• Oldest Living England International

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:05 pm**

Whilst talking with Mike Hodkinson, who wrote the book No Nay Never, the other day, Mike mentioned that Bryan Douglas is the second oldest England International to be still alive. Bryan is 91. He asked if I could name the oldest which I eventually did. An easy question for many Clarets......

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:09 pm**

Colin

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:10 pm**

Colin McDonald at 94 and counting.

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:11 pm**

I never saw him play, but my dad really rated him.

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:36 pm**

Bryan Douglas End - been a place of fun for us for over a decade

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:38 pm**

Remarkable that the oldest two are from Burnley and Blackburn. Cool fact!

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:43 pm**

Buxtonclaret wrote: ↑
Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:11 pm
I never saw him play, but my dad really rated him.

I was around to see Colin McDonald play, great goalie, had one flaw in his game. Once in awhile when he thought a shot was going wide he'd raise his arms and one or two would sneak in the bottom corner

Posted: **Wed Jul 16, 2025 11:45 pm**

I heard a while ago that Colin hadn’t been very well.

But mention of him allows me to put a link on to the day we took him to Gawthorpe in 2018. Absolute gentleman and it was a privilege to spend a few hours with him and his wife Anne.

https://youtu.be/2jyGa7Qg5Ds?si=0ntnxAL4A2tqzE_F

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 4:57 am**

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Wed Jul 16, 2025 11:45 pm
I heard a while ago that Colin hadn’t been very well.

But mention of him allows me to put a link on to the day we took him to Gawthorpe in 2018. Absolute gentleman and it was a privilege to spend a few hours with him and his wife Anne.

https://youtu.be/2jyGa7Qg5Ds?si=0ntnxAL4A2tqzE_F

Was it you who posted a pic of all the keepers, that day? Joe, Nick, Tom and Colin?

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 9:10 am**

Buxtonclaret wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 4:57 am
Was it you who posted a pic of all the keepers, that day? Joe, Nick, Tom and Colin?

I took the pic and just dug it out.

: 018.jpeg (461.57 KiB) Viewed 1915 times

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:47 am**

I remember Colin playing for the Clarets and I don’t remember any goals being scored against him with his arms in the air. I also remember him playing for England in the World Cup and he was one of the best players there. He was a quiet man for a goalkeeper but was one of the best I have ever seen. Eventually he was replaced by Adam Blacklaw another favourite of mine.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:57 am**

Frenchclaret wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:47 am
I remember Colin playing for the Clarets and I don’t remember any goals being scored against him with his arms in the air. I also remember him playing for England in the World Cup and he was one of the best players there. He was a quiet man for a goalkeeper but was one of the best I have ever seen. Eventually he was replaced by Adam Blacklaw another favourite of mine.

I saw him play for the reserves when he was trying to make a comeback from the broken leg so never saw him play first team football. My dad always told me he was the best goalkeeper he ever saw and Jimmy Mac told me he was the best he ever played with or against. That'll do for me.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 11:42 am**

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 9:10 am
I took the pic and just dug it out.

018.jpeg

That's the one!
I couldn't find it.
Cheers.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 11:46 am**

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 9:10 am
I took the pic and just dug it out.

018.jpeg

Who's the best. Having never seen Mcdonald I'd go Heaton. He was the most rounded.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 11:56 am**

Goliath wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 11:46 am
Who's the best. Having never seen Mcdonald I'd go Heaton. He was the most rounded.

It was always Adam Blacklaw for me but Tom Heaton & Nick Pope have to come into the reckoning too.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:11 pm**

Met Bryan Douglas on a cruise. Once he knew I was from Burnley he made his excuses and left !!! Worked with Colin when he was at Oldham and saw him play. Certainly a great keeper but not sure he would be tall enough for today’s game (see pic )

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:17 pm**

FCBurnley wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:11 pm
Met Bryan Douglas on a cruise. Once he knew I was from Burnley he made his excuses and left !!! Worked with Colin when he was at Oldham and saw him play. Certainly a great keeper but not sure he would be tall enough for today’s game (see pic )

He was 6ft 2ins when he played

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:27 pm**

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:17 pm
He was 6ft 2ins when he played

Yes, I remember him being quite tall and very slim but remarkably agile. If Jimmy Mac said he was the best I would have to agree with him.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:57 pm**

Frenchclaret wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:27 pm
Yes, I remember him being quite tall and very slim but remarkably agile. If Jimmy Mac said he was the best I would have to agree with him.

