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[Steve Russell]

Dave Anderson wrote this at the time..

Dave Anderson’s Moving Tribute to His Friend Alan McDonald

Apparently Dave Anderson was too upset to appear on BBC London’s weekly Non-League Football Show last Monday.
His very moving tribute to Macca is from the West London Sport website – Steve Russell

‘I’m incredibly sad today, but I’m also very proud to be able to say that Alan McDonald – a legend who meant so much
to so many people – was my friend. We were the best of mates over many years. In fact, I met my wife at his wedding.
We were best men at each other’s weddings. I’m godfather to two of his girls and he’s my daughter’s godfather.

We were at school together and also played for Northern Ireland schoolboys – that’s how far we go back.
He moved from Belfast to join QPR as a teenager, as did our friend Ian Stewart.

And after a spell living in Manchester, I joined them in London in 1985. It was Mac and Ian who encouraged me to go into
coaching when I retired because of an injury and might otherwise have walked away from the game.

Mac and I did everything together. We holidayed together, we talked about everything. Before any major decision
I’ve ever made I’ve spoken to him first. He’s always been either on the end of a phone or on the end of a pint, depending
on where we’ve been at the time.

QPR fans will remember him as a man who gave you everything. And that’s exactly what he was like as a friend too.
He was never interested in talking about himself. He could play for QPR at Highbury on a Saturday and that evening would
only want to talk about how I’d got on managing North Greenford United that day.

You hear people say about footballers that the fame never changed them. Well in Mac’s case I can honestly say it didn’t.
He was a born leader of men, but also humble. So humble in fact, that when we were holidaying in Africa about 20 years ago,
we met a group of lads and when they asked what we did, he told them he was a bricklayer.

But when we had a kickabout with them, he treated it like the FA Cup Final. He was organising, barking out instructions and
telling the guys where they should be. He couldn’t help it. As soon as you put a football near him that’s what he was like.

These fellas quickly realised that Mac was no Sunday league player. When he eventually told them who he was they knew the
name, they just didn’t believe it could be this guy laughing along with the lads. That was Mac for you, the captain of QPR and
Northern Ireland, who’d happily go along and have a drink with the guys in the LSA (QPR Loyal Supporters Association) or join
Rangers fans for a kickabout in the park.

And the banter was relentless. He never let up, was always planning some kind of prank on someone, and in David Bardsley
he had a real partner in crime. Those two together were unbelievable. He always wanted to win though. Make no mistake about
that.

I played football with him. I played golf with him. I played Trivial Pursuit with him – and if you beat him he’d throw the board
away! He was passionate about football and he truly loved QPR. Being released by the club in 1997 really hurt him.

Mac was a genuine one-club man. He loved Rangers and didn’t want to play for anyone else, so to leave the place was very
difficult for him. And the fans loved him back.

The word legend is used far too much, but even before the terrible news, you wouldn’t have found a QPR fan who’d have said Mac
wasn’t a genuine legend. He was like Stan Bowles in that people loved him not only because of the player he was, but because he
was a man of the people too. He was a legend, yet at the same time he was of them.

Many of the time I was left with Mac’s stuff while he was signing autographs and meeting fans. With him they didn’t just get
an autograph or a picture, they were left feeling he had time for them and liked being around them – and he did.

Mac was happiest and most comfortable when he was around people, laughing and joking and having a drink. That’s shown by
the fact that many QPR fans who met him once for a few minutes will tell you they still remember it years later.

You still get QPR fans saying: “I remember being with Macca in the pub that time” and they can tell you all about it. It’s a unique
person they’re talking about.

When I hear things like that it makes me realise how privileged I am to have been close to him and shared so much with him for
so many years. He was a genuine legend and a wonderful mate. We’ll all really miss him.’

Dave Anderson – Harrow Borough Manager

[Steve Russell]

Some years ago Dave wrote about some of his personal memories for the Indy's website.
He has since passed away (RIP mate)....

Big Dave got to know Alan McDonald personally and to commemorate his sad passing, I’ve put together some
of Dave’s memories:

‘My son Dan used to play for Acton Ealing Whistlers football team. Many of the managers and players were supporters
of the R’s. Kevin Gallen’s dad was also with the club.

As the end of the season came closer, I was asked if I could get Mac to present the end of year trophies. He asked when
it was, Rangers were at home that day, and then he asked me where it was and I told him that it was in a church in Acton.

“Yep will do that for Dan and the lads” and everyone was buzzing about it. The day came and I was in the players ‘lounge
after the game chatting to various people. The presentations were to be at 7.30pm and Mac said: “Is it alright if Ian comes
along?”

“Alright” I said, “they will be thrilled”. Anyway, we all got to the church behind Acton Town Hall. Great, went in, sat down
just inside the entrance. Suddenly I thought that Mac and Ian were quiet and I said to them: “Are you ok?”

“Yes of course we are”, then they both burst into a slight chuckle. I said again: “You ok?”

“Yes Dave” and they both said: “Look right”.

In front of them was a huge portrait of the Pope. Mac said quietly: “I’m glad my father can’t see me now”. Both had another
chuckle and it went into a standing ovation from everyone. The kids were gobsmacked, two of their idols were there and it
was a great evening for all.’

‘When Macca was released by QPR, I was driving down the Argyle Road in Ealing listening to ‘Talk Sport’ when suddenly it
was announced that Macca had been released by Rangers. This was at the end of the season and I thought to myself that this
was a very sad moment for all!

I rang Dave Anderson to see if he knew any reasons etc. He said that he hadn’t heard a thing about it so I thought that I
would phone the big fellow himself.

He was on his way to get the ferry to go over to home. When he answered the phone I said to him: “You kept that quiet”.
He asked me what I was on about?

“About leaving the Bush” I said.

Guess what, it had been announced by the club and he didn’t know, and it was me that gave him the news. I thought I was
going to be sick – he was speechless and so was I of course!

After a while I spoke to Dave Anderson and explained, it totally gobsmacked the both of us, sad one!’

Alan McDonald – a true QPR legend who will never be forgotten.



All-star contributor
· 21 June at 20:39 ·
From London Pub Map