4th July 1937

Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Forward

Fred Donaldson played for Exeter City during 1960/61. He joined the club from Port Vale and later played for Chester. 

Working his way through the junior teams at Port Vale, Fred gained his first professional contract in July 1954 and stayed with the club until the age of twenty-three making 47 league appearances and scoring four goals.

He was signed by Exeter City in August 1960 in a transfer deal that took Ted Calland from St James’ Park in the other direction with City also paying £2,000 for Fred's services. He lined up for his first league outing as a Grecian in a goalless draw against Carlisle United at St James’ Park on the opening day of the season and missed few games in what was a struggling Exeter team that ended the season in 21st place in the Fourth Division.

He was released to join Chester in July 1961 but only stayed one season before movng on to play for Macclesfield Town and Stafford Rangers. Having worked as a sales rep, and always a keen crown green bowler, Fred died in the Stoke-on-Trent area after a short illness on 24 July 2018.

Exeter City league games only

36

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