Winger Josh reflects on five years with Shaymen
BY HIS own admission, Josh Macdonald was just “a skinny boy” when he arrived at The Shay in 2015.
But five years on, the winger leaves The Shay as a fans’ favourite after making 132 appearances for the club.
“I’ve been there for five years so it’s not easy to leave the club,” said Macdonald. “But I had to do it for myself because I feel I needed a fresh start.”
Macdonald joined Town from Marske United and quickly endeared himself to Town supporters with his pace and directness down the right flank, and was part of the team that won the 2016 FA Trophy final at Wembley.
“It wouldn’t have been the same if we’d lost, so at full-time, to win it, was just great, especially to give something back to the fans after the relegation,” he said.
“It was a lot on our shoulders, and we wanted to give them that for the support they gave us that season.”
The following campaign saw
Billy Heath lead Halifax to promotion from the Conference North, with Macdonald a key member of the side. But he sustained a serious injury during the 2017-18 season, bringing his career to a juddering halt.
“Before I got injured I was probably playing the best football in my career, I felt like I was in a good place,” he says.
“I spoke to David (Bosomworth) because he rang me to wish me all the best (after being released), and I said to him I couldn’t have asked the club to have been any better to me.”
When asked how much he has changed since joining The Shaymen back in 2015, Macdonald says: “When I signed I was this little skinny boy who noone really knew anything about.
“But I knew I had the ability to step up.
“What knocked me back a bit was maybe my physicality, I needed to fill out a bit. But training and doing extra work at home has really helped me push on.
“I think I showed before I got injured that I could cope with the physical side as well as creating things for the team.”
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