Neil MacKenzie

Neil David MacKenzie (born 15 April 1976) is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. He scored 38 goals in 479 league and cup appearances across a 19-year career.

For the English scholar of Iranian languages (David) Neil MacKenzie, see David Neil MacKenzie. For the South African cricketer, see Neil McKenzie.

Neil MacKenzie
MacKenzie pictured in April 2010.
Personal information
Full name Neil David MacKenzie[1]
Date of birth (1976-04-15) 15 April 1976
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1999 Stoke City 42 (1)
1999 → Cambridge United (loan) 4 (1)
1999–2000 Cambridge United 28 (0)
2000–2001 Kidderminster Harriers 23 (3)
2001–2002 Blackpool 14 (1)
2002–2004 Mansfield Town 74 (4)
2004–2005 Macclesfield Town 24 (1)
2005–2007 Scunthorpe United 38 (4)
2006 → Hereford United (loan) 7 (0)
2007–2009 Notts County 30 (6)
2008 → Kidderminster Harriers (loan) 4 (1)
2008–2009 → Port Vale (loan) 2 (0)
2009 Mansfield Town 7 (0)
2009–2011 Tamworth 53 (1)
2011 St Neots Town 12 (0)
2011–2013 Evesham United 19 (1)
2013–2015 Halesowen Town 46 (6)
2015 Hinckley AFC 0 (0)
Total 427 (30)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Starting his career at Stoke City in 1996, after three years he moved on to Cambridge United, following a short loan period. After this he spent a season with Kidderminster Harriers, then another season with Blackpool, before signing with Mansfield Town in 2002. After two years he transferred to Scunthorpe United, where he was loaned out to Hereford United, before signing with Notts County in 2007. County loaned him back to both former club Kidderminster and Port Vale in 2008, before he joined Tamworth in 2009 via another old club, Mansfield Town. In 2011, he switched to Evesham United via St Neots Town. He joined Halesowen Town in 2013, and helped the club to the Northern Premier League Division One South title in 2013–14, then moved on to Hinckley AFC in July 2015.

Playing career

Stoke City

MacKenzie began his career at Stoke City, signing as a trainee in 1996. He made his senior debut in a First Division clash with Portsmouth on 26 October 1996, replacing Kevin Keen in stoppage time. He won his first senior start on 29 January 1997, playing in a 2–1 home defeat to Bolton Wanderers. Ten days later he scored his first competitive goal, bagging the opening goal of a 2–1 win over Oxford United at the Victoria Ground. In all he played 23 games in his maiden season for the club. He played fourteen games in the 1997–98 relegation season, including a heavy 7–0 defeat at home to Birmingham City on 10 January. He played just six Second Division games in 1998–99.

Cambridge United

Neil was loaned out in March of that year to Cambridge. Playing in four games and scoring one goal, he played a small part in the club's Third Division promotion campaign. He had impressed so much on his loan spell that Cambridge purchased him from the "Potters" for a £40,000 fee at the beginning of the 1999–2000 campaign. He went on to make 27 appearances for the "U's" that season.

Kidderminster Harriers

He was sacked by Cambridge due to "persistent misconduct" in November 2000; this followed an incident at the club's sporting dinner which left him facing a public order offence in court.[3] Following this he dropped back into the basement division to sign for Kidderminster Harriers. He played 23 league games in what was the "Harriers" first season of the league football.

Blackpool

In summer 2001, he was snapped up by Blackpool. Playing back in the third tier, he made twenty appearances throughout the 2001–02 campaign.

Mansfield Town

In August 2002, he transferred to Mansfield Town, and made 27 appearances in 2002–03. The following season he hit 38 games, also scoring five goals. This included a hat-trick against Bishop's Stortford in the FA Cup on 8 November. In February 2004, he went underwent surgery on his knee to repair cartilage damage.[4] He returned to action in time to be an extra-time substitute for Lee Williamson in the club's play-off final defeat to Huddersfield Town.[5] Huddersfield were promoted following their 4–1 penalty shoot-out success, as MacKenzie was the only "Stags" player to score his penalty.[6] He was offered a new one-year contract at the end of the season.[7]

Macclesfield Town

Brian Horton brought MacKenzie to Macclesfield Town on loan in November 2004,[8] before signing him for a nominal sum in January 2005.[9] He played eighteen games for both Macclesfield and Macclesfield in 2004–05.

