Mark & Stephen McDonnell played together in the 1980 Barlow-Salmons final for Thurnscoe Hill. Stephen scored two goals.

Mark & Stephen also played in numerous 6-a-side tournaments organised by teh Don & Dearne Schools FA. This photo is from one of them…

Their father, Ian, remembers:

that’s me with Stephen on the left and Mark on the right … the pic is of Highgate Juniors the winners of the Don and Dearne 6 a side comp … Stephen scored the 1st and Mark the second … the team then went on to win the South Yorkshire Area comp. .. they lost in the North of England Area comp to a Notts team in the final . The next year they got to the final but lost on corners to Swindon Queen Street whom they had beaten 4-0 in an earlier round … the following year Highgate won it again with Philip in the team !!! The South Yorkshire Times Clipping is when Highgate played Thurnscoe Hill in the Barlow Salmons Final and beat them with 2 goals from their captain our Stephen . The year before Highgate were beaten in the final of the same comp when Mark was captain by Mexborough Roman Terrace

brothers Mark and Stephen were chosen for the Don and Dearne teams with Stephen being chosen a year underage in Marks team … he created D and D history when he came on as a sub away to … Liverpool boys … being the only time 2 brothers had played in the same representative team … they lost 4-0 !!! Mark went on to play for Mexbro Athletic Uner 12s but that’s another story and Stephen for Mexbro Area boys

Captain … they won the Don and Dearne 6 a side … then the South Yorkshire title and came 3rd in the North of England tournament … not bad for a small team as Highgate were … they also became runners up in the Barlow-Salmons that Year … Mark and Stephen were chosen for the District side and when Stephen came on as sub away at Liverpool Boys it was the first time 2 brothers had played in the same Don and Dearne side !!!