Jim McKenzie (footballer)
Encyclopedia
James R. McKenzie was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in Scotland and England in the 1890s.
and trained as an upholsterer
, playing amateur football for various clubs in the northern half of the city before moving to England in September 1896 to join Burton Swifts
of the Football League Second Division
.
At Burton he had a successful season, missing only four league matches, scoring five goals, as the Swifts finished the 1896–97 season in eleventh place. He then returned to Glasgow to spend a season with Clyde
, at the end of which they finished at the foot of the table.
In the summer of 1898, he was persuaded to move to southern England
to join the Southern League
champions, Southampton
. The "Saints" were about to embark on their first season in their new stadium and McKenzie made his debut for Southampton in the opening match at The Dell, against Brighton United
on 3 September 1898.
After Watty Keay
had opened the scoring, McKenzie (playing at outside-left) missed some good chances as the Saints put pressure on the Brighton goal. As half-time approached, McKenzie made a "smart run up the left" and crossed for Abe Hartley
to score the second goal. McKenzie then added a third in the second half, and although Brighton pulled one back through Roddy McLeod
, Tom Smith
wrapped the match up with the fourth goal.
The appreciative Saints fans dubbed McKenzie "little Joe Turner
", but after only six appearances the lightweight, diminutive winger lost his place to George Seeley
, and returned to Scotland.
Football career
McKenzie was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and trained as an upholsterer
Upholstery
Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. The word upholstery comes from the Middle English word upholder, which referred to a tradesman who held up his goods. The term is equally applicable to domestic,...
, playing amateur football for various clubs in the northern half of the city before moving to England in September 1896 to join Burton Swifts
Burton Swifts F.C.
Burton Swifts were an English football club from Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club ceased to exist in 1901 when they merged with Burton Wanderers to form Burton United.-History:...
of the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
.
At Burton he had a successful season, missing only four league matches, scoring five goals, as the Swifts finished the 1896–97 season in eleventh place. He then returned to Glasgow to spend a season with Clyde
Clyde F.C.
Clyde Football Club are a Scottish professional football team currently playing in the Third Division of the Scottish Football League. Although based for the last fifteen years in the new town of Cumbernauld, they are traditionally associated with an area that covers Rutherglen in South...
, at the end of which they finished at the foot of the table.
In the summer of 1898, he was persuaded to move to southern England
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
to join the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
champions, Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
. The "Saints" were about to embark on their first season in their new stadium and McKenzie made his debut for Southampton in the opening match at The Dell, against Brighton United
Brighton United F.C.
Brighton United F.C. were an association football club based in Brighton, Sussex who were active for a few years at the end of the 19th century....
on 3 September 1898.
After Watty Keay
Watty Keay
Walter "Watty" Keay was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs, including Partick Thistle in Scotland and Derby County and Southampton in England...
had opened the scoring, McKenzie (playing at outside-left) missed some good chances as the Saints put pressure on the Brighton goal. As half-time approached, McKenzie made a "smart run up the left" and crossed for Abe Hartley
Abe Hartley
Abraham "Abe" Hartley was a Scottish footballer who played for Everton as a centre forward for five years in the 1890s. He also played for Merseyside rivals Liverpool and for his local club, Dumbarton. His career also included stints at Southampton, Woolwich Arsenal and Burnley at the end of his...
to score the second goal. McKenzie then added a third in the second half, and although Brighton pulled one back through Roddy McLeod
Roddy McLeod
Roderick McLeod was a Scottish professional footballer who was part of the West Bromwich Albion team which won the FA Cup in 1892, and was a losing finalist in 1895.-West Bromwich Albion:...
, Tom Smith
Tom Smith (footballer born 1877)
Thomas "Tom" Smith was a professional English footballer who played at outside-right for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century.-Football career:...
wrapped the match up with the fourth goal.
The appreciative Saints fans dubbed McKenzie "little Joe Turner
Joe Turner (footballer)
Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier...
", but after only six appearances the lightweight, diminutive winger lost his place to George Seeley
George Seeley
George Alfred Seeley was an English professional footballer who played for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century, including Southampton in 1898–99, where he helped win the Southern League championship....
, and returned to Scotland.
Honours
SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
- Southern LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
champions: 1898–99Southern Football League 1898-99The 1898-99 season was the fifth in the history of the Southern League. Southampton were Division One champions for the third season in a row. Division Two was split into two regional leagues, with the overall Division Two champions being decided in a playoff in which Thames Ironworks defeated...