Scunthorpe United

In November 2005, MacKenzie signed for Brian Laws' Scunthorpe United, after impressing whilst on loan from Macclesfield.[10] This came a month after being placed on the transfer-list at Macclesfield.[11] Initially struggling to make his mark on the first team, he was then struck down with ankle ligament damage in April.[12] During the 2006–07 campaign he found first-team opportunities limited, and was loaned to Hereford United in October.[13] After impressing, he was due to stay with the "Bulls" until the New Year, but was recalled to Glanford Park in mid-December following an injury crisis at the club.[14]

Notts County

He was released by Scunthorpe at the end of the club's League One winning season, and subsequently signed a two-year contract with League Two side Notts County in May 2007.[15] He impressed manager Steve Thompson on his debut three months later.[16] In November that year he was taken to Munich to have a hernia operation.[17] His recovery enabled him to play 32 games in 2007–08.

On 26 September 2008, he joined former club Kidderminster Harriers on a one-month loan.[18] During his stay he scored one goal in four appearances. He joined Port Vale on a one-month loan on 27 November,[19] hopeful of a permanent move later on.[20][21] However, in January 2009 he was recalled by County, having played just two games with the "Valiants".[22] Upon returning to County, MacKenzie slammed the Vale home support as 'negative', saying: "It's the worst atmosphere I've ever known at a club."[23] His contract was terminated by County on 19 January, after he failed to hold down a first team spot.[24]

Non-league

Facing a possible move to Burton Albion,[25] he instead rejoined former club Mansfield Town on non-contract terms.[26][27] He went on to play seven games before departing before the end of the season.[28]

In June 2009, he moved on to Conference National club Tamworth,[29] where he established himself as one of the fittest players at the club, despite his age.[30] He made 27 league appearances in 2009–10, helping the "Lambs" to secure their status in the top-flight of English non-league football. Playing 25 games of the 2010–11 campaign, he left Tamworth in March 2011,[31] only to return to the club the following month, in order to help out caretaker-manager Dale Belford. He made an appearance for the club as a second-half substitute in a 4–2 defeat at Wrexham.[32] Five days later he played a cameo role in the club's vital 2–1 win over Forest Green Rovers in the last game of the season. The match was a relegation dogfight and could have sent either club down, however the result meant that both club's survived, with Southport instead facing the drop (Southport were later reprieved following the expulsion of Rushden & Diamonds).

In July 2011, he signed with St Neots Town of the Southern League's Division One Central.[33] However, in December 2011, he decided to take a short break from football, before deciding on his future.[34] He then joined Evesham United of the Southern League. The club suffered relegation out of the Premier Division in 2011–12. The "Robins" posted a 14th-place finish in the Division One South & West in the 2012–13 campaign. He joined Halesowen Town of the Northern Premier League Division One South in the 2013–14 season, and helped the "Yeltz" to win promotion as the divisional champions. He made 17 appearances in the 2014–15 season. In July 2015 Mackenzie signed for Hinckley AFC.

Personal life

Mackenzie made history by becoming the first professional footballer to be a contestant on the Channel 4 show Countdown. His debut was broadcast on 30 June 2008, which he won by 71–61 on a crucial Conundrum. He won four further matches,[35] and appeared on course to become an 'Octochamp' (winning the maximum of eight heats) before losing on his sixth appearance. He appeared in the series quarter-finals on 8 December, but lost to eventual winner Junaid Mubeen, and was therefore eliminated. He won a crystal vase for his efforts.[36]

Tamworth teammate Bradley Pritchard described veteran MacKenzie as acting the "youngest out of all of us" and as being "by far the funniest person I've been out with".[37]

Statistics
Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City1996–97[38]First Division221100000231
1997–98[39]First Division120002000140
1998–99[40]Second Division6000001070
1999–00[41]Second Division2000000020
Total 421102010461
Cambridge United1998–99[40]Third Division4100000041
1999–00[41]Second Division220500000270
2000–01[42]Second Division6010200090
Total 321602000401
Kidderminster Harriers2000–01[42]Third Division233100000243
Blackpool2001–02[43]Second Division141412000204
Mansfield Town2002–03[44]Third Division241201000271
2003–04[45]Third Division352231000385
2004–05[46]League Two151201000181
Total 744633000837
Macclesfield Town2004–05[46]League Two180000000180
2005–06[47]League Two6100110072
Total 241001100252
Scunthorpe United2005–06[47]League One142200000162
2006–07[48]League One242000000242
Total 384200000404
Hereford United (loan)2006–07[48]League Two7000000070
Notts County2007–08[49]League Two296201000326
2008–09[50]League Two1000200030
Total 306203000356
Kidderminster Harriers (loan)2008–09[50]Conference National4100000041
Port Vale (loan)2008–09[50]League Two2010000030
Mansfield Town2008–09[50]Conference National7000000070
Tamworth2009–10[51]Conference National270000000270
2010–11[52]Conference National261100000271
Total 531100000541
St Neots Town2011–12[53]Southern Div. 1 Central120100030160
Evesham United2011–12[54]Southern Premier8100000081
2012–13[54]Southern Div. 1 South & West110000020130
Total 191000020211
Halesowen Town2013–14[55]Northern Div. 1 South334310020385
2014–15[55]Northern Premier League132100030172
Total 466410050387
Career total 4273030513111048038

