The following year, he joined Burton All Saints where he was spotted by a scout from Southampton.
Described as a "fine winger",[1] he joined Southampton in May 1923, making his first-team debut in a Second Division match at home to Barnsley on 19 January 1924, when he replaced the injured Jimmy Carr.
MacDonald retained his place on the left wing for the remainder of the season, in partnership with Cliff Price, but failed to score.
[1] After a season at Southend, MacDonald moved to the Third Division North with Southport and then Doncaster Rovers, before settling at Barrow in December 1926.
Over the next three seasons, he was a virtual ever-present making 100 appearances for the Cumberland club before dropping down to non-league football in 1929.