Chris MacKenzie
Encyclopedia
Christopher Neil Mackenzie (born 14 May 1972 in Northampton
) is an English
football player. He is a goalkeeper and plays for Alfreton Town
in the Conference North
.
Mackenzie has also played for Hereford United
and even scored a goal for them. The goal was scored against Barnet on the opening day of the 1995–96 season and the conceding goalkeeper was none other than Maik Taylor
, who was making his league début on that very day. As well as Shrewsbury and Hereford and several non-league clubs, Mackenzie has played in the Football League
for Leyton Orient
and Chester City
.
Mackenzie signed for Shrewsbury on 15 May 2006 on the Bosman ruling
from Chester City, where he had spent two years as predominantly first choice goalkeeper. He started the season as second choice goalkeeper behind Ryan Esson
, but was handed his club début on 22 August 2006 in the League Cup
match at Birmingham City
, which Town lost 1–0. By mid-September Mackenzie had gained a spot in the starting line-up, and shortly afterwards, Esson suffered an injury in a reserve fixture, giving Mackenzie a chance to make an extended run in the team.
As Esson continued to struggle, Mackenzie found himself competing with loanee Scott Shearer
for a place in the starting eleven. In the closing month of the season Shearer was being picked ahead of Mackenzie but (due to an agreement made prior to his loan signing) was not allowed to play against his parent-club Bristol Rovers
in the League Two play-off final. At the age of 35, MacKenzie subsequently got his chance to line up at Wembley
for the first time, though Shrewsbury succumbed to a 3–1 defeat.
On 21 September 2007, Mackenzie joined Conference side Kidderminster Harriers
on a month long loan to provide cover for the injured Scott Bevan
. Despite having an bad début at Aggborough where he got lobbed from 40 yards this was later extended by a further month, and he returned to Shrewsbury in November. However, Mackenzie made the permanent move to Kidderminster on 31 January 2008, as part of a deal that saw Bevan move in the opposite direction.
At the end of the 2007–08 season he was released by Kidderminster Harriers. Mackenzie then signed for Hinckley United
in May 2008.
He rejoined his first club, Corby Town
in May 2010, before signing for Alfreton Town
in 2011.He helped alfreton win promotion into the blue square premier but alfreton decided to turn to a full time football club and chris liked his career outside of football so he rejoined corby town at the start of the 2011-2012 season. where at the moment he has helped them reach the first round proper of the f.a cup where they will play league 2 side bristol rovers.
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football player. He is a goalkeeper and plays for Alfreton Town
Alfreton Town F.C.
Alfreton Town F.C. is an English football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The club was reformed after a merger between Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United in 1959...
in the Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
.
Mackenzie has also played for Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
and even scored a goal for them. The goal was scored against Barnet on the opening day of the 1995–96 season and the conceding goalkeeper was none other than Maik Taylor
Maik Taylor
Maik Stefan Taylor is a professional footballer who plays for Leeds United and is a former Northern Ireland international....
, who was making his league début on that very day. As well as Shrewsbury and Hereford and several non-league clubs, Mackenzie has played in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
and Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
.
Mackenzie signed for Shrewsbury on 15 May 2006 on the Bosman ruling
Bosman ruling
Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association ASBL v Jean-Marc Bosman is a 1995 European Court of Justice decision concerning freedom of movement for workers, freedom of association, and direct effect of article 39 of the EC Treaty...
from Chester City, where he had spent two years as predominantly first choice goalkeeper. He started the season as second choice goalkeeper behind Ryan Esson
Ryan Esson
Ryan Esson is a Scottish professional football goalkeeper currently playing for Inverness Caledonian Thistle.-Aberdeen:...
, but was handed his club début on 22 August 2006 in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
match at Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, which Town lost 1–0. By mid-September Mackenzie had gained a spot in the starting line-up, and shortly afterwards, Esson suffered an injury in a reserve fixture, giving Mackenzie a chance to make an extended run in the team.
As Esson continued to struggle, Mackenzie found himself competing with loanee Scott Shearer
Scott Shearer
Scott Shearer is a Scottish footballer who plays for Crawley Town as a goalkeeper.-Career:Born in Glasgow, Shearer began his career in Scotland with Albion Rovers before moving to amateur side Tower Hearts. He then returned to Albion before joining Coventry City in 2003...
for a place in the starting eleven. In the closing month of the season Shearer was being picked ahead of Mackenzie but (due to an agreement made prior to his loan signing) was not allowed to play against his parent-club Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
in the League Two play-off final. At the age of 35, MacKenzie subsequently got his chance to line up at Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
for the first time, though Shrewsbury succumbed to a 3–1 defeat.
On 21 September 2007, Mackenzie joined Conference side Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
on a month long loan to provide cover for the injured Scott Bevan
Scott Bevan
Scott Bevan is an English footballer and currently plays as a goalkeeper for League Two side Bristol Rovers.-Football career:...
. Despite having an bad début at Aggborough where he got lobbed from 40 yards this was later extended by a further month, and he returned to Shrewsbury in November. However, Mackenzie made the permanent move to Kidderminster on 31 January 2008, as part of a deal that saw Bevan move in the opposite direction.
At the end of the 2007–08 season he was released by Kidderminster Harriers. Mackenzie then signed for Hinckley United
Hinckley United F.C.
Hinckley United Football Club are an English football club, from Hinckley, Leicestershire currently playing in the Conference North. Formed only in 1997, the club has risen from the Southern League Midland/West Division to the Conference North in those 14 years...
in May 2008.
He rejoined his first club, Corby Town
Corby Town F.C.
Corby Town F.C. is an English football club based in Corby, Northamptonshire. They will be members of the Conference North for the 2011–12 season. The Steelmen play their home games at the newly built Steel Park, adjacent to their previous ground, Rockingham Triangle Sports Stadium, which is...
in May 2010, before signing for Alfreton Town
Alfreton Town F.C.
Alfreton Town F.C. is an English football club based in Alfreton, Derbyshire. The club was reformed after a merger between Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United in 1959...
in 2011.He helped alfreton win promotion into the blue square premier but alfreton decided to turn to a full time football club and chris liked his career outside of football so he rejoined corby town at the start of the 2011-2012 season. where at the moment he has helped them reach the first round proper of the f.a cup where they will play league 2 side bristol rovers.
Honours
- Football League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
play-off finalists, 2006-072006-07 in English footballThe 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
, Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury Town F.C.Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
.