McKenzie Johnny Image 2 Aberdeen 1935

Description

Glasgow born inside right Johnny McKenzie started his football career with junior club Maryhill Hibernian before joining Scottish League club Third Lanark in 1931 where he established himself as a regular contributor, scoring 26 goals in 98 matches. From there he signed for Heart of Midlothian in 1934, making his Jambos’ debut that August in a friendly against Rapid Wien of Austria, scoring 17 goals in 37 League and Cup appearances for them over his single season at Tynecastle.

He moved to Aberdeen in the summer of 1935, he was apparently “so successful with Hearts that it was quite a surprise when he was placed on the open-to-transfer list.” Described as “a strong forcing player and a deadly marksman… he is the possessor of a deceiving body swerve which he uses to great effect”, he remained with Aberdeen until 1938 scoring 21 goals in 119 appearances over four seasons at Pittodrie, whereafter he joined Ayr United, for whom he scored 9 goals in 25 matches until the outbreak of The Second World War in 1939, and thereafter he played wartime football for Ayr United. He also played a single wartime fixture for Aberdeen in their 1942-43 season and later played for junior club St Anthony’s before his eventual retirement.