[3] A native of the village of St Combs in Aberdeenshire,[4] he played for Fraserburgh in the Highland Football League before being signed by reigning Scottish champions Rangers in 1933.
His role was mainly as a back-up, first to Whitey McDonald, then also remaining in reserve in 1937–38 when an unsuccessful experiment was made to install Alex Winning in the position, resulting in the signing of Jock Shaw who became a mainstay of the team.
Cheyne took part sufficient matches (17) in 1936–37 to be awarded a Scottish Football League winner's medal (in the club's three other title wins during his time at Ibrox he made only three, six and two appearances respectively)[5] and played in the 1936 Scottish Cup Final in which the Gers defeated Third Lanark to lift the trophy,[6] having played no part in their winning runs in the two previous campaigns.
[3] In May 1939 Cheyne moved on to Motherwell, but the outbreak of World War II shortly thereafter meant he never played officially for the club in the three years he was contracted there.
[3] He had made guest appearances for Dumbarton during that time,[1] and signed formally for the Sons in 1942, playing regularly until 1945[1] – but again these were unofficial wartime tournaments, and he retired before normal competitions resumed.