I found this interesting. He achieved a lot, notwithstanding his brief sojourn at Leigh. My dad could never say his name without sighing. Or swearing. [urlhttp://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/dec/08/mcdonald-bailey[/url

He played his part in our history, even if it was mostly a PR exercise. RIP McDonald Bailey.

Agreed.

[i"He subsequently played professional rugby for Leigh in Lancashire for one season..."[/i

Think this might be over-egging his RL career a bit! A heck of a sprinter though. R.I.P.

I'm sad to say that, probably due to my dad's attitude to the fiasco of McDonald Bailey's time at Leigh, I never found out anything else about him until now. He was clearly one very good sprinter, and he upset the hierarchy in the AAA, which is a bonus.

mcdonald bailey...played and scored in every match for leigh r.l.{all be it that he only played in one game for leigh r.l.}the game he played in was a friendly against wigan r.l. on a wednesday under floodlights,{leigh r.l were the only team in the league with floodlights in 1953.} i don't remember which team won the match but i was there that night and so was the world's press, every time mcdonald bailey got the ball he could not see because of all the the flashing camera's so he kept dropping the ball because of this,but eventually he scored a try in the corner near the scoreboard end at hilton park. ....r.i.p...mcdonald bailey......

I've just read that Obit.

My old Dad says he also played at least one game for Wigan.

i must disagree with you on that" fleabag". mcdonald never played for wigan,{not to my knowledge and i have been watching leigh r. l. since 1946.}but i will check this out.

British Pathe News. The description on the webpage says Leigh-on-Sea. www.britishpathe.com/video/mac-b ... first-matc

British Pathe News. The description on the webpage says Leigh-on-Sea. www.britishpathe.com/video/mac-b ... first-matc

Rumour has it that his signing, and subsequent appearance against the pies (virtually assuring a 20k+ crowd), was orchestrated to pretty much pay for said floodlights - a genius bit of marketing if true!!



Summat for our current 'custodians' to take note of!!



RIP Mcdonald Bailey.

But we already have floodlights Walt.

'Sign' Usain Bolt.
Arrange a fixture v t'pies.
Sell TV rights.
Sell advertising.
Sell loads of merchandise.
Fill Corporate.
Fill ground.

Use profits as deposit to buy "New Hilton Park" from the council!!

Spot on Walt.

I preferred McDonald Hobley .