McKinnell Jimmy Image 3 Blackburn Rovers 1923

Description

Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbrightshire born left half Jimmy McKinnell joined Ayr United in 1913 from local junior club Dalbeattie Star, and after a spell at Nithsdale Wanderers in 1914, played for Queen of the South a year later. Once peacetime football resumed after the First World War , he signed for First Division club Blackburn Rovers in December 1920 with the proceeds going towards Queens’ purchase of Palmerston Park, McKinnell making his Football League debut at Middlesbrough on New Year’s Day 1921,

McKinnell enjoyed six seasons in Lancashire making 125 appearances for Rovers, missing only one match in their 1922-23 campaign and he played in their 1925 FA Cup semi final defeat to Cardiff City at Meadow Lane, Nottingham. He moved to Second Division club Darlington in July 1926 and spent three full seasons at Feethams, making 109 appearances and scoring his only career goal against South Shields in an 8-2 massacre in April 1927. In July 1929 he returned to Lancashire with Nelson, making 11 appearances for The Admirals during 1929-30 before hanging up his boots at the end of the season, already aged 37.

NB in the photograph taken at Highbury on 1st December 1923, McKinnell (right) clears from Arsenal centre forward Andrew Young watched by Blackburn’s Jock Mackay. Both Mackay and Young scored their team’s opening goals in a 2-2 draw.