McKechnie, James

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Fullname: James McKechnie
aka: Jazzer, Jamie McKechnie
Born: 5 Nov 1964
Birthplace: Glasgow
Signed: 5 Apr 1978 (S Form), 27 Jan 1984 (full)
Left: 1986 (free); 1986 (Derry City)
Position: Midfield
Debut: Celtic 0-0 Hibernian, League, 11 Aug 1984
Internationals: none for senior

Biog

James McKechnie was a product of Celtic Boys Club who was tempted south by Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest in 1981.

An outstanding youth prospect who was capped regularly by Scotland at under 18 level the young midfielder failed to settle in England and returned to Celtic in January 1984.

For Scotland Boys’ Club, he played for the national side in an eight nation tournament in Nantes (France) and was nominated for “Player of the Tournament” despite Scotland coming third. This is what led Brian Clough to desperately sign him for Notts Forest, flying him over for the European Cup semi-final v Cologne to entice him to sign, where he likely watched future Celtic manager Martin O’Neill play for Notts Forest that day.

At Celtic, his debut came in a 0-0 league draw with Hibernian on 11th August 1984 coming on as a sub with just seven mins left on the clock.

He was to be a regular in the successful Celtic reserve side during the 1984/85 season who won the reserve league and cup double and was rewarded with a further first team start against Dundee at Parkhead on 4th May 1985 when a lacklustre Celtic went down by 1-0. It was Dundee’s first win at Celtic Park since 1975.

Sadly, McKechnie did not fulfil his early promise. Through the 1985/86 season he played steadily for the Reserves but made just one representative Celtic first team appearance in a friendly against Stirling Albion on the 7th December 1985. It meant he lost out on a chance to play in the league title winning run that season.

He was given little opportunity thereafter to further prove himself, with just two league appearances in total for the first team. He did get to play in one final match, a 3-2 defeat to Queen’s Park in the Glasgow Cup semi-finals. So sadly he never got to taste victory in a cup or league match.

He moved on for a short loan spell with Norwich in March 1986 to help him gain first team experience, but was finally released by the Bhoys in the summer of 1986.

He subsequently joined Derry City in 1986 with whom he finished his career.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

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