Kevin Keelan
Encyclopedia
Kevin Damien Keelan MBE
(born 5 January 1941) is a former professional football goalkeeper. He spent the majority of his career with Norwich City
, though he also played for Stockport County
, Wrexham
, New England Tea Men
and Tampa Bay Rowdies.
where he spent two seasons with the reserves.
, he rejoined the Kidderminster Harriers. In 1962, Keelan signed with Wrexham A.F.C.
In July 1963, he moved to Norwich City F.C.
for ₤6,500 in what would later be described by manager Ron Ashman
as "The bargain of the century." In total, he played 673 competitive matches for Norwich. It remains the club record to this day and is a record that is unlikely to ever be beaten. His first match for the club was on 24 August 1963 in a 3-1 defeat at Cardiff City
. His final appearance for the club was on 9 February 1980 in one of the most extraordinary matches that Carrow Road
has ever seen, which ended in a 5-3 win for Liverpool
.
Because he was with Norwich City from 1963 through to 1980, he was part of some of the major events in the history of the club - the 1971-72 season that saw Norwich promoted to English football's top division for the first time, the League Cup
final of 1973 against Tottenham Hotspur
which was the club's first appearance at Wembley Stadium
, another League Cup final against Aston Villa
in 1975, as well as relegation from division one in 1974 and promotion again in 1975. In the 1975 League Cup Final he became the first goalkeeper to save a penalty at Wembley when he saved Ray Graydon's spot kick. Unfortunately, Graydon followed up the save to score the only goal of the game. He was twice voted Norwich City player of the year
by the supporters, in 1973 and 1974.
His performances earned him favourable reviews from many quarters, and he later said that one of his managers at Norwich - John Bond
- rejected an approach from Manchester United for Keelan's services. In 2002, Keelan was made an inaugural member of the Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame.
In both 1978 and 1979, Norwich City sent Keelan on loan to the New England Tea Men
of the North American Soccer League
for the summer season. He was 1978 First Team All League. In 1980, Norwich City sold his contract to the Tea Men. He played the 1980 outdoor and 1980-1981 indoor seasons. However, the Tea Men moved to Jacksonville, Florida
in the fall of 1980 and were known as the Jacksonville Tea Men during the indoor season. While playing for the Tea Men, Keelan garnered the nickname "Cat" Keelan. The Tea Men released him in spring 1981 and he joined the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the 1981 season. At the end of the season, he retired.
resigned. In June 1991, the University of Tampa
hired Keelan as the goalkeeper coach for the men's soccer team. In February 1997, he replaced Peter Mellor
as the goalkeeper coach for the Tampa Bay Mutiny
of Major League Soccer
.
In an interview for the Norwich City matchday programme on 30 April 2006, Keelan confirmed that he runs goalkeeping schools in Cape Coral and Tampa Florida and coaches "pretty much every night". He also stated that for 20 years he has worked for a company that manufactures contact lenses and distributes them all over the world, but plans to retire at the end of 2006 to concentrate on his coaching. He is also a staff coach with the Florida Soccer Club.
He spent time coaching on the Treasure Coast and contributed much to the success of the South Fork High School Soccer programs during their run of successful seasons in the 90's.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(born 5 January 1941) is a former professional football goalkeeper. He spent the majority of his career with Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, though he also played for Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, Wrexham
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
, New England Tea Men
New England Tea Men
The New England Tea Men were a soccer team based out of Foxboro, MA that played in the NASL from 1978 to 1980. Their home field was Schaefer Stadium....
and Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Youth
Born in India to a British soldier stationed in Calcutta, Keelan returned to England, settling in Kidderminster with his family, when he was seven. He began playing as a midfielder for the Kidderminster Harriers but moved to goal in 1956. In 1958, he signed with Aston Villa F.C.Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
where he spent two seasons with the reserves.
Professional
In 1960, Keelan cracked the first team with Aston Villa, but was released in 1961. After a brief trial with Stockport County F.C.Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, he rejoined the Kidderminster Harriers. In 1962, Keelan signed with Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham A.F.C.
Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
In July 1963, he moved to Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
for ₤6,500 in what would later be described by manager Ron Ashman
Ron Ashman
Ronald George Ashman was an English professional footballer and football manager. Born in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, he spent his entire playing career with Norwich City F.C. and was later their manager. He went on to manage Scunthorpe United and Grimsby Town.Ashman played 662 games for Norwich,...
as "The bargain of the century." In total, he played 673 competitive matches for Norwich. It remains the club record to this day and is a record that is unlikely to ever be beaten. His first match for the club was on 24 August 1963 in a 3-1 defeat at Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. His final appearance for the club was on 9 February 1980 in one of the most extraordinary matches that Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
has ever seen, which ended in a 5-3 win for Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
Because he was with Norwich City from 1963 through to 1980, he was part of some of the major events in the history of the club - the 1971-72 season that saw Norwich promoted to English football's top division for the first time, the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
final of 1973 against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
which was the club's first appearance at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, another League Cup final against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
in 1975, as well as relegation from division one in 1974 and promotion again in 1975. In the 1975 League Cup Final he became the first goalkeeper to save a penalty at Wembley when he saved Ray Graydon's spot kick. Unfortunately, Graydon followed up the save to score the only goal of the game. He was twice voted Norwich City player of the year
Norwich City player of the year
The Norwich City player of the year award is voted for annually by Norwich City's supporters, in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season...
by the supporters, in 1973 and 1974.
His performances earned him favourable reviews from many quarters, and he later said that one of his managers at Norwich - John Bond
John Bond (footballer)
John Frederick Bond is an English former professional football player and manager. His son Kevin Bond is also a former footballer.-Playing career:...
- rejected an approach from Manchester United for Keelan's services. In 2002, Keelan was made an inaugural member of the Norwich City F.C. Hall of Fame.
In both 1978 and 1979, Norwich City sent Keelan on loan to the New England Tea Men
New England Tea Men
The New England Tea Men were a soccer team based out of Foxboro, MA that played in the NASL from 1978 to 1980. Their home field was Schaefer Stadium....
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
for the summer season. He was 1978 First Team All League. In 1980, Norwich City sold his contract to the Tea Men. He played the 1980 outdoor and 1980-1981 indoor seasons. However, the Tea Men moved to Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
in the fall of 1980 and were known as the Jacksonville Tea Men during the indoor season. While playing for the Tea Men, Keelan garnered the nickname "Cat" Keelan. The Tea Men released him in spring 1981 and he joined the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the 1981 season. At the end of the season, he retired.
Manager
While playing for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 1981, Keelan also served as an assistant manager, a position he retained in 1982. In July 1982, he also served as the interim manager when Gordon JagoGordon Jago
Gordon Harold Jago MBE is a former English association football player and manager.Born in Poplar, London, Jago began his career in the Football League with , whom he joined in the 1954–55 season from non-league team . He made a total of 147 appearances, scoring one goal, at The Valley...
resigned. In June 1991, the University of Tampa
University of Tampa
The University of Tampa , is a private, co-educational university in Downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2006, the University celebrated its 75th anniversary...
hired Keelan as the goalkeeper coach for the men's soccer team. In February 1997, he replaced Peter Mellor
Peter Mellor
Peter Mellor is an English former professional footballer whose career spanned three decades. Born in Prestbury, Cheshire, Mellor won an England Youth cap whilst with his first club Witton Albion . Tall, fair haired and ever smiling Mellor was soon spotted by Burnley, and quickly became their...
as the goalkeeper coach for the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
In an interview for the Norwich City matchday programme on 30 April 2006, Keelan confirmed that he runs goalkeeping schools in Cape Coral and Tampa Florida and coaches "pretty much every night". He also stated that for 20 years he has worked for a company that manufactures contact lenses and distributes them all over the world, but plans to retire at the end of 2006 to concentrate on his coaching. He is also a staff coach with the Florida Soccer Club.
He spent time coaching on the Treasure Coast and contributed much to the success of the South Fork High School Soccer programs during their run of successful seasons in the 90's.
External links
Sources
- Canary Citizens by Mark Davage, John Eastwood, Kevin Platt, published by Jarrold Publishing, (2001), ISBN 0-7117-2020-7