Colin McKee
Encyclopedia
Colin McKee is a former Scottish
footballer
. He retired from football in 2001 after a season with Fauldhouse United
. His usual position was as a forward, but he was equally adept at playing on the wing.
McKee began his career at Manchester United
, joining the club in 1989 after he was spotted playing for the Scotland schoolboys side. In 1992, he made the starting line-up for the FA Youth Cup
final against Crystal Palace
, along with future United stars such as Gary Neville
, Nicky Butt
, David Beckham
and Ryan Giggs
. United won the final 6-3 on aggregate, and McKee was offered a professional contract in August 1992. He went on loan to Bury
for a month in January 1993, making two appearances for the Shakers. He returned to Manchester United, but struggled to break into the first team, making only one appearance before being sold to Kilmarnock
in September 1994 along with Neil Whitworth
in a combined deal worth £350,000.
On the creation of player squad numbers in the Premier League for the 1993-94
season, McKee was issued with the number 17 shirt, which became the property of the much more famous Andy Cole, who joined United from Newcastle
four months after McKee's departure.
McKee stayed at Kilmarnock for three years, his longest stay at any club. He made 78 appearances for the club - two in the Scottish Cup
- and scored twelve goals, all of which came in the league. However, he was released by Kilmarnock in October 1997. Partick Thistle
took him on a one-month trial in March 1998, but he failed to earn a contract with them and was allowed to leave. In June 1998, he signed for Falkirk
, but only made four appearances for the club before being released yet again in October 1998. He spent the rest of the 1998-99 season with two different clubs; first he signed for Queen of the South
, where he made two appearances, and then he moved to Ross County
on a free transfer, making one more appearance before finding himself unattached again.
Summer 1999 saw McKee join his fifth club in two years when he put pen to paper for Stirling Albion
, but yet again he made only two appearances before moving on to Queen's Park
. He saw out the season with Queen's Park, making seven appearances for the Glasgow club, and then moved again, this time to Fauldhouse United
. McKee retired from professional football soon after, calling time on a career that lasted twelve years and ten different clubs.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He retired from football in 2001 after a season with Fauldhouse United
Fauldhouse United F.C.
Fauldhouse United F.C. are a Scottish Junior football club based at Park View in Fauldhouse, West Lothian.The club won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1946 and now play in the SJFA East Region, South Division.-Other Honours:...
. His usual position was as a forward, but he was equally adept at playing on the wing.
McKee began his career at Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, joining the club in 1989 after he was spotted playing for the Scotland schoolboys side. In 1992, he made the starting line-up for the FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
final against Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, along with future United stars such as Gary Neville
Gary Neville
Gary Alexander Neville is a former English footballer. He is England's most capped right-back and was Manchester United's club captain for five years....
, Nicky Butt
Nicky Butt
Nicholas "Nicky" Butt is an English footballer. He began his career with Manchester United and spent 12 years in their first-team before moving to Newcastle United in 2004. He spent one season on loan to Birmingham City in 2005–06...
, David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
and Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
. United won the final 6-3 on aggregate, and McKee was offered a professional contract in August 1992. He went on loan to Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
for a month in January 1993, making two appearances for the Shakers. He returned to Manchester United, but struggled to break into the first team, making only one appearance before being sold to Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
in September 1994 along with Neil Whitworth
Neil Whitworth
Neil Anthony Whitworth is an English former football defender.Born in Ince-in-Makerfield, Wigan, to a former rugby league footballer, Whitworth began his career at Wigan Athletic as a trainee. He made his senior debut for Wigan on 10 February 1990 in a Third Division match against Leyton Orient;...
in a combined deal worth £350,000.
On the creation of player squad numbers in the Premier League for the 1993-94
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
season, McKee was issued with the number 17 shirt, which became the property of the much more famous Andy Cole, who joined United from Newcastle
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
four months after McKee's departure.
McKee stayed at Kilmarnock for three years, his longest stay at any club. He made 78 appearances for the club - two in the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
- and scored twelve goals, all of which came in the league. However, he was released by Kilmarnock in October 1997. Partick Thistle
Partick Thistle F.C.
Partick Thistle Football Club are a professional association football club from Glasgow. Despite their name, the club are based in the Maryhill area of the city, and have not played in Partick since 1908...
took him on a one-month trial in March 1998, but he failed to earn a contract with them and was allowed to leave. In June 1998, he signed for Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
, but only made four appearances for the club before being released yet again in October 1998. He spent the rest of the 1998-99 season with two different clubs; first he signed for Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
, where he made two appearances, and then he moved to Ross County
Ross County F.C.
Ross County Football Club are a Scottish professional football team from the town of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty. Founded in 1929 they currently compete in the Scottish Football League First Division and play their home matches at Victoria Park. Prior to the 1994–95 season they played in the...
on a free transfer, making one more appearance before finding himself unattached again.
Summer 1999 saw McKee join his fifth club in two years when he put pen to paper for Stirling Albion
Stirling Albion F.C.
Stirling Albion F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. The club are nicknamed The Binos . They play at Doubletree Dunblane Stadium in Stirling, on the outskirts of the city near the River Forth...
, but yet again he made only two appearances before moving on to Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
. He saw out the season with Queen's Park, making seven appearances for the Glasgow club, and then moved again, this time to Fauldhouse United
Fauldhouse United F.C.
Fauldhouse United F.C. are a Scottish Junior football club based at Park View in Fauldhouse, West Lothian.The club won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1946 and now play in the SJFA East Region, South Division.-Other Honours:...
. McKee retired from professional football soon after, calling time on a career that lasted twelve years and ten different clubs.