Aberdeen’s Darren Mackie Is Meldrum Primary School’s Reading Champion, Except He Doesn’t Read Books

Alan Duffy

4th, November 2011

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By Alan Duffy

It is all too easy to get snobby and sneer at footballers about their (usual) lack of a high-level education. And too often that sneeriness is borne out of nothing but jealousy at the fact they get paid shed-loads of money for simply playing football. Still, in the case of poor old Darren Mackie of Aberdeen, it’s hard not to giggle.

The 29-year-old, with his heart undoubtedly in the right place, volunteered to be a local school’s reading champion. Except he doesn’t read books himself, only “magazines about cars, health and general interest”.

“My favourite book is Lord of the Rings although I haven’t read the book I have watched the films, ” he says.

Jesus wept! Couldn’t he just have lied??