Gerry Keenan

Gerard Patrick Keenan (born 25 July 1954) is an English former footballer who played 240 league and cup games in the English Football League for Bury, Port Vale, and Rochdale from 1975 to 1984. He served Accrington Stanley as player-manager from 1984 to 1986, and later worked as player-manager at Ashton United, Rossendale United and Bacup Borough.

Gerry Keenan
Personal information
Full name Gerard Patrick Keenan[1]
Date of birth (1954-07-25) 25 July 1954[1]
Place of birth Liverpool, England[1]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Right-back
Youth career
Liverpool
Skelmersdale United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1978 Bury 71 (3)
1978–1982 Port Vale 106 (7)
1982–1984 Rochdale 35 (1)
1984–1986 Accrington Stanley
Ashton United
Rossendale United
Bacup Borough
St. Joseph's
Total 212+ (11+)
Managerial career
1984–1985 Accrington Stanley (player-manager)
Ashton United
Rossendale United
Bacup Borough
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

Bury

Keenan was a youth team player with Bill Shankly's Liverpool, but never played a first-team game at Anfield as his father refused Roy Evans's offer of joining he club on apprentice terms.[3] He instead became an apprentice gas fitter and played semi-professional non-League football for Skelmersdale United, before joining Bobby Smith's Bury in April 1975.[4] The "Shakers" finished 13th in the Third Division in 1975–76, before finishing seventh in 1976–77 and then 15th in 1977–78 under Bob Stokoe's stewardship. In his three years at Gigg Lane, Keenan scored three goals in 71 league games. West Ham United made a bid for him, but backed out of the deal after he suffered a knee injury.[5]

Port Vale

Keenan signed with Dennis Butler's Port Vale in September 1978 for a £15,000 fee.[1] His first goal for the "Valiants" came in a 1–0 victory over Rochdale at Spotland on 11 November, and his second goal came on Boxing day in a 6–2 defeat to Barnsley at Oakwell.[1] He ended the 1978–79 season with 32 Fourth Division appearances to his name.[1] He played 44 league and cup games in the 1979–80 campaign, as Vale ended the season in 20th place under John McGrath's stewardship; he scored one goal against Torquay United at Plainmoor.[1] He began suffering with knee injuries from September 1980, and was limited to 13 appearances in the 1980–81 season, claiming two goals in a 4–2 win over Darlington at Vale Park on 20 September, and one goal in a 2–1 defeat at former club Bury seven days later.[1] He played 24 games in the 1981–82 season, and scored one goal in a 2–1 win at Rochdale on 19 September. Due to his knee troubles he was given a free transfer in May 1982.[1]

Rochdale

Keenan moved on to Rochdale on a week-to-week basis as he had received an insurance pay-off upon leaving Port Vale.[3] He ended up staying with the club for two years.[3]

Management career

Keenan became the player-manager at North West Counties League Division One side Accrington Stanley.[1] After leaving this position he became player-assistant manager and then player-manager with Ashton United and had two spells as player-manager of Rossendale United before moving on to Bacup Borough and St. Joseph's (also in Rossendale).[1]

Later life

Keenan worked as a gas fitter after ending his playing career.[4] He worked as a matchday ambassador at Vale Park from 2002 to 2011, but quit the club in a row over access to parking.[6] He later returned to the club, before leaving for the final time in September 2019 after relocating to Morecambe.[4]

Career statistics

Source:[7]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other[A] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bury 1974–75 Third Division 10000010
1975–76 Third Division 40300070
1976–77 Third Division 2403000270
1977–78 Third Division 3721080462
1978–79 Third Division 51002071
Total 71307010883
Port Vale 1978–79 Fourth Division 3221000331
1979–80 Fourth Division 4111020441
1980–81 Fourth Division 1230000123
1981–82 Fourth Division 2110030241
Total 106720601147
Rochdale 1982–83 Fourth Division 3011020331
1983–84 Fourth Division 50000050
Total 3511020381
Career total 2121110018024011
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the League Cup, Football League Trophy, English Football League play-offs and Full Members' Cup.

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 159. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Rollin, Jack (1980). Rothmans football yearbook. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 299. ISBN 0362020175. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  3. "The Gerry Keenan Interview". The Vale Park Beano. 98.
  4. McLellan, Max (23 September 2019). "Thank you Gerry Keenan!". port-vale.co.uk. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  5. Andrews, George (14 November 2020). official matchday programme of Port Vale (PDF). p. 41.
  6. "Port Vale: Ex-skipper Keenan quits Vale duties". The Sentinel. 12 November 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  7. Gerry Keenan at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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