAR before McDonald joined

[@LordFlashheart.11]

This guy could run 100 meters in 10.2 seconds and was built like a middleweight boxer! Due to being bow legged, he had cartilage injuries that were not operated on properly, one caused a bleed inside his knee that caused a 14 inch lump of scar tissue to grow through the joing attaching itself to everything, the last op was to remove it and he played his last game against chelsea in 79. He was a decent manager too! Whiskey was his only painkiller as nothing else worked. Good player.

[@kenpie474]

Never mind Shearer, SuperMac was my hero as a striker fantastic power HWTL

[@derekgibson3904]

I remember Malcolm on the 70’s and 80’s UK TV SuperStar series.

[@fredfox1764]

even though im a man utd fan .i loved super mac ,to me he is everything i think about when we talk about centre forwards

[@alanwann9318]

He averaged 30 goals per season and scored 5 in a England match ,it was his knee injury caused him problems

[@fishingstevie8830]

As a Scot , I so often would be watching Grandstand way back in the 1970s and recall Dickie Davies presenter say ..And we shall go over to St James park Newcastle where Malcolm Macdonald has put Newcastle ahead . He was a cracking good centre forward in his days Malcolm Macdonald when football was so much better .

[@johncarroll772]

Dickie Davis didn't present Grandstand

[@fishingstevie8830]

@@johncarroll772 Dickie Davies Wikipedia For you above john carroll i just decided the now to check on such via .. en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Dickie_Davies Dickie Davis from en.wikipedia.org Richard John Davies (30 April 1928 - 19 February 2023) was a British television sports presenter who anchored World of Sport from 1968 until 1985.

[@buffalosowljah373]

your sure right about footy back in the day.. proper footy were men were men playing in all sorts of weather and for the piches oh my days..can you imaging the likes of cry baby bruno fernandez playing on those pitches LMAO ..bowlegged mac was some striker and a half as well

[@peterkent1582]

Yes it was. No VAR. Ref was always right ! No endless replays and chewing it over by " pundits " like Carragher.

[@vinstyles]

The best centre forward and goalscorer I have ever seen in my life. I would have loved to have him at Sheff Wed..

[@davidlarkham8954]

Exactly! One of my heroes who I've met several times at North Shields FC. Still see him at Morrisons in Whitley now and again. Bought a suit from his boutique in Newcastle in the 70s. He signed his autobiography for me a few years ago.

[@rogernevin7461]

I bought a lovely pair of leather shoes from his boutique in Newgate precinct and our kid got a superb all wool jacket ! Very expensive but all top quality ! After his hatrick against Liverpool on his debut Supermac wrote his name in Tyneside Folklore !

[@barryh.4220]

Am a City fan, but growing up i remember Malcomn McDonald so well at Newcastle, a bustling, pacey centre forward, who was a great fit for Newcastle, and i well remember him scoring that brilliant hat trick against Liverpool ..... he was definitely one of my favourite players back then .

[@GILLY56ify]

Absolutely fantastic player ... my hero as a boy when he played for The Toon .. the 2 goals in the 1974 FA Cup Semi Final will always be with me

[@jgcl138]

Watched him play many matches for Tonbridge FC in the Southern League as a left-footed right back with was very unusual. He was somewhat overshadowed by the then left-back Vic Akers who went on to manage Arsenal Ladies as well as being kit man for the Gunners in the Premier League, I don't understand how you include Bobby Robson in his development, as the one who discovered him was Harry Haslam, for whom he was effectively his meal ticket as the two of them went from Tonbridge to Fulham and Luton as player and manager respectively, during which time he was converted to being a striker, having never played in that position for Tonbridge. I believe he grew up in nearby Edenbridge, where his brothers played for the local club

[@user-yt5il3yi1z]

Old school hard as nails.

[@buffalosowljah373]

no cry baby brunos allowed

[@johnwhitefoot9803]

60 years Spurs supporter here. MM one of the greatest strikers of all times, period.

[@peterkent1582]

But Greaves topped him !

[@reggates5205]

Guess you missed Greaves ,he couldn’t lace Jimmys boots

[@johnwhitefoot9803]

@@reggates5205 MM was one of the greatest. Jimmy Greaves was the greatest💙

[@OAPtraveler]

What a fantastic striker! Saw him play for Newcastle with Jim Smith (another fantastic player)

[@peterkent1582]

Jinky had it all.... SuperMac different class n what about Tony Green ....wow....

[@OAPtraveler]

@@peterkent1582 Nutmeg specialist.

