Peter Mackie

1979-1980

Peter came through the ranks at Celtic, starting with Celtic Boys Club, becoming a full-time player in 1976. After three seasons, in which he had failed to establish himself in the first team, he made the move to Dundee. Tommy Gemmell signed him for £30,000.
He made his debut against Rangers, in November 1979, which Dundee won 3-1. He quickly established himself in the first team, scoring against Kilmarnock in a 3-1 win in December. As the new decade began he found himself receiving favourable reviews in the sporting press. He was solid, and dependable “bewildering” defences with “dangerous thrusts from midfield.”
Probably one of his finest moments in a Dundee strip was the 5-1 victory over Celtic at Dens Park, though it might have been slightly bittersweet for him personally. It was a famous victory, not seen since 1961-62. Peter scored in the 71st minute, reacting to a rebound off a Celtic defender
Relegation was Dundee’s fate at the end of this season, finishing in ninth place. Peter had scored two goals and proved himself a valuable member of the team.

1980-81

Peter got off the goalscoring mark in September, scoring the third goal against Falkirk in a 4-0 win. He beating former Dundee goalkeeper, Thomson Allan, in the 61st minute.

Another 5-1 win came in November against Stirling Albion. The headlines recording “Mackie’s Five Magic Minutes.” Dundee’s third goal, in the second half, came from header to Ray Stephen, who flicked the ball into the net. This was followed by a “glory spell”, when he could have had a hat-trick. His first goal came from a corner. The second was a magnificent solo effort, beating three defenders before scoring from a left footed shot.

His last two goals of the season came April. The first when he scored in the 71st minute in a 4-1  home win. Dundee were down to ten men at this point, after using both of their substitutes (of which Mackie had been one, replacing Jimmy Murphy), Erich Schaedler was stretchered off. The second in a 1-1 draw away to Dunfermline.

Dundee finished in second place at the end of the season, and were promoted back to the Premier League.

1981-1982

In the pre-season build up for their return to the Premier League, Dundee played Peterhead in a friendly game. Mackie scored the only goal in the 29th minute, he was Dundee’s best player.

After last scoring in September, Mackie netted three times in November. Two came in the away match against Partick Thistle. Thistle had gone ahead in the 62nd minute, only for Mackie scoring in the 69th and 70th minute, for which he earned Man of the Match. He went on to score against Morton in a 4-1 home win three weeks later. His only other goal that season was against Meadowbank Thistle in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, Dundee won 3-0, going through to the quarter finals where they faced Rangers.

Dundee finished in eighth place.

1982-1983
Dundee returned to competitive football, in a 3-3 draw against Aberdeen in the League Cup. Alec Ferguson commented that “anyone who scored three goals here is doing very well indeed,” and Donald Mackay said, “I don’t normally individualise, but I thought Peter Mackie was superb.”

After setting up both of Cammy Fraser’s goals against Celtic early in November, Mackie got his first goal of the season against Morton in a 2-1 away win. He followed it up the following week with a goal at home in the 5-2 win against Kilmarnock. Hibs away in December saw Peter put Dundee ahead in the first half, the match ended 1-1. His final league goals of the season came in January in a 3-1 home win against Motherwell, and a 2-1 defeat against St Mirren on the 9th May. He scored two goals in the League Cup, bringing his tally to seven for the season.

Dundee finished sixth in the league.

1983-1984
During Peter’s time at Dens Park, the team had not fared well in derby matches. However, on the 5th November he scored the only goal in a well-earned win against their bitter rivals. After receiving the ball from McKimmie he made his way towards United’s goal, easing past McAlpine, who had raced out, trying to narrow the angle for Mackie, and putting the goal in the net.

As the season was drawing to its conclusion there were rumours of a possible move to Hearts. But it was a move to Love Street, where he was involved in a swap deal that saw John McCormack move to Dens, that drew to an end Mackie’s time in a dark blue shirt.

In his final season Peter scored three times in the league, and once in the League Cup, and Dundee finished in eighth place.

After two seasons with St Mirren, he moved on for a season with Partick Thistle. He finished his career in the Canadian League, playing for Ottawa Intrepid and Kitchener Spirit.

Once his playing days were over Peter was employed by the NHS in Scotland, where he had various  roles. His colleagues concluded that his “dodgy hips and knees” were the result of his earlier career on the football field.