Steven Mackay
Personal information
Date of birth (1981-06-26) 26 June 1981
Place of birth Inverness,[1] Scotland
Position(s) Secondary striker
Team information
Current team
 Nairn County (Player/Manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2005 Ross County 92 (4)
2000 → Elgin City (loan) 5 (0)
2002 → Elgin City (loan) 11 (2)
2005–2006 Forres Mechanics 32 (16)
2006–2007 Elgin City 35 (4)
2007–2008 Peterhead 17 (2)
2008–2009 Elgin City 38 (3)
2009–2012 Nairn County 115 (86)
2012–2020 Brora Rangers 246 (210)
2020-2020 → Invergordon (loan) 3 (1)
2022-2022 Rothes 11 (3)
2022- Nairn County 12 (4)
Total 608 (328)
Managerial career
2018–2021 Brora Rangers
2021–2022 Elgin City (assistant)
2022– Nairn County
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 November 2022

Steven Mackay (born 26 June 1981) is a Scottish football manager and player. After a spell as assistant manager of Scottish League Two club Elgin City,[2] he now manages Highland League club, Nairn County.

Playing career

Mackay began his career with Ross County, for whom he made 92 appearances over seven seasons in the Scottish League,[3] which included five seasons in the First Division.[4] He also played in the lower divisions of the league for Elgin City and Peterhead, and for Highland League clubs Forres Mechanics[5] and Nairn County.[6]

He signed for Brora Rangers in 2012,[7] and won the Highland League title with them in the 2013–14 season[8] and 2014-15 season. In the play offs Brora won the chance for promotion to the Scottish Football League for the first time in their history, but with Brora ahead Mackay was sent off and they lost.[9] He then won the Highland League Cup with the club the following year and won the North of Scotland Cup on 4 occasions as a Brora player.

Mackay briefly had a one-month loan spell at the end of 2020 with North Caledonian League club Invergordon F.C. with Brora Rangers season yet to start.[10] He retired from playing duties to focus on management in December 2020 following a 5–1 victory over Wick Academy in which he scored the last of his 210 goals for the club.[11]

Mackay briefly came out of retirement during the 2022-23 season to play for Rothes.[12] During his time at the club, he played in 11 matches scoring 3 times.[13]

Mackay came out of retirement again during his spell as Nairn County manager. Due to a scarcity of left-back options at the club, Mackay filled in a left back for the club at the age of 42.[14]

Managerial career

Brora Rangers

Mackay became player-manager at Brora Rangers in May 2018.[15] In his first year, the club finished second in the 2018–19 season behind winners Cove Rangers. Mackay lead the club to another North of Scotland Cup and his first trophy as manager, beating Inverness Caledonian Thistle 3–2 in the final.[16]

In his second season in charge of Brora Rangers he was named Highland League Manager of The Year[17] as the club were awarded the title following a vote of the league's member clubs in the incomplete 2019–20 season due to the coronavirus pandemic.[18]

In his third season, Brora recorded a significant upset in the 2020–21 Scottish Cup by beating runaway Championship leaders and the previous season's Scottish Cup finalists, Heart of Midlothian, 2–1 at Dudgeon Park.[19][20] The result has been described as one of Scotland's biggest cup shocks of all time.[21] The club were awarded the title for the incomplete 2020–21 Highland League season due to the coronavirus pandemic,[22] qualifying them for the Scottish League Two playoffs and a chance for promotion. They were beaten in the playoffs by Kelty Hearts 6–1 on aggregate.[23]

On 6 June 2021, the club announced that Mackay and his backroom staff had signed 2-year contract extensions.[24] On 7 August 2021, Mackay announced his resignation from his position following a 6-2 league defeat to Fraserburgh.[25] The Brora chairman, William Powrie, commented “He’s been a great servant to the club both as a player and a manager, but he felt he’d taken the club as far as he could.”[26]

Elgin City

On 20 August 2021, Mackay became assistant manager at Scottish League Two club Elgin City on a two-year contract.[27] MacKay said on the club's website: "I'm delighted to join Elgin City as assistant manager having played here when I was younger."[28] In June 2022, Mackay stepped down from his role with Elgin due to other work commitments.[29]

Nairn County

On 04 October 2022, Mackay was appointed as manager of Highland League club Nairn County on a deal up to 2025.[30]

On 12 November 2023, Mackay led the club to their first piece of silverware in 11 years, coming from behind to beat Ross County 5-4 (a.e.t) in the final of the North of Scotland Cup.[31]

Personal life

In June 2020, Mackay completed an 80-mile charity run, from his house in Inverness to Dudgeon Park via Bonar Bridge, raising nearly £16,000 for the MFR Cash for Kids charity. He completed the challenge in just over 18 hours, backed by his Brora Rangers management team.[32]

