Ex-Inverness Thistle goalkeeper who cycled 200km for charity while battling brain cancer dies, aged 66

A former Highland League footballer who raised over $23,000 by completing a charity cycle while he was terminally ill, has died aged 66.

Teammates have led tributes to the “remarkable” Gordon MacDonald, the former Inverness Thistle goalkeeper and sports all-rounder, after his passing in Perth, Western Australia.

RELATED:

Inverness born man's fundraiser Down Under to thank hospital for cancer care

Former Inverness goalie defies incurable brain tumour diagnosis and raises mammoth sums for Australian hospital

Inverness Courier family notices

Well known for his sporting accomplishments as a player of squash, badminton, athletics, cricket and golf, Gordon’s passing came after a long battle with brain cancer.

His funeral will be held near his home in Perth on Thursday March 27.

Gordon was the middle son of Mrs Margaret MacDonald, who lives in Inverness, and the late Mr Donnie MacDonald, who played for all three Inverness Highland League football sides, and was a former President of Inverness Golf Club.

He leaves behind two daughters, Grace and Thea.

The renowned Inverness sportsman had been receiving intensive treatment in the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, following his diagnosis of terminal brain cancer in January 2022.

With the help of friends, Gordon recently raised funds for Charlie’s Foundation for Research by embarking on a two-day 200 km sponsored cycle.

His story emerged during research carried out by the Inverness Football Memories Project into the football memories of the MacDonald family from Inverness.

Gordon’s older brother Jeff, who is based mainly in Austin, Texas, played for Caledonian and his younger brother Kevin, who lives near Leicester, played for Caledonian, Leicester City, Liverpool, Coventry City and Rangers, and coached at Aston Villa and for the Republic of Ireland.

Gordon went to school at Central Primary and Inverness High School and excelled at most sports.

As a Highland League footballer, he played in goal and signed for Inverness Thistle in the late 1970s.

A leg break curtailed his career and he moved south to join the London Metropolitan and Sussex Police Service UK.

On his retiral in 2012, he moved permanently to Perth, where he lived with his wife Sue, whom he had married in 2006.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Gordon completed 11 marathons, including those at London and New York and raised monies for charities such as the Leonard Cheshire Foundation, Guide Dogs for the Blind and contributions towards the Highland Hospice and Inverness Hospital Radio.

Dave Milroy, who played more than 900 games for Thistle and was a former team mate of Gordon at Kingsmills Park remembers his former teammate as a “fun guy” to have around, who showed “remarkably courage” in his fight against cancer.

He said: "Gordon was a first class goalie and only a broken leg stopped him from progressing his career with Thistle. He was a fun guy to have around.

“Like his parents and brothers, he was multi-talented, shining at all the sports he played.

"Even when he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, he did not let it get in the way of raising so much money for charity through his 200 km cycle.

“He showed truly remarkable courage to fight his illness to the end. Our thoughts are with the MacDonald family at this time."

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.