[2] At the end of the war, he returned to Bournemouth and soon made a name for himself as a goal-scoring left-winger,[1] scoring 36 goals in 80 appearances in the Football League Third Division South.
[1] At the time of his transfer, Fulham's manager Jack Peart commented in the club's year book:"For the present season 1948–9, we have made a few additions to our playing staff.
No doubt chief interest will be focused on Jack McDonald, whose transfer we have secured from the Bournemouth and Boscombe Club in spite of very strong competition.
His crosses assisted the other forwards, including Arthur Rowley, who scored 19, and Bob Thomas, who was top scorer with 23, as the club claimed the Football League Second Division championship title by one point ahead of West Bromwich Albion and long-time leaders, Southampton.
In the First Division, McDonald's form was not so prolific and he eventually lost his place to Northern Ireland international Johnny Campbell, making only five appearances in each of the 1950–51 and 1951–52 seasons.