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jaffa1

Manager
Joined
Nov 4, 2012
Messages
1,270
The death earlier this month of Ian McKechnie at the age of 73 might not have shaken the football world to its core, but English football has nonetheless lost a man who managed to both make history and create a unique piece of fan culture during a distinguished lower-division career.
McKechnie was Hull City's goalkeeper for eight seasons in the 1960s and 1970s, and a good one too. He was a masterly shot-stopper but had a flaw in his make-up which involved his command of the box and anticipation. Yet this doesn't make him unlike any other keeper who doesn't quite hit the highest heights. His uniqueness came from a pre-match ritual that happened entirely by chance.
One morning after visiting City's former ground at Boothferry Park for treatment, McKechnie spotted an orange in the window of a local fishmonger's and, on impulse, nipped in to purchase it. He began to peel and eat it as he continued his short walk home and was spotted by two teenage fans who hallooed him as he strolled by. He gave them the thumbs up and thought no more of it until, while warming up in his goalmouth during the next home game, a couple of oranges landed in his net.
McKechnie nibbled on them during the match and a citrus-flavoured craze began that lasted the remainder of his City career. At every game, literally dozens of oranges would be pelted his way pre-match and, for the most part, he tried to gather them up and take them with him.
Sub-plots emerged from this harmless bit of interaction between player and supporter – McKechnie appearing in court to speak on behalf of someone who'd been arrested after chucking an orange his way at an away game was one; another involved someone declaring their love and putting their phone number on it, and the happily-married McKechnie arranging a photocall with the local newspaper for the secret admirer in question (who turned out to be a schoolgirl and her embarrassed mum).
McKechnie lost his place in 1973 and left in 1974 after more than 250 games, having joined in 1966 from Southend, who he had moved to from Arsenal in 1965. Until he was in his early 20s, he was actually a left winger. His prowess and confidence as an outfield player came to the fore in August 1970 when he decided to take a penalty in English football's first ever competitive shootout, against Manchester United in the Watney Cup. He missed.
True to form, he had already become the first keeper to save such a penalty – from Denis Law, no less – and so twice made a bit of history in the same shootout that had already made history itself. At the end of that season, he jollied about on the wing for a bit during Chris Chilton's testimonial and scored a goal against a Leeds United side who heard while the match was ongoing that they'd just the lost the League title to Arsenal.
After leaving City, he played abroad but returned to settle in the Hull area for the rest of his life, and was always happy to tell stories of how he became forever linked with the humble orange. He worked in the hospitality area of the KC Stadium for some time, and will be hugely missed. Matthew Rudd
 
What a great story , although the part that keeps popping into my head is 'buying an orange from a fishmonger' ???
 
Ian was great to watch.
He made a few mistakes on the pitch (not as many as those not playing in goal),but he made some fantastic saves and he was never never dull. He had a left kick like a mule and it is a sad thing to learn of his passing.
RIP Ian
 
Peter Goy, Ian Mckechnie and Trevor Roberts three Southend goalkeepers from the 60s, Goy always seemed much older than the other two but the only one left alive I think?

RIP Ian remember you well
 
Peter Goy, Ian Mckechnie and Trevor Roberts three Southend goalkeepers from the 60s, Goy always seemed much older than the other two but the only one left alive I think?

RIP Ian remember you well

Goy was McKechnie's senior by about three and a half years, but did indeed look much older. He is 77 now.

The first four years of the 60's, goalkeeping duties were shared between Harry Threadgold and Peter Goy with a bit of help from Norman Uprichard, in the earlier years and, later, Brian Rhodes. There was also one League game apiece for John Tennant and Ray White.

Then came 1964/5 when Ian McKechnie was ever present. A season of high-scoring matches, a couple of 6-3 wins and we conceded 4 or more on a number of occasions. One such occasion was the televised 4-1 home defeat to Mansfield on the day of Winston Churchill's funeral.

He left half way through the following season handing over the reins to the wonderful Trevor Roberts who himself was ever present from the beginning of 1966 to March 1968. Ray White was required to fill in for a few games towards the end of the season.

1968-69 started with Lawrie Leslie in goal, until he broke one bone too many and Trevor Roberts returned. Leslie attempted a return towards the end of the season, but it only amounted to a few games and Trevor Roberts saw out that truly entertaining season, despite battling against illness.

The final season of the 60's, 1969/70 saw goalkeeping duties shared between Trevor Roberts and the far from popular Brian Lloyd, Trevor Roberts playing his last game for the club in a 4-3 win at Peterborough - no prizes for guessing who got all four of our goals ! Trevor Roberts sadly passed away in 1972 at the age of 30.

Back to the original topic, I remember McKechnie taking a penalty in a match (probably not a League game) and striking the woodwork so hard the ball rebounded up to the other end, with the somewhat portly McKechnie struggling to get back. No more penalties after that !
 
Fantastic story Jaffa, thanks for posting it :thumbsup:

Rest in Peace Ian.
 
Another character leaves us.I too remember Ian very well.He would always chat to people behind the goal during a game,he had a great sense of humour.Sometimes carrying on the banter throughout the match, with whoever fancied a chat . There was one particular reserve game at Roots Hall, against QPR. Rodney Marsh was making his comeback match after recovering from a broken leg.There were over five thousand people at the match,this,on a Wednesday afternoon.Mostly QPR supporters.Marsh scored two of the goals and set up the others. McKechnie was totally bewildered on one particular goal.Marsh put the ball one side of him,and ran around the other.The swearing that was heard was heard by many in the crowd.A great cheer went up. McKechnie from thereon didn't stop talking to whoever wanted to say something.A great character,sadly missed in today's game. RIP.
 
Sorry to hear of his passing, but memories of him as keeper are not so warm.
I thought when he arrived he would pull up trees, but he was at best, OK. Recall in particular him rooted to The Den spot as a ball sailed haplessly over his head and into the net in January 1966. 2-0 to Millwall that day, and it kinda summed him for me.
All the same, another Blue into the celestial Roots Hall choir.
 
RIP Ian.

Remember seeing him in pre-seaon training at Priory Park with Frankie Banks back in the day.

Talking about training,remember a story from Johnny Wheaton (who was in the 6th form with me at WHS) and played a few reserve games for the club back in the 60's.

According to him, IM was the worst trainer in the club and would often duck out of long-distance runs starting from PP,going along the seafront before joining the others just before they ran back into the park.All this for a crafty fag or two.

Doesn't seem to have done him any harm.
 
...another involved someone declaring their love and putting their phone number on the orange, and the happily-married McKechnie arranging a photocall with the local newspaper for the secret admirer in question (who turned out to be a schoolgirl and her embarrassed mum).

Clearly a player with Sex A-peel......
 
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