A Chat With Ex-Imp Aidan McKenzie

20th August 2006

Former Lincoln City FC player Aidan McKenzie has been reminiscing with The Forgotten Imp about his memories of playing for Lincoln City during the 1979 season. He played alongside such players as Gordon Hobson and Mickey Harford, and was under the managerial guidance of Colin Murphy - Aidan says: "It was the most enjoyable time of my career."

"I (have recently) spent several weeks in Ireland and did a week of coaching with the FAI... in their summer soccer camps... I really enjoyed it...I have coached there for the past 2 years.... but I am presently back in the States.

"While in Ireland I came across and old Lincoln Echo paper at my mom's house and my first game for the Imps in a reserve trial with the headline "Mystery Man" and the article was about me as I had come in and played a game and no one knew where I had come from, and got the headlines.

"I apparently did well enough for Colin Murphy to offer me a 2 year contract after 1 game... but I was home sick and went back to Ireland and agreed to come back and sign for 8 months.... Gordon Hobson, who turned out to me by best friend, was playing on the right wing and I took his place for a period of time, not that it bothered him as I understand Man Utd had made a £100,000 offer at one stage.

"The reason I know this is that Willie Bell, who had managed Lincoln before I arrived years later he and I met up in the states where together each summer we did some football camps together and he shared the story with me as he had recommended Gordon to United. That was big money in those days and Gordon looked on me as his ticket to bigger things.

"Near the end of the season Colin Murphy asked me in his office if I would sign a longer extension.... it didn't work out and is probably the biggest regret I have in my career... though I went on to play in the US with the Georgia Generals which was beautiful climate and a whole different world - flying to games and playing 2 games each week end usually.

"During my time there, someone had mentioned about working with the junior Imps, taking over from David Carr the following season, and I loved working with kids but since I did not resign I missed out on that. I would gladly welcome the chance to come and do some coaching for junior imps during a summer camp if they have any.

"My little children would love some Lincoln gear... since I have such fond remembrance of the fans who were so good to me ... I also remember Micky Harford's 21st birthday party and how tough he was when he came back from a knee injury in training. The team included Eric MacManus who was on loan from Stoke City - whose work in practice set a high standard, he went on to play for Everton, also Tony Cunningham along with Micky Harford was up front and Trevor Peake and David Carr at the back... and a young player Phil Turner a lovely young player who played in midfield whom Derby apparently had interest in.

"Colin Murphy could spot young players. John Sheridan was a coach at the time and worked with me on my crossing at great length... a real professional... Lenny Lawrence was the reserve team coach and had spoken to me at one stage about joining Man City when my contract was up... as he and Malcom Allison had been together at Plymouth and Allison then moved on to City.

"The hard thing was being a young player living for the first past in a hotel somewhere out in the country with only Gary Ball and me living there until Trevor Thompson moved there.

"I made my first team appearance as a sub against Tranmere Rovers away... and got the headlines and then in the home game against Port Vale scored only for Phil Turner to be standing offside - we had a lot of promising young players.

"I also remember an elderly lady who worked in the bar at the ground who was very kind as well as a lady who worked in the front office who appealed to me to stay on when I told her I was leaving to head back to Ireland - she must have called Colin Murphy as he came from his office and offered me a two year contract on the spot despite only 1 game and a week of training.

"Like I say it is definitely the biggest mistake I made in not signing... though i went on to play and do coaching .... That was  some of my experience."

Aidan currently lives in America where he works for Reconciliation Ministries. You can visit their website by clicking here.