[@davidlarkham8954]

Jinky jim. Magician!!

[@user-sd5xe5dz2t]

Brilliant player... i became a Gunners supporter in 1976 when he joined the club ⚽️

[@HugoHome67]

Absolute crap post with a dodgy voice over and who the hell is Joey Harvey , click bait !!

[@chipbuttytime3396]

He also had an extensive career in local radio and was highly entertaining and knowledgeable

[@davidlarkham8954]

Still got a column in Evening Chronicle!

[@chipbuttytime3396]

@@davidlarkham8954 Cheers David, good for him.

[@bimbur1]

That is not the true story of Supermac! I don’t know what you are trying to say...

[@merson812]

Watch them as a kid that Kenilworth Road. He was excellent.

[@stevenjones5277]

Always remember someone spray painted a message on a Chester le Street church poster " Jesus Saves but McDonald scores the rebound". Great Centre forward and that's from a Sunderland Supporter.

[@charliegeorge.]

Great player, I'll never forget his hatrick against former club Newcastle at Highbury, Cracking left peg and header of the ball. £333.333.33 well spent.Thanks Mac! ⚽⚽⚽

[@dangreen2549]

From 1971 onward you didn't go to see Newcastle, you went to see SuperMac score.The physios knew his knee was knackered when they sold him onto Arsenal secretly saying he only had 18 months left in him. He only turned to alcohol when he couldn't stand the pain and the docs couldn't do owt for him at the time.

[@dealsfactory5289]

He also played a few games in south Africa in 1975 for a team called Lusitano

[@user-ld4nm7xo7x]

How come those Newcastle's and Arsenal's jerseys looked far more better than modern day jerseys. I miss you jerseys badly. Come back bro...😢😥😕

[@PabloMMI]

I too preferred the old kits.The Arsenal kits of the 70’s,Sheffield Wednesday before they went to stripes,Wolves Old Gold,West Brom kit 1968.My old team,Luton Town before they introduced the Orange to the kit.Crystal Palaces claret and blue pin stripe. No dreadful sponsors names ruining the look of the kit.And now we have sponsors names on the shorts,yuk.

[@user-ld4nm7xo7x]

@@PabloMMI No sponsor names on the jersey and still no FFP issues either. And in those days small teams can do much better on and off the field. If you notice Liverpool jerseys during 1978-80, the players even reused them. At the beginning of the games against Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest, some part of those numbers on their back already torn out or some parts of jerseys already had marks on. The kits production was more environmental friendly than these days for that matter as well. I love those days.

[@johngraham2404]

Great striker, Newcastle legend, still is now, on a par with Shearer

[@England.123.N.U.F.C.]

Geordie legend. Supa mac 🏁👏👏👏👏

[@njd2342]

Malcolm did not waste his career and was a superstar on a bicycle. I'm going to have a Newcastle Brown now. Cheers!

[@bigteno4597]

One of the best!

[@garyforster9829]

This is AI bollocks. Hate it

[@davidlarkham8954]

Go to bed then mate! Wake up refreshed and ready to have a better life!!

[@sharonjones7142]

Super mac was a legend!! He'd be worth 100 million in this day

[@keithprice5208]

He didn't fall short, as manager of Fulham. He resigned, and withdrew temporarily from football, out of disgust at the weakness of the FA, following their reaction to a severe, and significant pitch invasion at Derby County, which virtually robbed Fulham of their deserved promotion that season.

[@paultoon]

Met Malcolm a few times very nice bloke humble and still highly thought of on Tyneside his wife I think it’s carol was AC/DC Brian Johnson’s ex missus

[@lordred4116]

I was at 1974 FA cup final, watched him leave the field in tears after he said he would destroy Liverpool. Great match, he never got a look in!

[@neilwheldon1998]

What a lad ,😢used to hate it as Boro fan when fans would sing this brilliant song ,Supermac superstar,how many goals have you scored so far

[@billybonds4449]

Supermac was a brilliant footballer and I was surprised Newcastle let him go to Arsenal when he was still in his prime.

[@DJ-tt7tq]

I wish I'd met Malcolm. He's definitely one of my Newcastle United heroes. Had a chance to meet him recently at the Newcastle Playhouse in Whitley Bay, but I couldn't make it. I was devastated, and I'm not sure I'll ever get another chance.

[@davidlarkham8954]

Go to Morrisons. He's always there!

[@jc238]

Loved Supermac always lit up a match. Had a bloody great career as far as I can see.

