Jim McKenzie
Jim McKenzie
Jim McKenzie
● Jim McKenzie, 1898 (SAIP)

born in Scotland

James Ross McKenzie was born on Tuesday, 17th August, 1875, in Glasgow.

The 5' 6 forward signed for Thistle in August, 1896, having most recently been with East Stirlingshire.

Aged 21, he made his only known appearance on Saturday, 5th September, 1896, in a 2-1 win at home to Renton in the SFL Second Division.

That day, Jim became a member of our scoring debutant's club.

His club-list included Possilpark, Cowlairs, Alloa Athletic, East Stirlingshire, Partick Thistle, Burton Swifts, Clyde and Southampton.

Jim died on Friday, 18th May, 1945, in Paisley, Renfrewshire, aged 69.

Bio Extra

Jim played outside left, and at 5 feet 6 inches tall, he was a small player for the period, when tackles could be robust. He worked as an upholsterer, beginning his football career as an amateur with Possilpark, Cowlairs, Alloa Athletic and East Stirlingshire before joining Thistle in August 1896. He made one appearance for the Jags, a 2-1 SFL 2nd Division victory over Renton at Inchview on 5 September 1896. Jim scored the opening goal in his only match, with Willie Paul getting the other Thistle goal. Later that month he moved to Burton Swifts for the rest of the 1896-97 season, where he played on around 26 occasions. At the end of that season, he moved back to Glasgow to play for Clyde.

The following year Jim moved to Southampton, making his debut in the first-ever match at The Dell, Southampton’s new stadium. He scored in the contest between Southampton and Brighton United on 3 September 1898, which the home side won by 4 goals to 1. The first ever goal at the new stadium was scored by former Jag Watty Keay. Jim scored the Saints’ 3rd, and Roddy McLeod, a former team mate of Watty with Thistle, scored the only Brighton United goal, the first opposition goal at The Dell. And so it came to be that 3 of the first 5 goals scored at The Dell were by former Jags, what were the odds?! Jim suffered a serious leg injury in November 1898, and returned to Scotland. He rejoined Clyde, but only stayed with the club for a season. He passed away in Paisley in May 1945, aged 69.

(DMAC)



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