born in kilmarnock and known as 'kitey' from a young age, mcpherson started his career with his local side kilmarnock, winning the ayrshire cup in 1885. he appeared for english club everton as an amateur in 1887, also playing for cowlairs of glasgow in the early rounds of the 1887–88 scottish cup, which led to a protest by their defeated opponents third lanark over the possibility of mcpherson and others having professional status (prohibited at the time). another player (robert calderwood) was found to have been paid by an english club and the match was replayed, with cowlairs winning again. mcpherson did not return to everton, featuring instead for kilmarnock in the same edition of the scottish cup before spending the next two years with cowlairs, after which he joined rangers in 1890.