Neil MacKenzie

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Neil MacKenzie
Personal information
Full name	Neil David MacKenzie
Date of birth	15 April 1976 (1976-04-15) (age 33)
Place of birth	Birmingham, England
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing position	Central Midfield
Club information
Current club	Tamworth
Number	6
Youth career
–1996	Stoke City
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1996–1999 1999 1999–2000 2000–2001 2001–2002 2002–2004 2004–2005 2005–2007 2006 2007–2009 2008 2008–2009 2009 2009–	Stoke City → Cambridge United (loan) Cambridge United Kidderminster Harriers Blackpool Mansfield Town Macclesfield Town Scunthorpe United → Hereford United (loan) Notts County → Kidderminster Harriers (loan) → Port Vale (loan) Mansfield Town Tamworth	041 0(1) 004 0(1) 028 0(0) 023 0(3) 014 0(1) 071 0(4) 024 0(1) 037 0(4) 007 0(0) 030 0(6) 004 0(1) 002 0(0) 0070(0) 0000(0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of May 30, 2009. * Appearances (Goals)

Neil MacKenzie (born 15 April 1976 in Birmingham) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder. He currently plays for Tamworth, where he signed in May 2009 after being released from Mansfield Town.

[edit] Club career

MacKenzie began his career at Stoke City, signing as a trainee in 1996. For the end of March and start of April in 1998-99 he was on loan at Cambridge, playing in 4 games and scoring in 1. He impressed so much that in October of 1999 Cambridge purchased him from City for £40,000. After a year at the club he moved on to Kidderminster Harriers and then to Blackpool, staying at each club for 8 months and 12 months respectively.

In 2002 he joined Mansfield Town, he stayed for two seasons and played in 87 matches, before moving on to Macclesfield Town.

In 2005, MacKenzie signed for Scunthorpe United, after impressing whilst on loan from Macclesfield. During the 2006-07 he found first-team opportunities limited, and was loaned to Hereford United during the first half of the season. After impressing, he was due to stay with the Bulls until the New Year, but was recalled to Glanford Park in mid-December.

He was released by Scunthorpe at the end of the season, and subsequently signed a 2 year contract with League Two side Notts County in May 2007.^[1]

He joined Port Vale on a one month loan on 27 November 2008.^[2] However he has stated his intentions to stay at the club for much longer, possibly signing on a permanent basis when he becomes a free agent at the end of the season.^[3] However in January 2009 he was recalled by County having played just 2 games with the Valiants.^[4] 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."^[5]

His contract was terminated by County on 19 January 2009 after failing to hold down a first team spot.^[6] He subsequently rejoined Mansfield Town, where he also played between 2002 and 2004.

[edit] Other activities

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^[7] and appeared on course to become an 'Octochamp' (winning the maximum of eight heats) before losing on his sixth appearance. He appeared in the quarter-finals on 8 December, but lost to eventual winner Junaid Mubeen, and was therefore eliminated. He won a crystal vase for his efforts.^[8]

[edit] Statistics

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Neil MacKenzie career stats at Soccerbase
• Player profile at nottscountyfc.co.uk
• Player profile at harriers-online.co.uk
• Player profile at port-vale.co.uk