John Mackenzie (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Archie Mackenzie was a Scottish
footballer
who spent most of his career with Partick Thistle
where he was known as the "Firhill Flyer".
An outside right, he joined Partick from Petershill
in 1944 and played most of the next 16 years with the Maryhill club. He played for Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
during the 1947-48 season
whilst on military service in Dorset
but became a first-team regular upon his return to Partick. During his Jags career he helped the side to three League Cup
finals, in 1953, 1956 and 1959, but they lost on each occasion.
Mackenzie was capped
nine times by the Scotland national team
, and was part of the squad which travelled to Switzerland
for the 1954 FIFA World Cup
. He scored his only international goal in a 1-1 draw with Norway
in May 1954. He is the only known Gaelic-speaker to have played for the Scottish
national team.
MacKenzie briefly left Partick in March 1958, when he signed for Fulham
for £1,000, but he returned three months later. He left the club for good in 1960, going on to play for Dumbarton
and Derry City
, where he won his only medal in the 1964 Irish Cup
. He was briefly a trainer with Third Lanark
, joining in January 1967, but the club folded later that year.
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...
who spent most of his career with 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...
where he was known as the "Firhill Flyer".
An outside right, he joined Partick from Petershill
Petershill F.C.
Petershill Football Club are a Scottish football club from Springburn in the north of Glasgow. Nicknamed the Peasy, they were formed in 1897 and are traditionally one of the stronger clubs at their level, although they have not been as successful in recent years as they have historically.The play...
in 1944 and played most of the next 16 years with the Maryhill club. He played for Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
during the 1947-48 season
1947-48 in English football
The 1947–48 season was the 68th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
whilst on military service in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
but became a first-team regular upon his return to Partick. During his Jags career he helped the side to three League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
finals, in 1953, 1956 and 1959, but they lost on each occasion.
Mackenzie was capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
nine times by the Scotland national team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, and was part of the squad which travelled to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
for the 1954 FIFA World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
. He scored his only international goal in a 1-1 draw with Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
in May 1954. He is the only known Gaelic-speaker to have played for the Scottish
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
national team.
MacKenzie briefly left Partick in March 1958, when he signed for Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
for £1,000, but he returned three months later. He left the club for good in 1960, going on to play for Dumbarton
Dumbarton F.C.
Dumbarton Football Club is Scotland's 4th oldest football club – founded in 1872, just after Queen's Park , Kilmarnock and Stranraer...
and Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
, where he won his only medal in the 1964 Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
. He was briefly a trainer with Third Lanark
Third Lanark A.C.
Third Lanark Athletic Club was a football club that originally existed between 1872 and 1967, 95 years in existence, based in Glasgow, Scotland. Third Lanark were known as Thirds, the Warriors, the Redcoats and the Hi Hi's...
, joining in January 1967, but the club folded later that year.
External links
- Profile at Londonhearts.com
- Johnny Mackenzie, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database