His wife was stood next to me when I took the photo further up the thread and she said it highlighted just how much he’d shrunk in height.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:59 pm**

Goliath wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 11:46 am
Who's the best. Having never seen Mcdonald I'd go Heaton. He was the most rounded.

Hart obviously had the best career. For Burnley I would go Heaton just above Pope.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 2:11 pm**

CyrilEbokiPoh wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 1:59 pm
Hart obviously had the best career. For Burnley I would go Heaton just above Pope.

He had the easier circumstances. Heaton and Pope had to work there way back up.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 2:42 pm**

I'd have Tom Heaton back if we sell Traff

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 2:45 pm**

I remember Colin as a very good safe goalkeeper. I don’t remember him ever dropping the ball and he didn’t have the special gloves that goalkeepers have today.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 5:06 pm**

Colin McDonald is the oldest surviving England International Footballer. The second oldest is not Brian Douglas but former West Ham player Ken Brown, who is 3 months older than Brian.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 5:27 pm**

Longford Claret wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 5:06 pm
Colin McDonald is the oldest surviving England International Footballer. The second oldest is not Brian Douglas but former West Ham player Ken Brown, who is 3 months older than Brian.

Well spotted.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 5:32 pm**

Woodleyclaret wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 2:42 pm
I'd have Tom Heaton back if we sell Traff

Tom is 39 now and hasn't played any league football in over five and a half years.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 5:42 pm**

Frenchclaret wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:47 am
I remember Colin playing for the Clarets and I don’t remember any goals being scored against him with his arms in the air. I also remember him playing for England in the World Cup and he was one of the best players there. He was a quiet man for a goalkeeper but was one of the best I have ever seen. Eventually he was replaced by Adam Blacklaw another favourite of mine.

Isn't this attributed to Alan Stevenson? One of my earliest memories was as a small child and being taken on by my grandfather in the late 70s. I remember him waving it past the post in front of the CF and it nestled in the bottom corner. Newcastle at home I think.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 6:00 pm**

Quicknick wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 5:27 pm
Well spotted.

The moral of the story is , don't believe anything told to you by a Blackburn Rovers supporter without first checking up on the facts.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:42 pm**

Goliath wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 2:11 pm
He had the easier circumstances. Heaton and Pope had to work there way back up.

Not necessarily, Hart started at Shrewsbury, then multiple lower league loans before working his way up and dislodging one of the premier leagues best Goalkeepers in Prem History in Shay Given. And then stayed at Number one at City for years when they could literally have signed anyone.

Hart had an incredible career (and rise) from Shrewsburys youth team. Heaton started in United academy.

All three were top keepers in their own right. For Burnley I would order them Heaton, Pope and Hart a long way third (although he didnt actually do badly in his half season starting for us. Just the results weren't good!)

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:56 pm**

Incredibly, Colin was the first ever player I got with a chewing gum . Wish i'd kept it.

Posted: **Thu Jul 17, 2025 11:00 pm**

CyrilEbokiPoh wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:42 pm
Not necessarily, Hart started at Shrewsbury, then multiple lower league loans before working his way up and dislodging one of the premier leagues best Goalkeepers in Prem History in Shay Given. And then stayed at Number one at City for years when they could literally have signed anyone.

Hart had an incredible career (and rise) from Shrewsburys youth team. Heaton started in United academy.

All three were top keepers in their own right. For Burnley I would order them Heaton, Pope and Hart a long way third (although he didnt actually do badly in his half season starting for us. Just the results weren't good!)

United were one of the best teams in Europe when Heaton came through. City were a bit crap and Hart was probably a bit lucky in terms of timing with Given coming to the end.
They were all very good at there best but I'd still have Hart third. I thought there were huge weaknesses In his game even at his peak.