Honours
Cambridge United
Scunthorpe United
Halesowen Town

References
  1. "Neil MacKenzie". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  2. "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2008/09". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  3. "Mackenzie sacked by Cambridge". BBC Sport. 12 November 2000. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  4. "Curle relishes tough month". BBC Sport. 26 February 2004. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  5. "Division Three play-off final player ratings". BBC Sport. 31 May 2004. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  6. Leach, Conrad (1 June 2004). "Huddersfield finish with a flourish". The Independent. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  7. "Eight leave Mansfield". BBC Sport. 4 June 2004. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  8. "MacKenzie makes Macclesfield move". BBC Sport. 26 November 2004. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  9. "Mackenzie eyes permanent switch". BBC Sport. 20 January 2005. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  10. "Iron make MacKenzie loan signing". BBC Sport. 24 November 2005. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  11. "Horton shows door to Silkmen four". BBC Sport. 17 October 2005. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  12. "Iron midfielder is out for season". BBC Sport. 6 April 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  13. "MacKenzie makes Bulls loan switch". BBC Sport. 26 October 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  14. "MacKenzie brought back from Bulls". BBC Sport. 18 December 2006. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  15. "Notts County bring in MacKenzie". BBC News. 23 May 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2007.
  16. "Magpies debutant impresses boss". BBC Sport. 12 August 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  17. "MacKenzie has surgery in Munich". BBC Sport. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  18. "Mackenzie makes Harriers return". BBC Sport. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  19. "MacKenzie seals Vale loan switch". BBC Sport. 27 November 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  20. Shaw, Steve (28 November 2008). "Port Vale: MacKenzie aiming to ensure a long stay". The Sentinel. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  21. "MacKenzie delighted to join Vale". BBC Sport. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  22. "Ace Brown signs up for rest of campaign". The Sentinel. 3 January 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  23. "Loan ace criticises 'negative' vale fans". The Sentinel. 6 January 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  24. "Midfielder MacKenzie leaves Notts". BBC SPORT. 19 January 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
  25. "MacKenzie happy with Stags return". BBC Sport. 28 January 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  26. "Mackenzie re-signs for Mansfield". BBC Sport. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  27. "MacKenzie rejoins Stags". Nottingham Post. 27 January 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  28. "Mansfield release eight players". BBC Sport. 5 May 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  29. "Blackwood pleased with Macca signing". Herald. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  30. Pritchard, Bradley (24 September 2009). "Bradley Pritchard column". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  31. "Macca leaves the Lambs". TheLambs.co.uk. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  32. "Ten men Lambs MUST win final game to survive as Wrexham hit four". TheLambs.co.uk. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  33. "Neots announce capture of Conference star". Hunts Post. 13 July 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  34. "News – Neil Mackenzie". St. Neots. 10 December 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  35. "MacKenzie claims TV quiz honours". BBC Sport. 4 July 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
  36. "Port Vale: TV date was great while it lasted". The Sentinel. 20 December 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  37. Pritchard, Bradley (10 December 2009). "Bradley Pritchard column". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  38. "Games played by Neil MacKenzie in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  39. "Games played by Neil MacKenzie in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  40. "Games played by Neil MacKenzie in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  41. "Games played by Neil MacKenzie in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  42. "Games played by Neil MacKenzie in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  43. "Games played by Neil MacKenzie in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  44. "Games played by Neil MacKenzie in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  45. "Games played by Neil MacKenzie in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  46. "Games played by Neil MacKenzie in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  47. "Games played by Neil MacKenzie in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  48. "Games played by Neil MacKenzie in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  49. "Games played by Neil MacKenzie in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  50. "Games played by Neil MacKenzie in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  51. "Games played by Neil MacKenzie in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  52. "Games played by Neil MacKenzie in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  53. "Neil Mackenzie Profile | Aylesbury United FC". www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  54. "Stats". eveshamunitedfc.com. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  55. "Stats". ht-fc.com. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
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