[@joekavanagh8997]

Supermac was a big favourite of ours when I was a kid back in Ireland. George Best,Denis Law and Liam Brady were my heroes but MacDonald has a unique place in my memory.

[@caeserromero3013]

0:03 Never knew he ran a pub with Sandi Toksvig 😂

[@lesliearadi3747]

Super Mac had his career ended by injury and he drank alcohol to ease the pain of the injury

[@MickyO567]

Most exciting player I ever saw at the Toon !

[@CharlotteMeacham]

I don't know who you are but you know jack s. . . You talk of Tony Greene but show a picture of Bobby Moncur, also in England football scores are never "zero" they are "nil". Now clear off learn your trade and then come back. Rubbish a waste of time.

[@billybonds4449]

Its an AI voiceover, instead of saying 'nil' it is programmed to say Zero. (I know, its absolute bollocks).

[@davidlarkham8954]

Good for you Charlotte! Thats a kick in the wotnotts for this numbnuts!!

[@mjh5437]

I never knew he grew up in Finlay Street,that`s one of the most expensive streets in Fulham now!!

[@stevenoldroyd469]

Here at Huddersfield we remember him for one thing and one thing only. His tenure as manager was a pure unmitigated disaster. We were absolutely dreadful culminating in the shocking 10-1 defeat at Maine Road.

[@TheQ-Continuum]

A goal scorer in the true sense. Though he never really hit the heights for England. Six goals in fourteen games from 1972 - 1975. Though five of those goals, came against those world titans of football....Cyprus !

[@leoseries]

His two goals against Leyton Orient (My team) in the 1978 F A Cup semi final would never have been attributed to him today! Both, in reality, were huge deflections that would have otherwise been way off target. One went in off Glen Roeder's face, who was not even in front of goal! Brian Clough opined on the TV coverage how high his and Greaves' goal tally might have been if such goals had been included in their records.

[@davidlarkham8954]

Sourness!!

[@user-mw7yn5nn2c]

Is the Commentator dialogue from a computer? The "Commentator" knows sweet FA! 5-ZERO? #### -off!

[@renzobartoli7816]

If he ever went out with Graham French whilst at Luton,, that would be a night to remember. Frenchy, England's George Best on and off the field.

[@PabloMMI]

Graham French was a rascal.His story is interesting and scary!

[@PabloMMI]

I’ve just remembered.There was a t-shirt attributed to Graham French,”Stop passing the ball to me I’m fucking knackered”,or something like that😂

[@StephenDanton-wn4tt]

I watched him at Luton the manager at the time switched from left 😊back to centre forward he was great to watch

[@panchopuskas1]

I remember the famous sports quiz question : What is brought to a Cup Final but never used.....one wit suggested it was Malcolm McDonald......good player, though and brilliant with headers.....

[@davidrussell3200]

Great player, scored two of the best goals ive ever seen semi final at hillsborough, and the volley i against i tbink leicester from natrass's Cross. However he wasnt the best Newcastle striker for me, only surpassed by Shearer!

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

Shame AI bot, as a young Arsenal fan SuperMac was an idol of mine.

[@bobmclean6981]

Brilliant footballer and none finer on through ball. Great in air and fast. Dropped by Revies England after scoring a hat trick plus against Malta!

[@raymondhall699]

Really disrespectful headline! Did you do it for clicks?

[@Robert-nz3te]

He did not waste his career. He got injured and regrettably had to retire young.

[@gusfraser3186]

Super Mac was THE man

[@jamesclark1682]

No one other than Malcome himself can say if drinking impacted his career, particularly in his later playing life, despite injury. The rest is pure speculation.

[@brianhiggins7630]

Drinking smocking and gambling were part of the sport of football in the 50s 60s and 70s. When earning more than the average person, that needed spending.

[@xxthegamerz0riginalxx920]

One of the greats .. extremely talented... Good manager also ... I saw his Fulham thrash Man City on one occassion... God d brand of football ...n👍⚽🇬🇧👋👋👋👋

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Best sideburns too !

[@andrewsflicks7920]

Tell you what guys...just turn the sound off, so you don't need to listen to the AI guff, and you actually get to see some good photos of Supermac in action...😊

[@JohnJohn-zn8ib]

Sure gout and arthritis are debilitating but it’s not so much alcohol that causes it, it’s too much red meat, that’s why it is good to limit your meat and poultry intake.

[@hagar6359]

Fantastic player, injuries ended his career not alcohol. I think alcohol was part of the players game in the 70s.

