Gordon McKinna

Gordon Hayden McKinna (2 August 1930 – 1 July 2007) was an English first-class cricketer and amateur footballer.

McKinna was born at Sale and was educated at Manchester Grammar School.[1] During his youth, McKinna played football for Manchester United youth sides.[2] He debuted in minor counties cricket for Cheshire in the 1949 Minor Counties Championship, playing two matches.[3]

From Manchester Grammar, McKinna went up to Brasenose College, Oxford.[4] While at Oxford he played first-class cricket for Oxford University, debuting in 1951 against Middlesex at Oxford.[5] He did not appear for Oxford University in 1952, but did feature in four matches in 1953,[5] including that seasons University Match against Cambridge University at Lord's.[6] He bowled tidily in the match with his right-arm medium pace, taking 2 for 17 from fourteen overs in the Cambridge first-innings, including the wicket of future West Indies Test wicket-keeper Gerry Alexander.[6] In five first-class matches for Oxford he took 16 wickets.[7] He continued to play minor counties matches for Cheshire while at Oxford, making nine appearances in the Minor Counties Championship between 1949 and 1953.[3]

An all-round sportsman, McKinna also played football for Oxford University A.F.C., for which he won a blue.[8] He played for Pegasus in the final of 1953 FA Amateur Cup in front of a full house at Wembley.[2][9] He partnered Gerry Alexander at full-back in the match, with Pegasus defeating Harwich & Parkeston 6–0.[9][2] He played amateur internationals for England in 1953, making five appearances.[10]

After graduating from Oxford, McKinna carried out his national service in the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer.[6][11] While undertaking his national service, McKinna appeared in one first-class match for the Combined Services cricket team against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in 1955.[5] He played no regular cricket after his national service, with McKinna taking up a job in the City of London.[6] He died at Warwick in July 2007.[6]