July 15th 2024
GOALKEEPER Callum Donaldson will this month relocate to Houston, Texas to further his career away from football rendering him unavailable for Nairn County fixtures indefinitely, writes Graeme Macleod. The 30-year-old stopper is a Recruitment Team Lead with Orion Engineering and has been absent from the club since the end of last season with his big move in the offing. County manager Les Fridge said: "The Chairman, the management, myself and everyone else connected to the club would like to thank Callum for his services over the years and wish him and his family all the best for the future with their new life in America." Donaldson made his debut as a 17-year-old substitute in a 4-3 defeat at Huntly on March 15th 2003. Loan spells at Nairn St Ninian and Strathspey Thistle followed before he returned to Station Park to challenge then number one, John Campbell. He was an unused substitute in the final as the club won the 2008/09 North of Scotland Cup and made his second appearance over five years after his first when came on for the injured Campbell at Fraserburgh on October 18th 2008 in a 3-2 loss. His first start for Nairn came at the same venue as his debut as he starred in a 3-1 win at Christie Park on November 1st 2008 and he retained the goalkeeper's jersey despite Campbell's return to fitness before the end of the season. He then remained the first choice goalkeeper for most of the remainder of his spell at Station Park and won the Highland League Cup in 2011, keeping a clean sheet in the final as Fraserburgh were beaten 4-0. He followed that up with an impressive showing in the 2012/13 North of Scotland Cup final as Nairn overcame Wick Academy 2-1 after extra time and featured in both of the club's recent runs to the third round of the Scottish Cup in 2012 and 2014. The last of his 276 appearances came on September 20th last season when he was stretchered off with a hamstring injury during the 4-0 home win over Deveronvale. Graeme Macleod
