Alec Mackie
Encyclopedia
John Alexander "Alec" Mackie (23 February 1903 – June 1984) was an Irish footballer who played as a defender for various clubs, including Arsenal
and Portsmouth
in the English Football League.
, County Antrim
, Mackie started out at Monkstown and Forth River in Belfast
, before being spotted by Arsenal
in 1922. Bizarrely, Mackie demanded a pet monkey
in place of a signing-on fee, a request Arsenal managed to satisfy thanks to chairman Sir Henry Norris
's contacts in international trade.
Mackie was a young, strong right back, and made his debut on 9 December 1922 against Birmingham City
. He soon became a regular in the Arsenal side, making 23 league appearances that season and 31 the next. He also made his debut for Ireland
, against Wales
on 14 April 1923. However, he became injured early on in 1924-25
and missed most of that season. Although Mackie would return to first-team football, managing 35 league appearances in 1925-26
, future Arsenal skipper Tom Parker
joined in spring 1926 and soon ousted Mackie from the side altogether.
Mackie played two more seasons for Arsenal, mostly in the reserves, before leaving for Portsmouth
in 1928. In all he made 119 appearances for Arsenal, scoring one goal. At Portsmouth, Mackie became a stalwart for the next seven seasons; he made over 250 league appearances for Pompey, and played in two FA Cup Final
s – against Bolton Wanderers
in 1929 and Manchester City
in 1934, losing both. He also won two more caps for Northern Ireland. He left Portsmouth in 1936, and finished his career at non-league Northampton Town
and then Sittingbourne
. He died in 1984 at the age of 81.
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
in the English Football League.
Football career
Born in MonkstownMonkstown, County Antrim
Monkstown is the name of a townland and electoral ward in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is within the urban area called Newtownabbey and the wider Newtownabbey Borough. The townland was previously called Ballynamanagh...
, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Mackie started out at Monkstown and Forth River in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, before being spotted by Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in 1922. Bizarrely, Mackie demanded a pet monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
in place of a signing-on fee, a request Arsenal managed to satisfy thanks to chairman Sir Henry Norris
Henry Norris
Sir Henry George Norris was an English businessman, politician and football club director, most famous for his chairmanship of both Fulham and Arsenal...
's contacts in international trade.
Mackie was a young, strong right back, and made his debut on 9 December 1922 against 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...
. He soon became a regular in the Arsenal side, making 23 league appearances that season and 31 the next. He also made his debut for Ireland
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
, against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
on 14 April 1923. However, he became injured early on in 1924-25
1924-25 in English football
The 1924–25 season was the 50th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
and missed most of that season. Although Mackie would return to first-team football, managing 35 league appearances in 1925-26
1925-26 in English football
The 1925–26 season was the 51st season of competitive football in England. This marked the year that Huddersfield Town won the League three years running, making them the first team in Football League history to do so.-Honours:-First Division:...
, future Arsenal skipper Tom Parker
Tom Parker (footballer)
Thomas Robert "Tom" Parker was an English football player and manager.-Southampton:Born in Woolston, Southampton, Parker began playing with local sides, such as Sholing Rangers and Sholing Athletic, before joining Southern League side Southampton as an amateur in 1918, just before the end of the...
joined in spring 1926 and soon ousted Mackie from the side altogether.
Mackie played two more seasons for Arsenal, mostly in the reserves, before leaving for Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
in 1928. In all he made 119 appearances for Arsenal, scoring one goal. At Portsmouth, Mackie became a stalwart for the next seven seasons; he made over 250 league appearances for Pompey, and played in two FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
s – against Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in 1929 and Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
in 1934, losing both. He also won two more caps for Northern Ireland. He left Portsmouth in 1936, and finished his career at non-league Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
and then Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne F.C.
Sittingbourne F.C. are a football club based in Sittingbourne, Kent, England. They were established in 1886 and were founder members of the Kent League. They have reached the 2nd round of the FA Cup at least twice in their history...
. He died in 1984 at the age of 81.