R.I.P Ian McKechnie

I'm really sad to hear of Ian's death - he was a smashing character and obviously loved to play the game. I think he was originally an outfield player and that he'd actually been on Arsenal's books before converting to goalkeeper at Southend. His kicking was a big feature of his game but it was his strength and confidence that always struck me - big brave and no hesitation when coming off his line.
RIP

 

I am Ian's younger brother and I am amazed by the memories and comments on this forum. Indeed Ian first joined Arsenal as an outside left, his apprenticeship year was coming to an end and he was being released from the ground staff. However during a bounce match they were a goalie short, Ian volunteered and the manager George Swindin, himself a former goalie, saw potential there. Ian featured in less than 30 first team games for Arsenal but played in goal against Real Madrid, who had arranged a friendly, in those days Arsenal sadly were never in European competitions, he also played against Glasgow Rangers in Jack Kelsey's testimonial game. Ian's brother-in-law was also an Arsenal goalie, the late Jack McClelland from Northern Ireland. Arsenal then favoured Bob Wilson as number one and Ian got a free transfer signing for Southend United. After two seasons at Roots Hall he was given another free transfer and this is when he wrote to all the teams in the Football League looking for a trial, he was about to sign for a stint in Australia before Hull City offered him a trial. He played most of his football and it was here I saw him play many times for The Tigers with the great Chris Chilton and Ken Wagstaff. Hull City were later managed by Terry Neill and assisted by Tommy Docherty, these two were at Arsenal when Ian was there, incidentally both Neill and Docherty were also part time managers of Northern Ireland and Scotland whilst at Hull City. The great first penalty shoot out in the semi-final of the Watney Cup against the mighty Manchester United with the trinity Law, Best and Charlton was a night to remember and I was fortunate to be there to first see Ian concede the first ever penalty taken in a shoot out by the late great George Best, Ian then became the first goalie to save, diving to deny Denis Law, with the penalties tied Ian stepped up to become the first goalie to take a penalty.....only to blast it over the bar, Alex Stephney said he had tipped it over but Ian later told me if had done that he'd have broken his wrist with the power of the kick. Ironically had Ian scored with that last of Hull's five penalties, it wouldn't have gone to sudden death but to another five penalties each, Ian told me the Ref said to him as they left the pitch 'Thank goodness you missed that Ian, I've a train to catch home!'

At the end of his time at Hull City he played in America for the Boston Minutemen, even here his kick was noted and there was a chance that he was going to get a try as a goal kicker in American Football, however there was a strike at the time and this didn't come to anything.

It's great that so many have taken to time to remember him and his family at this sad time.

Ian left Scotland in 1958, when I was just four, but unlike other Anglo Scots, Ian never lost his accent and when I phoned him he always wanted to know the Scottish Junior Football results especially following the fortunes of Kirkintilloch Rob Roy who were the first team he supported with his father.

I visited Ian and Avril last year and he was still the usual character though a bit more subdued, when I meet folk I've not seen for ages they wouldn't ask how I was getting but how Ian was getting on, he'll be sadly missed by family and friends, but thanks for the memories Ian.

 

No thank you sir..... Like it has been said he was a legend. and never forgotten. .

 

Brilliant that thank you.

Hopefully it can be transferred to the history thread.

 

Here a few more photos of Ian, hope copyright isn't an issue.

 

Moved to Brantingham just over a year ago (for six months of each year) and didn't know we were living three or four cottages away from a legend.

 

Excellent sir and thank you for the post, good idea from Chazz, a final transfer for the big guy the History Thread awaits this.

 

An excellent post, and many thanks for coming onto this board to share your memories along with ours.

 

Great post.
My most abiding memory of Ian was when he came to my town to knock down a pile of pennies in my local club. I believe it was for a charity to do with the blind which Ian supported. The landlord told him I was a big City fan and he came over to have a chat. He was being bought drinks and he had 6 or 7 pints of Double Diamond but turned down my offer of another as he had a big game on Tuesday. (This was a Sunday night. How times have changed.). The big game was The Battle Of Bramall Lane. Coming out of the ground and making my way through the police and general shenanigans you got after games in those days I heard a banging. Turning round I saw it was Ian who had spotted me and was giving a cheery thumbs up. A few years ago my son was at a corporate do and was talking to Ian and Boaz Myhill and rang me up to ask me if he was being wound up by them about him being in the company of two City keepers as he was before his time. I told him the story above which he repeated to Ian who told him he remembered the night he knocked down the pennies just before the Sheffield Utd game. Maybe he was just being polite but it would be nice to think he had remembered it.
Modern players may have more fame and money but they won't be regarded in future years with the affection that Ian and his generation are.

 

At Ian's funeral yesterday (23rd June) at Brantingham churchyard it was fitting to see family and friends throw oranges into his grave as he was buried. Great memories and thanks for all the tributes.

 

The thought of that brings a smile to the face and a tear to the eye at the same time, Jim.

A fitting tribute.

 

A really nice tribute to Ian, which I am sure he will be looking down with a smile on his face.

 

Thanks Jim Although very sad sounds quite a fitting tribute to one of the real Hull City legends. Thanks again.

 

When I'm fit and well enough I may even pay a visit for my final respects, and yes leave an orange.

 

It certainly brought a tear to my eye.

 

My wife and I were at the service at the crowded church. Mixture of relatives, friends, neighbors and footballers. Paddy Greenwood gave a great tribute, and Ken Wagstaff, Ken Houghton and many more footballers that I unfortunately did not recognize were there. A very moving service and a fitting tribute to a great servant to Hull City. I would say one of our legends.

 

Hope you took an orange along Yardley! I first saw Ian play when I went to work in London in 1963 and lived close to Highbury. It was in Arsenal's first competitive European match against a team from Denmark and it turned out to be his last match for them as he was transferred to Southend United soon after.

I left the UK before he played for Hull City and only saw him in a couple of City matches when I returned to Hull for brief spells in '68 and '71.

RIP. Ian.

 

Well, I wore my City tie and had an orange (actually a little clementine) in my pocket but the graveside service after the service inside the church was for relatives only so most of us stood on the path nearby.

 

There were a couple of folks came forward with oranges and it was a shame you never grasped the moment, I think they feared the ground would have proved unstable with such a crowd, but you could have chucked Ian an orange after we left. Thanks Yardley Tiger and others who attended and indeed all those who paid tribute to Ian, no doubt the occasional orange will be found by his grave.