It has taken Michael Donald a long time to etch his name into the Scottish football record books. However, after recently establishing himself in the Ayr United first team and scoring his first goals, the 24-year-old is now well on the way to becoming well known in his native land.
Donald played alongside Scott Gallacher, John Fleck, Andrew Shinnie, Andy Little, Danny Wilson, Stephen Stirling and current Ayr United team-mate Chris Smith as he came through the youth development programme at Rangers however, he took a different route to joining the Honest Men.
Whilst these players have established themselves at clubs in Scotland and beyond, Donald travelled over 4,000 miles and saw a lot of sunshine as a result.
Donald said: “I was with Rangers from the age of 12 and I signed a three year professional deal with them when I was 16. Unfortunately, I never made a first team appearance but it was still a great experience.
“I learnt how to play football at one of the best clubs in Britain with some great players. I was taught by some of the best coaches in the country and that has stood me in good stead. Getting that level of coaching from the age of 12 to the age of 19 can only help you as a player as you get a fantastic understanding of different kinds of tactics.”
As he entered his final spell at Rangers, Donald started to get itchy feet as he explained: “In my third year as a professional, I knew Rangers were not going to keep me on so I had made my mind up to do something different. I opted to go and do a Scholarship programme for four years in America that would allow me to play football and gain a really good education.”
Donald headed west and he said: “I went to a university in Daytona, Florida which was predominately an Engineering and Pilot School and I came back home with a Business Degree.
“In terms of gaining life experience, it was a great time and I got to keep playing football as well. The standard was good at college level and I played for the four years I was there. I played in the PDL League during the summer which was a higher standard and I travelled a bit across America as a result.”
The PDL was another learning ground for Donald who said: “The guys that were playing in that league are the standout high school and junior club players, as well as former professionals. Again, I learnt a lot about the game as you came up against different styles and players from very different backgrounds.”
Donald did hear some familiar voices when he was in America as he explained: “I met Alan McDonald, who I knew from playing against at various age levels, and also Alan Vezza, who was with Partick Thistle and Livingston.
“There were a few other Scottish boys around as well. It is a move I would recommend to anyone who was in a similar position to mine if they get the opportunity.”
Football took him across the States as he added: “As well as playing in Florida, I travelled up the east coast to Maine as well as visiting New York for a couple of games. With the college side, we made the National Finals in California and I played in Portland and Phoenix with my PDL side, the Jacksonville Destroyers, so all in all, it was a great experience.”
After completing his studies, Donald returned over the Atlantic Ocean however, his first step was England and not Scotland as he explained: “I came home in the summer and tried to find a club. I had trials at Bradford City and Port Vale but they never worked out so I opted to come home to Prestwick and started playing with Glenburn Amateurs.”
That move led to Donald joining Ayr United with a stop-over in the Junior ranks and he said: “I was playing for Glenburn and Maybole Juniors started showing an interest but by then, I picked up an injury. Maybole told me that I could come in and get treated by their physio in a bid to get fit again.
“Their physio also happens to do some work for Ayr United and after six games for Maybole, Ayr brought me in on trial. That trial period began as an unused substitute in a goalless draw with Alloa Athletic and we then played Queen of the South in a disappointing day just after the New Year when we lost 5-1 but I got on just after half-time.”
Donald continued: “I made my first start against Stranraer on the Saturday and we won that game 1-0. I was signed after that game and I have started every game since. I am still finding my feet but it is great that the Manager has confidence in me and that he is picking me.
“Obviously, scoring has helped my confidence as well and it was great to get off the mark when we beat Albion Rovers 5-2 earlier this month. Our right back played a ball to the back post however, it went quite far out and I was at a really tight angle.”
Watchers of SFL.TV will know what happened next with Donald explaining: “I thought I would just hit it back across the face of goal and see what happens. The ball flew into the far corner so I was delighted and not a bad way to score your first ever professional goal.
“I got another in that game and also scored what turned out to be the winner over Forfar last Saturday. I thought last weekend that was our biggest win of the season however, after losing to Stenhousemuir on Tuesday night, we have bigger games to come as we look for the promotion Play-Offs.”
There is still plenty to play for at Somerset Park with Donald saying: “Play-Offs are still the aim for Ayr United. The Manager sat us down recently and asked us what we thought and everyone said we should be aiming for the Play-Offs. They said that the Play-Offs were our target even when we were near the bottom of the table.
“We are a good team but certain results have not gone our way and the last minute goal from Stenhousemuir was a really sore one. Hopefully, we can bounce back this weekend at Arbroath.”
Donald continued: “It is a really big game and in fact, we have two really big games coming up before we face Queen of the South again. If we win at Arbroath then we get to within three points of them before a home match with Brechin at Somerset Park on Tuesday.
“We are due a break against them after they beat us 2-1 recently at Glebe Park with a winning goal that was a really unlucky one to concede.
“We remain confident that we can get to the Play-Offs.”
"Football is the same in Ayr and America in that you enjoy it more when you feel confident and I have to thank the club and the Manager for having the belief to sign me."
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