Peter Dougall
Encyclopedia
Peter G. Dougall was a Scottish footballer who played at inside-left for various clubs in the 1920s and 1930s.
, Stirlingshire
and played for Dunipace
as a youth before moving to England to join Burnley
of the Football League First Division
in October 1926, aged 17. He broke into the first team in the following season when he replaced the well-established inside-left, Joe Devine
, for six matches, scoring twice. With Devine the first-choice for the No. 10 shirt, Dougall spent most of his time at Turf Moor
in the reserves, and in February 1929 he returned to Scotland to join Clyde
.
In September 1929, Dougall was signed by Southampton
, with his transfer fee being met by the Saints Supporters Club. Described in the local press as "in the Alex James
class", Dougall was able to combine skill with the ability to "beat a man on a sixpence", although he did have a tendency to over-elaborate. He made his debut for the Saints on 19 October 1929, when he replaced Herbert Coates
in a 4–0 defeat at Stoke City
. Coates returned for the next match and Dougall's appearances were initially limited until March, when he had a run of seven games. In the 1930–31 season, Dougall was again used as cover for Coates or Laurie Cumming
, before taking over from Cumming in February 1931 for the remainder of the season.
For the 1931–32 season, Arthur Wilson was new manager George Kay
's preference at inside-left and Dougall only made three further appearances for Southampton, before he was transfer-listed at a fee of £500.
After spending a season in the south of France with Sète
, Dougall returned to the First Division
when he joined Arsenal
in September 1933. He made his first-team debut in February 1934, playing alongside Alex James
with whom he had been compared so favourably four years earlier. Dougall was never a regular at Highbury
, making only 23 appearances in four years, before a transfer to Everton
in August 1937.
Dougall made 11 appearances for Everton, before dropping down to the Second Division
to join Bury
in June 1938. His professional career was then interrupted by the Second World War, during the early part of which he guested for Manchester United
.
Football career
Dougall was born in DennyDenny, Falkirk
Denny is a town in the Falkirk council area of Scotland, formerly in the county of Stirlingshire. It is situated west of Falkirk, and north-east of Cumbernauld, adjacent to both the M80 and M876 motorways...
, Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling is a registration county of Scotland, based around Stirling, the former county town. It borders Perthshire to the north, Clackmannanshire and West Lothian to the east, Lanarkshire to the south, and Dunbartonshire to the south-west.Until 1975 it was a county...
and played for Dunipace
Dunipace F.C.
Dunipace Juniors Football Club are a Scottish football club based in Denny, Stirlingshire. Nicknamed the Pace, they were formed in 1888 and are based at Westfield Park. They currently compete in the West Region of the Scottish Junior Football Association...
as a youth before moving to England to join Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
of the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in October 1926, aged 17. He broke into the first team in the following season when he replaced the well-established inside-left, Joe Devine
Joe Devine
Joseph Cassidy "Joe" Devine was a Scottish professional footballer born in Motherwell, who played as an inside forward or wing half...
, for six matches, scoring twice. With Devine the first-choice for the No. 10 shirt, Dougall spent most of his time at Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
in the reserves, and in February 1929 he returned to Scotland to join Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
.
In September 1929, Dougall was signed by Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
, with his transfer fee being met by the Saints Supporters Club. Described in the local press as "in the Alex James
Alex James (footballer)
Alexander Wilson James was a Scottish footballer, and is most noted for his success with Arsenal, where he is regarded as one of the club's greatest players of all time. James played as an inside forward, as a supporting player for the main strikers...
class", Dougall was able to combine skill with the ability to "beat a man on a sixpence", although he did have a tendency to over-elaborate. He made his debut for the Saints on 19 October 1929, when he replaced Herbert Coates
Herbert Coates
Herbert James Leopold "Rigger" Coates was an English amateur footballer who played as an inside forward for Southampton in the 1920s and 1930s.-Royal Navy:...
in a 4–0 defeat at Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
. Coates returned for the next match and Dougall's appearances were initially limited until March, when he had a run of seven games. In the 1930–31 season, Dougall was again used as cover for Coates or Laurie Cumming
Laurie Cumming
Laurence Stanley Slater "Laurie" Cumming was a former professional footballer and journalist, born in Derry, Ireland. Cumming played for Alloa Athletic, Huddersfield Town, Oldham Athletic, Southampton, Queen of the South and St Mirren...
, before taking over from Cumming in February 1931 for the remainder of the season.
For the 1931–32 season, Arthur Wilson was new manager George Kay
George Kay
George Kay was an English football player and manager of Luton Town, Southampton and Liverpool.The highlight of his playing career was when he captained West Ham United in the first FA Cup final to be played at Wembley, the so-called White Horse Final.He was manager of Liverpool for 15 years and...
's preference at inside-left and Dougall only made three further appearances for Southampton, before he was transfer-listed at a fee of £500.
After spending a season in the south of France with Sète
FC Sète
FC Sète 34 is a French football club based in Sète and founded in 1900. The club won the French league twice and the French cup also twice . In 1934 they became the first club to win the French league and cup double....
, Dougall returned to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
when he joined Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in September 1933. He made his first-team debut in February 1934, playing alongside Alex James
Alex James (footballer)
Alexander Wilson James was a Scottish footballer, and is most noted for his success with Arsenal, where he is regarded as one of the club's greatest players of all time. James played as an inside forward, as a supporting player for the main strikers...
with whom he had been compared so favourably four years earlier. Dougall was never a regular at Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
, making only 23 appearances in four years, before a transfer to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in August 1937.
Dougall made 11 appearances for Everton, before dropping down to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
to join Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
in June 1938. His professional career was then interrupted by the Second World War, during the early part of which he guested for Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
.