Keith Mackay on comeback trail?

Press, 10 March 1987, Page 52

Keith Mackay on comeback trail?

PA Auckland A former All White, Keith Mackay, could be talked into a return to national league football this season and possibly even the international arena. The hint came from the All Whites coach, Kevin Fallon, at the week-end. Mackay stepped down from both levels after the 1984 season. He spent 1985 in the Northern League first division with Eden before moving up to the Swiss Maid league last year with John Adshead’s successful Roskill side. And on Sunday the diminutive mid-fielder turned out for North Shore in the Qantas Pacific Cup Winners’ Cup match against Sydney City at Devonport. Shore lost, 0-2, but Mackay was one of the more effective players on the field and certainly looked up to national league football. He was on loan from Roskill on Sunday but Shore’s coach, Mr Fallon, indicated he was interested in securing

Mackay on a permanent basis; and in his capacity as All Whites coach, Mr Fallon said he felt Mackay still had something to offer the national team. “He still might have an Olympic campaign in him,” said Mr Fallon. “He is a young 30 year old. He is fit and as productive on the ball as anyone in the country. “If he came to North

Shore, we would have the best midfield in the league. We are short up front but we are looking overseas to solve that.” Mackay was one of the stars of New Zealand’s 1982 World Cup campaign which went all the way to the finals in Spain. He last played in the busy 1984 season which involved Olympic qualifying matches in Singapore and a tour of Fiji and Britain. Most of his time over the' last two years has been taken up with his job at the Otahuhu YMCA. “That felt good out there,” said Mackay after the Sydney match. “We’re just at the talking stage over coming to Shore at the moment." Mackay felt he was still up to the rigours of the national league. But what about international football? "I don’t know about that one,” he said. “Kevin is pretty good at twisting your arm.” Mackay played in the national league with Gisborne City, Nelson United and Manurewa between 1973 and 1984.