John McCartney (footballer, born 1866)

John McCartney (born 1866, date of death unknown) was a Scottish footballer who played as a right half.

McCartney began his career at Vale of Leven, a prominent club in the early days of Scottish football. He later joined Renton, another significant team of the era. He was part of the Renton team that won the Scottish Cup in 1885, defeating Vale of Leven in the final. He also played in the Renton side that famously defeated West Bromwich Albion, the English FA Cup holders, in a match billed as the "World Club Championship" in 1888.

His career spanned a period before the formal establishment of the Scottish Football League, during which club football was largely based around cup competitions and friendlies. Specific details about his playing statistics are scarce due to the limited record-keeping practices of the time.