John Mackie - we salute you

[floyd__streete]

My mate Orient Ian reports the sad news of ‘You’ll never beat’ John Mackie’s sad retirement from the game. He has sold his shop in Islington and now runs a fruit and veg stall in Camden. Mackie is an absolute legend, beloved at the O’s, and will always be remembered by me for his celebrations – bedecked in head band and arms raised in triumph - in and amongst the stand of Reading supporters who mobbed him after a satisfying win at Walsall. Also remembered for leading the celebrations atop the players coach on return from promotion at Brentford. He wasn’t exactly Bobby Moore but he most certainly wasn’t Elroy Kromheer either; an absolute snip at whatever pittance we paid Sutton. Good luck John Mackie, may your melons always be ripe and your tomatoes plump and fulsome.

[Forbury Lion]

You'll never beat John Mackie.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Made a decent stand in captain as well when Adie was injured

[Winchester Royal]

I remember him scoring a header against Bristol City once.

[Gordons Cumming]

Why sell a shop to run a market stall?

[Hoop Blah]

He was excellent for that six months or whatever it was when he looked a like a proper defender.

Shame he couldn't quite recapture that form the following season though.

[1871royals]

He was a strange one. The only player imo who really struggled with the step up between league 1 and championship. IRC he got in the team around Dec and after that was absoultely amazing, I thought he would be one of our better players in the championship. Williams was older and slower but managed to adapt a lot better. I never and still dont understand why JM struggled so much in the championship

[Only one Trevor Morley]

A great reading legend for a season or two. I know where to get my satsumas in future

However, is the stall in the same Camden market that burnt down recently?!!

[handbags_harris]

Two headers stick in my mind - the towering one against Oldham in 02 in a 2-2 draw, outjumping the Oldham defence, and the bullet back post header to equalise against Preston in Coppell's 2nd game.

[Royalee]

Sad to hear that, best of luck to him.

[Gunny Fishcake]

I was there for his debut , years ago , can't remember when on a freezing pissing down cold night at Gigg Lane Bury , he had a fantastic game and I thought was destined for a great career , sadly not to be . Always gave his best and you can't ask for any more .

[Huntley & Palmer]

It's what Carl Asaba would have wanted

[Gordons Cumming]

Sad to hear that, best of luck to him.

What's sad? Working at a market stall?

[Tinrib]

Recently released & paid off for being crap at Brentford...

[Royalshow]

top lad

[The Surgeon of Crowthorne]

Bit of a one-season (or even half season) wonder for us. After getting dropped when his form dipped I was sure he was bound to get back in to the team eventually, & was a bit surprised he had to drop down to the bottom league with Orient to get games.

[Kevin Doyles Right Foot]

Didnt he break his leg and kept on playing for a while? Thats what i heard.

[Shaka's Giant Hands]

Didn't him and Hughsie go at it in Brannigans? Thought thats why he left?

[LoyalRoyalFan]

John Mackie was a legend when he played for us.

[Chillitsphil]

Back in division two he looked absolutely class, I was also one of those who thought he'd make the step up and be one of our better players in the championship.