In June 2021, Mackay completed a 104-mile, four marathon challenge run, from Harmsworth Park in Wick to Bught Park in Inverness. He completed the challenge in 23 hours and 39 minutes, raising over £20,000 for the MFR Cash for Kids charity.[33]

On 20 May 2022, Mackay started a 516-mile charity run, aiming to be completed in 10 days around the North Coast 500. Mackay had to switch to bicycle due to injury but completed the challenge, 218 miles on foot and 298 miles on bike, raising over £45,000 for the MFR Cash for Kids charity.[34]

Honours

Player

Ross County
Nairn County
Brora Rangers

Manager

Brora Rangers
Nairn County

Individual

*Awarded following a vote of the league's member clubs. Seasons 2019–20 and 2020–21 were incomplete due to the coronavirus pandemic.

References

  1. ↑ "Brora Rangers Team Manager". Brora Rangers Staff -Team Manager.
  2. ↑ "NEW ASSISTANT MANAGER". Elgin City FC. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  3. ↑ "Steven Mackay | Football Stats | No Club | Season 2004/2005 | 1998–2008 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  4. ↑ "Games played by Steven Mackay in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "Steven Mackay | Football Stats | No Club | Season 2004/2005 | 1998–2008 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  6. ↑ "Steven Mackay | Player Statistics | Nairn County (Nairn County Archive)". www.nairncountyarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  7. ↑ "New signings relish the challenge at Brora Rangers". Northern Times. Golspie, Sutherland. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  8. ↑ Edwards, Dave (5 July 2014). "Brora Rangers captain can't wait to face Rangers". Press and Journal. Aberdeen. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  9. ↑ Parks, Gordon (17 May 2015). "Montrose 3 Brora 1: No divine intervention needed as Montrose secure SPFL status". Daily Record. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  10. ↑ "Brora Rangers manager and assistant manager sign for Invergordon". RossShire Journal. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  11. ↑ Law, Callum. "Brora Rangers boss Steven Mackay delighted 'final farewell' to playing career went as planned with goal". Press and Journal. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  12. ↑ "Former Elgin City assistant manager comes out of retirement to sign for Rothes". Northern Scot. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  13. ↑ "Steven Mackay - Players - Rothes Football Club". www.rothesfc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  14. ↑ Law, Callum (14 September 2023). "Nairn County boss Steven Mackay happy to make playing return at 42". Press and Journal. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  15. ↑ "Brora Rangers FC - Manager history". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  16. ↑ "HFLhub". www.hflhub.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  17. ↑ "Brora boss Mackay dedicates Highland League manager of the year honour to coaching team". JohnOGroat Journal. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  18. ↑ "Highland League title awarded to Brora". Grampian Online. 21 March 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  19. ↑ "Brora Rangers 2–1 Heart of Midlothian". BBC Sport. 23 March 2021.
  20. ↑ "Brora Rangers 2-1 Hearts: Highland League champions knock Hearts out of Scottish Cup". Sky Sports. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  21. ↑ "Brora Rangers join list of Scottish Cup giant killers with win over Hearts". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  22. ↑ "Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts crowned Highland and Lowland League champions after vote to end season". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  23. ↑ "Heartbroken Brora Rangers to remain in Highland League next season". Northern Times. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  24. ↑ "Management Team Signed Up – Brora Rangers Football Club". Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  25. ↑ "Steven Mackay Resigns – Brora Rangers Football Club". brorarangers.football. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  26. ↑ Law, Callum. "Steven Mackay says it was a tough decision to resign as Brora Rangers manager". Press and Journal. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  27. ↑ "Elgin City bring in Steven Mackay as assistant manager on two-year deal". Northern Times. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  28. ↑ "NEW ASSISTANT MANAGER". Elgin City FC. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  29. ↑ "MacKay steps down as Elgin City assistant - could a familiar face replace him?". Northern Scot. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  30. ↑ Chalk, Paul. "Steven Mackay sets fresh goals after becoming new manager of Nairn County". Press and Journal. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  31. ↑ "Boss hails Nairn County heroes after beating Ross County to win trophy". Inverness Courier. 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  32. ↑ "Footballer's 80-mile run pulls in almost £16K for kids' charity". RossShire Journal. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  33. ↑ "Highland League manager says it feels 'just amazing' to reach £20,000 charity target after four marathons in 24 hours". Inverness Courier. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  34. ↑ "PICTURES: Elgin City assistant manager Steven MacKay completes NC500 challenge to raise £45,000 for charity". Northern Scot. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  35. ↑ "Fraserburgh 0 - 4 Nairn County | Saturday, May 14th, 2011 | Match Details (Nairn County Archive)". www.nairncountyarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  36. ↑ "Brora boss Mackay dedicates Highland League manager of the year honour to coaching team". JohnOGroat Journal. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
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