Don Masson
Encyclopedia
Donald "Don" Sandison Masson (born 26 August 1946 in Banchory
) is a Scottish
former footballer
.
in 1964 before going on to Notts County in 1968. He stayed there for six years before moving to Queen's Park Rangers in December 1974 for £100,000.
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 them 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 U.S. On returning, he became the player-manager of Kettering Town, before retiring from the game.
, famously missing a penalty with the score at 1-1, in a 3-1 defeat by Peru
in the 1978 World Cup
.
.
Banchory
Banchory is a burgh or town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, lying approximately 18 miles west of Aberdeen, near where the Feugh River meets the River Dee.- Overview :...
) is a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
former footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
.
Club career
Masson began his career with MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in 1964 before going on to Notts County in 1968. He stayed there for six years before moving to Queen's Park Rangers in December 1974 for £100,000.
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
Dave Sexton
David "Dave" Sexton OBE is an English former football manager and player.-Playing career:Son of former professional boxer Archie Sexton, he started his playing career with West Ham United in 1948. Playing mainly at inside-forward, he would finish his career with time at Luton Town, Leyton Orient,...
's judgement. A stylish and creative midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, 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 them come close to winning the League title, being pipped by a point by Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
After three years at Loftus Road
Loftus Road
Loftus Road is a football stadium in Shepherd's Bush, London. It is home to the English football team Queens Park Rangers of the Premier League and has a capacity of around 18,500. The four stands are called the Loftus Road End , Ellerslie Road Stand, South Africa Road Stand and the School End,...
he moved to Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in October 1977 in exchange for Leighton James. After a further spell at Notts County he played for a time in the U.S. On returning, he became the player-manager of Kettering Town, before retiring from the game.
International career
He won 17 caps for ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, famously missing a penalty with the score at 1-1, in a 3-1 defeat by Peru
Peru national football team
The Peru national football team, known as 'el equipo inca', represents Peru in international football competition and is managed by the Peruvian Football Federation . The team competes against the other nine members of FIFA's CONMEBOL conference, which encompasses the countries of South America...
in the 1978 World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
.
After retirement
In retirement he turned his hand in to the hotel owner/management business after having bought 'The Gallery' in Trent Bridge Nottingham which he has since sold. He and his wife now run The Grange guest house in Elton on the HillElton on the Hill
For other uses of the name, see Elton .Elton on the Hill is a small Nottinghamshire village and civil parish in the Vale of Belvoir.-Situation and facilities:Elton lies about east of Nottingham, England, in the NG13 postcode district...
.
External links
- DON MASSON, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database
- Best & Worst: Don Masson Sunday Times, 20 September 2009