Born: Aberdeen 28th June 1909
Died: Aberdeen Royal infirmary 1st September 1931

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This year at the annual AFC Heritage Trust Remembrance event Daniel McKenzie will be added to the Roll of Honour.

He will be the second Heavenly Dancer to be enrolled not because he died in the service of his Country, but because he died in the service of our Club.

It is very rare for a player to die because of playing football, but sadly it does happen.

Last year we inducted Patrick Doolan, another young man with great footballing potential, who lost his life because of a head wound that he suffered in a reserve match in 1926. Now it is the turn of Daniel McKenzie to join the Roll of Honour this week – and to be remembered every year thereafter.

An exciting winger, signed from Parkvale, Daniel played only three competitive first team games for the Dons.

In his third, against Dundee at Dens Park on the 20th September 1930, he was seriously injured in a “heavy collision” with Dundee defender Finlay Brown who kicked him in the stomach. He had to be carried from the pitch but, against medical advice, resumed playing after the interval and completed the match.

After the match he became very sick and was taken to Dundee Royal Infirmary where he underwent an operation that night to deal with internal injuries, and had a kidney removed.

McKenzie returned to his home in Aberdeen, and he appeared to have got over his mishap, but about a fortnight later he suffered a relapse, and was admitted to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where his condition gradually became worse.

Sadly, as a result of the injury almost a year after it had happened, on 1st September 1931 he died.

He was buried at St Peter’s Cemetery on King Street with members of the Parkvale Football Club acting as pallbearers and with a large attendance from Aberdeen FC, including all of the players and officials. Large crowds lined the route to the cemetery, paying silent respect to a young and promising footballer, whose life had ended so tragically.

Before Daniel’s death, Aberdeen had paid him £154 (about £2800 now) because of the injury. On 22nd of December 1931, agreement was reached between the Club and Daniel’s family for compensation of £137 to be paid in accordance with the Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1925.

The agreement was registered at the Sherriff Court in Aberdeen with the Court taking responsibility to ensure that the money was properly managed. The compensation seems small by today’s standards, but at the time professional players were only likely to be earning less than £5 per week. In Daniel’s case he was being paid £3 10s per week.

Amazingly, Daniel played one more game – only nine days after his operation – against Huddersfield Town in a friendly match. After that he played no more, but he will not be forgotten as we salute so many players who died for Club or Country.