Well, in true nomadic fashion, the career trajectory of one Coll Donaldson, born in the heart of Scotland on the 9th day of April in the year 1995, seems to be as meandering as the route of the West Highland Way. Aged a sprightly 30 these days, our dear Coll has found himself in the good company of Falkirk FC, where he shoulders defensive responsibilities, predominantly in the central defender role.
Standing an imposing 6ft 2in (1.88m) tall with a solid build of 12st 12lb (82kg), the lad fills the number 6 jersey quite well, if you ask me. If you're inclined to put a price on his head – not that you should, mind – Transfermarkt suggests you'd be looking at a rather frugal £85k (source), but hey, who am I to judge?
Our boy Coll embarked upon his professional journey back in July 2012, cutting his teeth at Livingston in Scotland's Premiership. Bitter memories, let's skim over them, shall we? A short-lived assignment that witnessed our hero take the field a humiliating five times in that debut season. Not much improvement in his second period either, but hey, he managed to bag a solitary goal.
Nevertheless, a move was on the horizon and the lads at Queens Park Rangers down in England's Championship swooped in with a grand sum of £150k in January 2014 – echoes of panic buy, perhaps? – saving Donaldson from another season of the Scottish cold. The grass isn't always greener though, as Coll soon found out, making a single league appearance for QPR. Ah, the romance of English football.
Packing his bags again, Donaldson soon found himself back in Scotland, this time with Dundee United. A verdict on this venture, you ask? Well, as predictable as a cup of tea and a biscuit, 18 and 14 appearances respectively over two seasons. Bracing myself for the next club trek, Donaldson made his way over to Inverness CT in August 2017, where his performances were as cold as the Highland air, playing a mere 16 league matches.
Unable to resist the allure of another transfer, Donaldson switched allegiance to Ross County in 2020 for an amount that remains enshrined in secrecy, demonstrating a similar pattern: handfuls of games totalling 37 appearances and scoring once during his tenure.
A brief loan spell to Dunfermline Athletic was the highlight of 2022, leading to a swift U-turn back to Ross County - no better off, no worse off. Not progress, not regress... Oh, the stagnation.
As we now find ourselves in the present, Donaldson has docked his boat at Falkirk. Though his performances are bordering on invisible this season, past feats hint hope with 44 showings and a goal across two seasons. Lest we forget his solo dance in the Scottish Cup 2024 - 2025. Lovely stuff.
In the grand scheme of things, our dear Coll doesn't embody a marquee name. He's no centre stage act, no defensive superstar. But, he's been in the game, playing at the level he has for over a decade, which cements his status as a seasoned hand.
