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| Zander MacKenzie |
 Alexander Robert MacKenzie was born on Sunday, 28th August, 2005, in Lochgilphead, Argyll and Bute. The 6' 3 (12st 10lbs) midfielder was introduced to Ian McCall's Thistle in June, 2021, having most recently been with Partick Thistle U-18. Aged 15, he made his debut appearance on Saturday, 3rd July, 2021, in a 2-1 friendly win away to East Kilbride. Zander scored his first goal for Thistle on Saturday, 31st August, 2024, in a 3-0 win at home to Queen's Park in the SPFL Championship. His club-list includes Partick Thistle and Petershill. He's contracted at Firhill until May, 2026. |
 Joined the Thistle Weir Youth Academy at under 12s level in 2017, and progressed through from the U-12s to the U-18s. At just 15-year-old, was introduced to the Partick Thistle first team in the pre-season of 2021. On his debut, he appeared for the whole of the second half away to East Kilbride, setting up Gospel Ocholi for a late winner. A few days later played around a quarter of an hour against a full-strength Rangers side. Was loaned out to Martin Lauchlan's Petershill towards the end of the 2021-22 season, and started in their dramatic final game of the League season in which they pipped Drumchapel for the title, beating Perthshire by the required 2 goal margin (3-1). The Peasy were duly promoted from the 7th to the 6th tier of the Scottish pyramid system. The 16-year-old signed a two-year modern apprentice contract with Thistle on 25th May 2022, becoming the 28th player to graduate from the academy. 16 competitive appearances represented a breakthrough for the 17-year-old in 2022-23, a season in which Zander proved to be versatile and comfortable as a stand-in. He signed an extension deal with the club in July 2023, taking his contract to the end of 2025-26. Just a few days after his 19th birthday in late August 2024, Zander celebrated in the best-possible way by scoring his first goal for the club, and what a beauty it was in the Firhill sunshine. His exquisitely placed volley from 18 yards, sealed a 3-0 win versus Queens' Park on matchday 4 of the Championship. |
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