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Unfortunately for City and Donachie, the winners' medal earned
against Newcastle in the 1976 League Cup final would be Willie's only
one for the club. He played in all City's five domestic cup games of
1976/77 as well as both legs of the UEFA clash with Juventus. For the
second time in three years he was an ever present in the League, his 42
appearances matched only by goalkeeper Joe Corrigan. Dave Watson missed
just one game and with three key members of the defence in place for the
entire season, it was hardly surprising that the Blues reached their
best position since 1967/68.
This time they finished second, just a
single point behind Champions Liverpool, who, with one less, were the
only team to concede fewer than City's 34 goals. Donachie's remarkably
consistent form continued throughout 1977/78, his eighth season since
making his debut back in February 1970. Now City finished fourth, a
position that could have been even higher had it not been for the fact
they could only manage a single point from the last three League games.
Helped by a good run in the League Cup, Donachie (with a combined total
of 49 appearances) was one of six players who equalled or bettered that
figure. The following season saw a disappointing drop in League form (to
17th) not to mention considerable upheaval amongst players when Malcolm
Allison returned to Maine Road and began to reshape the team.
Donachie's 19 League appearances was his lowest figure since 1970/71: it
was also his last season as a City player. On March 19th 1980 he joined
NASL side Portland Timbers for £200,000 for the first of two spells
before returning to the UK to play for Norwich, Burnley and Oldham. He
was still playing for Oldham after his 40th birthday in October 1991. It
was whilst at Boundary Park that he first moved into coaching and would
eventually become number two at Oldham working alongside another former
Maine Road favourite, Joe Royle.
A brief stay at Everton pre-empted
both men's return to City in 1997 where they would gain back-to-back
promotions from the Second Division. Willie finally left Maine Road for a
coaching job at Sheffield Wednesday just four months into the 2001/2002
season. A true Blue, Willie Donachie made 431/5 appearances in his 12
seasons with the club: only nine men have bettered that figure to date
(2003). (Ian Penney - author of The Legends of Manchester City)
1968–1980 Manchester City 351 (2)
1980–1981 Portland Timbers 60 (2)
1981–1982 Norwich City 11 (0)
1982 Portland Timbers 31 (0)
1982–1984 Burnley 60 (3)
1984–1990 Oldham Athletic 169 (3)
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