Slide Tackles and Boardroom Battles

The Memoir of David Mackinnon

In February 2022, David Mackinnon’s life changed forever after a devastating fall down a flight of stairs. The injuries he sustained were nearly fatal. As he recovered, David reflected on the pivotal moments of his life and career — reconciling events that had stayed with him for decades.

The result is Slide Tackles and Boardroom Battles, a candid and compelling memoir charting the incredible journey of Glasgow-born David Donaldson Mackinnon.

From Highbury to Ibrox

David’s football journey began at Arsenal, where he was mentored by the legendary Alan Ball. After successful spells with Dundee and Partick Thistle, he realised his boyhood dream — playing for Rangers. During four memorable seasons at Ibrox, David made nearly 200 appearances before a serious knee injury forced him to step away from full-time football.

A Career Beyond the Pitch

David’s story didn’t end there. In 1990, he scored the decisive penalty that secured Kilmarnock’s promotion to the First Division — a defining moment in his playing career. Following his retirement, David built a successful business career before returning to football in executive roles with Clyde, Kilmarnock, Dundee, Hamilton Academical, and Greenock Morton.

At Morton, David found himself at the centre of the infamous voting controversy that abruptly ended the Scottish football season during the COVID-19 pandemic — exposing the complex world of football governance.

More Than a Football Story

Slide Tackles and Boardroom Battles is an honest and deeply personal account of life in professional sport and the boardroom — a journey shaped by triumphs, challenges, and hard lessons. David shares the physical and mental toll his career took, offering rare insight into the hidden struggles faced by players and executives alike.

This memoir shines a light on the sacrifices, pressures, and resilience demanded by life in football. Told with sincerity and candour, it is a powerful reflection on a lifetime in the beautiful game — both on and off the pitch.