Posted: **Fri Jul 18, 2025 9:40 am**

Longford Claret wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 6:00 pm
The moral of the story is , don't believe anything told to you by a Blackburn Rovers supporter without first checking up on the facts.
I will inform my friend Mike about his mistake

Posted: **Fri Jul 18, 2025 10:39 am**

exilecanada wrote: ↑
Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:43 pm
I was around to see Colin McDonald play, great goalie, had one flaw in his game. Once in awhile when he thought a shot was going wide he'd raise his arms and one or two would sneak in the bottom corner

Spot on and I saw one at the Turf when he did his outstretched arms at the CF end and the ball nestled in the left hand corner-cant remember the game or result. But he was a great keeper and Blacklaw wasnt fit to lace his boots when he took over, but he grew with game time.

Posted: **Fri Jul 18, 2025 12:54 pm**

Goliath wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 11:00 pm
United were one of the best teams in Europe when Heaton came through. City were a bit crap and Hart was probably a bit lucky in terms of timing with Given coming to the end.
They were all very good at there best but I'd still have Hart third. I thought there were huge weaknesses In his game even at his peak.

There is no way City would have kept him as long as they did. They would simply have shipped him out!

If you are saying he came in when they were crap, and then got better - surely he gets credit for that too?

As I say. He was third best for us. But overall the best of the three.

“I’ve been watching his game for a few years now, and Joe Hart is now for me one of the top three goalkeepers in the world," said the legendary Buffon, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006 and a man with 150 appearances between the sticks for his country.

Posted: **Fri Jul 18, 2025 12:58 pm**

CyrilEbokiPoh wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 18, 2025 12:54 pm
There is no way City would have kept him as long as they did. They would simply have shipped him out!

If you are saying he came in when they were crap, and then got better - surely he gets credit for that too?

As I say. He was third best for us. But overall the best of the three.

“I’ve been watching his game for a few years now, and Joe Hart is now for me one of the top three goalkeepers in the world," said the legendary Buffon, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006 and a man with 150 appearances between the sticks for his country.

May as well agree to disagree. His shot stopping was outstanding and City gave away a lot of shots to save at that time so it flattered him IMO. As they got better and he had less to do it became more obvious that he wasn't cut out of be at the very top

His mentality was a problem, he was weak from crosses and his distribution was poor. Remember the first thing Pep did pretty much was to tell him he didn't have any role to play and replaced him with a pretty average keeper in Bravo.
Southgate was also really quick to leave him out and he didn't really shine anywhere after he left City.

Posted: **Fri Jul 18, 2025 1:02 pm**

I am out

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_L ... lden_Glove

Joe Hart is the joint highest winner of the Golden Glove award with four along with Petr Cech.

Posted: **Fri Jul 18, 2025 1:04 pm**

The bulk of them were from when 'City Were ****'.

Posted: **Fri Jul 18, 2025 1:04 pm**

Surely it’s Jordan Henderson.

Posted: **Sat Jul 19, 2025 7:11 pm**

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 5:32 pm
Tom is 39 now and hasn't played any league football in over five and a half years.

Just read that he played today and pulled off some brilliant saves.
Interesting to hear him say hes there to play first team football so doesn't sound like he's given up on anything yet.

I really think we could do worse as a Trafford replacement, would be brilliant for the development of the new German lad who's name I seem to have forgotten and would mean we could ease him in slowly without any issues.

Posted: **Sat Jul 19, 2025 7:12 pm**

CyrilEbokiPoh wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 18, 2025 1:04 pm
The bulk of them were from when 'City Were ****'.

Showing your immaturity that instead of agreeing to disagree you instead decide to make up a quote.

Posted: **Sat Jul 19, 2025 7:51 pm**

I was brought up on sunday afternoon tales of the clarets. My grandad and dad both said we would have won more trophies with him instead of Backlaw.

