Thetownend.com

Slightly different to the usual episodes.

https://soundcloud.com/user-613048186/151-donal-mcdermott

The name rings a bell but I can't remember a thing about him.

He was a winger, good at times terrible at others, stayed only a single season under Flipflop, played only a handful of games.

I’m guessing here and I can’t be arsed to check but I reckon he scored the winner away at Morecambe.

Yay! The noggin still works


http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchCentre.asp?MatchID=20180103

He had ability but didn’t show it enough.
Is he still playing?

You should all listen. It will answer all those questions. Really interesting.

A really interesting and somewhat different podcast, which focuses almost entirely on Donals mental health struggles, not helped by his excessive drinking and his falling out of love with football, from a very young age. In a way a sad story, but he is brave enough to tell it and hopefully he will come out the other end stronger. I wish him well.

That was certainly different. Really interesting guy, happily I can't relate to a lot of what he's describing but I know a lot of people will. If he's not already in touch with the PFA and stuff like that (doesn't Vincent Pericard do something to do with it as well?) then he probably should be. Wish him the best.

Nigel Packer an ex youth teamer under Macari has a lot of interesting Town related stories, played in the same team as Oggy Hunt, Nicky Summerbee, Fitzroy Simpson etc.

I've had contact with Nigel. I think he'd prefer to record in person which in no problems but takes a bit of planning from my side!

Good stuff, he seems like a nice bloke with a fair few stories to tell!

He has put a few pics on FB this morning of his time with STFC

Swindon Town FC - the good old days is the group

I played for quite a few years with Nigel Packer (after his flirt with the pro game) he is a good guy and a decent player even when he was a little more rotund than his time as a pro.  He used to sit in the middle of the park and do a Yasser, at times the opposition couldn't get near him.

Would be good to hear from him, I haven't seen or heard from him for years.. 

I also played against Oggy many times when he was playing for the Greyhound..  Loved testing myself against him and he too is good guy.. another one it would be good to hear more from.

I spoke to Nigel yesterday, he is a lovely bloke, he was in the Hreod football team 3 years under me, played more as a striker then. Nice bloke with lots of good stories, hes always up for a chat.

Rich, I found that fascinating, probably the most interesting episode to date. I thought Donal was extremely brave and open to talk about what was clearly difficult times.

Give him my regards next time you speak with him, use my real name though otherwise he will get very confused :D 

I will mate!