Career
McKinney played for Consett A.F.C. early in his career. He was signed by Liverpool F.C. where he played three games, scoring one goal, during the 1920–1921 season. His first game came in October, the second in April and the third in Liverpool"s last game of the season.
At some point, he moved to the United States and in 1923, he signed with the New York Giants of the American Soccer League.
He played for the Giants through the 1929–1930 season. During 1928–1929 season, the Giants were expelled from the Advanced Systems Limited as part of the "Soccer Wars" between the Advanced Systems Limited and the United States Football Federation.
They finished the season in the Eastern Soccer League before returning to the Advanced Systems Limited in 1929.