Posted: **Sat Jul 19, 2025 8:19 pm**

Goliath wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 19, 2025 7:11 pm
Just read that he played today and pulled off some brilliant saves.
Interesting to hear him say hes there to play first team football so doesn't sound like he's given up on anything yet.

I really think we could do worse as a Trafford replacement, would be brilliant for the development of the new German lad who's name I seem to have forgotten and would mean we could ease him in slowly without any issues.

I rate Tom very highly but moving back into league football at his age after such a long time wouldn’t be easy at all. The new keeper is Max Weiß.

Posted: **Sat Jul 19, 2025 8:20 pm**

steve1264b wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 19, 2025 7:51 pm
I was brought up on sunday afternoon tales of the clarets. My grandad and dad both said we would have won more trophies with him instead of Backlaw.

Harry Potts said the opposite, thought Adam had more determination. I didn’t see McDonald but Blacklaw was an outstanding goalkeeper.

Posted: **Sun Jul 20, 2025 9:25 am**

boatshed bill wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 10:56 pm
Incredibly, Colin was the first ever player I got with a chewing gum . Wish i'd kept it.

You wouldn't be able to chew it now.

Posted: **Sun Jul 20, 2025 10:18 am**

There is no way on gods green earth that Heaton should be starting for anyone next year. Never mind us. And he’s my favourite ever Burnley keeper.

He’s not started a league game for almost six years. And the game - especially in his position, has changed massively in that time. Not to mention the fact that he has zero match sharpness. At the age he is now. His career as a footballer at a good standard is over.

I’d have reservations over signing Vardy who’s the same age. But you could see merit in it.

Imagine he hadn’t played since before Covid and then we decided to sign him as our first choice striker. Madness.

Posted: **Mon Jul 21, 2025 7:00 am**

After breaking his leg, Colin spent some time in the Hartley Hospital, Laneshawbridge, Colne. I remember my brother writing to him (and receiving a reply). In Martin Dobson's recent book, Martin also mentioned spending a night in the same hospital following an injury.

Posted: **Mon Jul 21, 2025 9:09 am**

Somethingfishy wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 17, 2025 5:42 pm
Isn't this attributed to Alan Stevenson? One of my earliest memories was as a small child and being taken on by my grandfather in the late 70s. I remember him waving it past the post in front of the CF and it nestled in the bottom corner. Newcastle at home I think.

I remember at the game at the Baseball Ground in 82/83 Stevenson waving one past which hit the outside of the post.

Posted: **Mon Jul 21, 2025 9:57 am**

Culmclaret wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 21, 2025 9:09 am
I remember at the game at the Baseball Ground in 82/83 Stevenson waving one past which hit the outside of the post.

That game at Derby took him within one of John Angus and Jimmy McIlroy who have the record number of post-war league appearances for us. That day at Derby was the final straw, he was immediately dropped and never played for us again. The next time I saw him play was against us for Rotherham at Millmoor when the Burnley fans gave him the most amazing of receptions as he run towards us before kick off.

Posted: **Thu Jul 24, 2025 8:19 am**

It's a shame Bobby Seith was never capped for Scotland. If he had been Burnley would have the oldest surviving England and Scotland internationals. Bobby still knocking around at 93.

Posted: **Thu Jul 24, 2025 8:47 am**

Goliath wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 18, 2025 12:58 pm
May as well agree to disagree. His shot stopping was outstanding and City gave away a lot of shots to save at that time so it flattered him IMO. As they got better and he had less to do it became more obvious that he wasn't cut out of be at the very top

His mentality was a problem, he was weak from crosses and his distribution was poor. Remember the first thing Pep did pretty much was to tell him he didn't have any role to play and replaced him with a pretty average keeper in Bravo.
Southgate was also really quick to leave him out and he didn't really shine anywhere after he left City.

I think there's a bit of history washing here.

Heaton was remarkable for us. For at least one season he showed himself to be one of the top keepers in the prem and I really mean one of the top keepers.
But Joe Hart had a career that for many seasons he was not only one of the top keepers in the prem but also the world.

I think some people forget just what a keeper Joe Hart was in his prime. Maybe that's because he was underwhelming when he came in for us.

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