[@coyhutt8022]

No footage?

[@PabloMMI]

I watched him play for Luton Town when I was a nipper.I was totally gutted when they sold him to cover a tax bill! He was excellent for Luton,long before he went to Newcastle & Arsenal,and an England international as well.Wasted career,I think not!

[@1962starchild]

I DIDNT REALISE HE WAS ONLY 29 WHEN HE RETIRED FROM PLAYING

[@charliemagri1669]

Wasted career? Go and watch highlights of his goals for Arsenal. Dodgy pitches, and heavy tackkes. Love to see how Rashford would cope.

[@buffalosowljah373]

you got that right,, the likes of the snowflake footy players of today wouldnt last back in the day.cry baby bruno fernandez another one

[@philipbarker1896]

yet another story spoiled by an AI narration

[@stevest3v3]

The desperation to attract attention with inappropriate headlines makes me feel very sad for you.

[@chrisdonnelly7401]

my number 1 player for newcastle he was so quick and strong he was my favorite player ever, greatest player i have seen in newcastle shirt is still peter beadsley

[@davidlarkham8954]

Aye, Beardsley blotted his record tho. Shame because he was a class striker.

[@chrisdonnelly7401]

trouble today when kids sign for a club now think they have made it because of the money ,it started years ago with players like dyer sometimes they need told, cost beardsley his job wonder how the pleyer involved is doing, Beardsley still greatest in a toon shirt@@davidlarkham8954

[@raymondbonington9355]

Saw his first ever goal ,Fulham v palace 1968 up the Putney end .

[@PabloMMI]

As I remember it Luton bought him as full-back….the rest is history.

[@michaelmccarthy6464]

was at that england game

[@reggates5205]

What a load of bollocks

[@Prestonboy]

This is written by AI - great player by the way

[@2msvalkyrie529]

My favourite memory of him is on a soggy pitch at Hereford . He never stopped running bu t we all know what happened...

[@davidlarkham8954]

Don't go there! Every f a cup game!

[@monkwhitley]

How much would he be worth today ? Some of the current so called "cream" of englush players couldn't lace his boots .

[@davidhuddart9262]

He didn't waste his career. He was a Top player . Get your facts right

[@peterryan7889]

He’s one of the most iconic and loved footballers of his era, not a speccy you tuber

[@m.bowyer5045]

Bring back sideburns!

[@hullygully1135]

You are wrong about him, but it is a shame people like Gazza and Georgie Best amongst others had drinking and gambling problems

[@derin111]

Shamefully disingenuous title! 😡

[@7kingkev]

SUPERMAC SUPERMAC , NEWCASTLE LEGEND

[@user-hd4ni6xc8x]

If you need to use click bait to entice the public Invest in a ghost writer you sir are a sham . Trying to disparage quality atheltes to cover your own failings SHAME .

[@sveinsigurdgismarvik4445]

King Alcohol is a wery bad friend.😢

[@elainekerslake6865]

I video recorded the 5...3 against Newcastle. Still got it. We nearly got relefated that season.. Spurs did though😊😊😊😊😊

[@carausiusmenapia3219]

Arsenal finished 8th, it was couple of years before Supermac we almost got relegated! 🙃

[@mandaliar]

Super Mac

[@DevinPrice-xh8uz]

Like Charlie hawtree from carry on films , oliver reed, paul Gascoigne George best

[@jimmyoconnell6167]

He lives in whitley bay Tyneside

[@robbryant52]

Story so many untruths

[@MrJeepsters]

Il était très bon.

[@sharokrokni5317]

Like most British players, always drinking, gambling, bad marriages, bad investments, apart from a few who live properly and retire with grace &save some of the millions they make.

[@alancurry4161]

What an unnecessary and disrespectful video?? Shame on you

[@garryleerob]

A pretty sloppy video, with a CLICKBAIT title!! A great footballer from the 70's who I hope doesn't see this video. I'm not an Arsenal/Newcastle or a Fulham fan... but as a football fan watched and admired him. He was always a threat when he played against 'my team'. You show pictures in the wrong sequence and for some reason show one of Kevin Keegan? Then I would have to guess you have no idea who Brian Johnson is? Otherwise, you might take the time to spell his name correctly...it is highlighted so it shouldn't be that difficult. The worst of it is... ''Wasted his career...''? Just a stupid comment to make. How can retiring from football due to a worsening knee problem be called wasting his career? Utterly stupid claim and as someone says below...INSULTING.

[@jimmy3651]

Alcohol is terrible’