Don_Masson
Don Masson
Scottish footballer (born 1946)
Donald Sanderson Masson (born 26 August 1946) is a Scottish former footballer.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Donald Sanderson Masson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1946-08-26) 26 August 1946 (age 77) | ||
| Place of birth | Banchory, Aberdeenshire, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1964–1968 | Middlesbrough | 53 | (6) |
| 1968–1974 | Notts County | 274 | (81) |
| 1974–1977 | Queens Park Rangers | 116 | (18) |
| 1977–1978 | Derby County | 23 | (1) |
| 1978–1982 | Notts County | 129 | (11) |
| 1981 | → Minnesota Kicks (loan)[3] | 24 | (2) |
| 1982–1983 | Bulova | ? | (?) |
| 1983–1984 | Kettering Town | 6 | (1) |
| Total | 485 | (120) | |
| International career | |||
| 1976–1978 | Scotland | 17 | (5) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Masson began his career with Middlesbrough in 1964. He was signed by Notts County manager Billy Gray in 1968 in a joint deal for £7000 along with Bob Worthington.[4] He stayed there for six years before moving to Queens Park Rangers in December 1974 for £100,000. Masson made his debut in the 1–0 home win versus Sheffield United on 14 December 1974.
Although approaching 29 years of age before he played top-level football, his was a signing that underlined the quality of then manager Dave Sexton's judgement. A stylish and creative midfielder, he came to be seen as the final piece in the jigsaw of an exciting and attacking QPR team. The following 1975/76 season saw QPR come close to winning the League title, being pipped by a point by Liverpool.
After three years at Loftus Road he moved to Derby County in October 1977 in exchange for Leighton James. After a further spell at Notts County he played for a time in the United States. Don was voted Notts best player of all time by Notts County supporters and also has a lounge at Meadow Lane named in his honour. On returning to England he became the player-manager of Kettering Town, before retiring from the game.
Masson won 17 caps for Scotland. He scored five goals including Scotland's first goal in the 2–1 victory over England in 1976 which clinched their first British Home International Championship since 1967.[5] He missed a penalty kick in the 3–1 defeat against Peru in the 1978 World Cup.
In retirement he turned his hand in to the hotel business, having bought The Gallery at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, which he later sold. He and his wife now run The Grange,[6] a guest house in Elton on the Hill.
- "Donald Masson". London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
- "Don Masson". www.worldfootball.net. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- Don Masson Statistics FIFA; Retrieved 4 February 2010
- Don Masson at the Scottish Football Association
- Don Masson at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
- Best & Worst: Don Masson Sunday Times, 20 September 2009
