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Profile - Greg Macdonald |
| Fly Half - Born 1980 (6th
October, Lichfield) the son of former
Moseley second-row forward Colin Macdonald. Educated at the Friary
School, Lichfield, and Birmingham University. Promoted from the Youth Ranks
in 2001/2. "He's a natural No10," said former Coach John White," and very strong defensively" Greg has made 100 appearances prior to the 2008/09 season.
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| Greg Macdonald
(Reproduced from the matchday programme in 2007/08) Greg Macdonald stands in a line of lawyers who have proudly worn the Moseley shirt. In a game with complex laws it must be comforting for a captain to know that in his ‘discussions’ with referees he has at his disposal on the pitch a highly trained legal mind at his disposal! Greg was born in Lichfield in October 1980 with the black and red of Moseley coursing through his veins as his father, Colin, played at lock alongside Nigel Horton, John White and Dave Warren. He was educated at the Friary School, Lichfield, and Birmingham University. Prompted by his father and his teachers he joined Lichfield Rugby Club at an early age. Until he stopped growing Greg was a No.8 but, when 5ft 10 inches seemed to be his limit, he became a stand-off half. Greg came up to Birmingham University in September 1999 and after a few games for the University XV joined Moseley later that autumn. As an undergraduate he read geology, but on graduating decided that he did not wish to follow a career in that field and took the Birmingham one year Law Conversion course. Greg qualified as a solicitor with Tyndallwoods and worked as a defence lawyer, but latterly he has moved into the Legal Recruitment field. In the just over eight years he has been with Moseley, Greg has played for the Second and First XVs as a stand-off half knowing that the Club’s management have either preferred other stand-offs already in the club or have been actively seeking to recruit a better player than he is to fill this crucial role. This situation, not unknown in many other rugby and football clubs, usually ends with the disillusioned player moving to another club, where he can command a first team place on a regular basis. Greg, however, is still with Moseley for comforting reasons; he does not play rugby particularly for the money, he is in tune with the ethos of the club and its ambitions and he likes the City lifestyle and the convenience of Billesley. He also feels that, with increasing maturity he can make the No. 10 shirt his own. During his rugby career Greg has had modest representative honours including Midland U16s, Staffordshire/North Midlands First XVs, U16s and England Students U21s. Something to impress the grandchildren in due course! When asked what were his best and worst rugby memories of his time with Moseley Greg unhesitatingly replied that the worst was missing the goal-kick for a bonus point at the end of the match against Nottingham just before Christmas last year and the best memories were of promotion to National Division 1 and the ‘survival’ match against Waterloo at the end of last season. The only other comment Greg made about the ‘missed kick’ was that he did not consider himself to be Division 1 goalkicker but as a player who, in the interest of the team, will kick when asked to by the coach. Although Greg has captained the Second XV on several occasions, he has done so from a sense of duty only. He believes that a stand-off should concentrate exclusively on playmaking and his own game. Apart from the law and rugby Greg’s interests lie in the cinema and he relaxes by reading in preference to watching TV. He has recently become engaged to Lili, a girl from Dublin, who is also a lawyer. She now lives and works in Bristol and they have yet to decide whether to establish their marital home there, or in Birmingham, or even in a third location. Whatever their decision we wish them both well.  |
