McKenzie Fred Image 3 Plymouth Argyle 1930

Description

Lochee, Dundee born centre half Fred McKenzie started his career with Scottish junior side Lochee United in 1923 before joining Newport County a year later, making his Football League debut against Northampton Town in September 1924, for whom he played 73 times between 1924 and 1926, scoring once in a 2-2 draw at Swindon Town in March 1925. He then moved to Plymouth Argyle in February 1926 due to an emerging financial crisis at Newport – his transfer, a record for the Welsh club at the time, helped secure their future. He then became a near-permanent member of the Pilgrims’ half-back line, not blessed with great pace but like many slower players he had the footballing brain to compensate.

McKenzie provided sterling service in nearly nine years at Home Park, scoring 13 goals in 214 appearances for the Home Park club. When his Argyle days were over in 1934 he returned briefly to play for Newport County making a further 23 appearances during 1934-35, but his family were settled in the Plymouth area and he returned to the city after his career finished, joining non league Devon Spurs in 1935 and playing for Oak Villa and St Luke’s (Plymouth) thereafter before hanging up his boots in the late 1930’s.