Keith Keane

Keith Keane

Keane playing for Luton Town in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Keith Francis Keane [1]
Date of birth	(1986-11-20) 20 November 1986 (age 37) [1]
Place of birth	Luton, England
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) [1]
Position(s)	Defender / Midfielder
Team information
Current team	The 61 FC (Luton)
Youth career
1995–2003	Luton Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2003–2012	Luton Town	234	(7)
2012–2015	Preston North End	64	(2)
2014	→ Crawley Town (loan)	12	(0)
2015	→ Stevenage (loan)	7	(0)
2015–2017	Cambridge United	5	(0)
2016	→ Stevenage (loan)	5	(1)
2016	→ Stevenage (loan)	1	(0)
2016–2017	→ Rochdale (loan)	16	(0)
2017–2018	Rochdale	16	(0)
2021–	The 61 FC (Luton)	0	(0)
International career
2004	Republic of Ireland U19	2	(0)
2005–2007	Republic of Ireland U21	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:08, 30 June 2018 (UTC)

Keith Francis Keane (born 20 November 1986) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for The 61 FC (Luton). He is a former academy player who graduated from the youth ranks at Luton Town. A versatile footballer, Keane played in every position for Luton other than in goal or as a striker, and played for the club across four different divisions.

Club career

Luton Town

Born in Luton, Bedfordshire, ^[1] Keane made his first-team debut for Luton Town under manager Mike Newell at the age of 16, in a Football League Trophy victory against Rushden & Diamonds early in the 2003–04 season. ^[2] Keane played well and stayed in the side for a further 16 games that season, ^[3] his league debut coming in a 0–0 draw at Wycombe Wanderers in February 2004. ^[4] Newell predominantly played Keane at right-back as cover for Kevin Foley, but he also featured in midfield. Keane scored his first goal for Luton on 17 April as a last minute winner in a 3–2 victory over Bristol City. ^[5]

During the 2004–05 season, Keane became a regular squad member. Appearing at centre-back, full-back and in midfield, he made 19 appearances in all competitions. ^[6] Luton went on to win the League One title that season with 98 points, ^[7] rewarding Keane with a winner's medal. ^[1]

With Keane now a Championship player, he was utilised at right-back, left-back, in central defence and in right midfield during the course of the 2005–06 season, which saw him make 12 appearances, scoring once. ^[8] He was awarded the Young Player of the Season award that season for his performances, ^[9] and was rewarded with a new two-year contract. ^[10] In 2006–07, Keane made 19 league appearances, scoring one goal, ^[11] as Luton were relegated to League One. ^[12]

The next season, after Newell's departure, Keane was frozen out of the first-team by new manager Kevin Blackwell, who preferred to play his own new signing Richard Jackson. However, Keane was eventually brought back into the team to replace Jackson, and later made the position his own when Luton Town fan favourite Mick Harford replaced Blackwell as manager in January 2008. Harford made Keane club captain, but the price of administration condemned Luton to another relegation, this time to League Two. Keane won the Player of the Season award at the end of the season, as well as the Players' Player of the Year and Internet Player of the Season award. ^{[13] [14]}

Luton were docked 30 points for financial irregularities at the beginning of the 2008–09 season, and although Keane made 40 league appearances, ^[15] primarily in midfield, he could not prevent the inevitable as Luton were relegated from the Football League for the first time in 89 years. ^[16] Some solace could be found as Luton beat Scunthorpe United 3–2 in the 2009 Football League Trophy final at Wembley Stadium, with Keane producing a superb performance in midfield. ^[17] His displays earned Keane the Player of the Season and Internet Player of the Season awards for the second year in a row. ^[18]

Keane playing for Luton Town in 2011

On 15 January 2010, Keane was placed on the transfer list at Luton. His refusal to sign a new contract, which would expire in June 2010 and effectively mean he would leave the club on a free transfer, was cited as the reason. ^[19] However, the January transfer window closed with no bids for the player received. Then-Luton manager Richard Money stated the club was in negotiations with Keane over a new contract regardless of his transfer status, calling him a "talisman" to Luton. ^[20] On 9 February 2010, Keane scored direct from a corner kick in the last minute of the game, his first goal in over two years, to earn Luton a dramatic 2–1 win against then-league leaders Oxford United. He was subsequently shown a red card for a second bookable offence after celebrating the goal with the Luton fans. ^[21] This goal later won Luton Town's Goal of the Season award as voted for by fans. ^[22]

Keane dismissed any speculation as to his Luton future by signing a new two-year contract with the club on 9 June 2010. ^[23] Keane played the full 120 minutes of the 2011 Conference Premier play-off final against AFC Wimbledon in May 2011; a game that saw Luton miss out on a return to the Football League by losing the penalty shoot-out. ^[24]

League One club Stevenage, then managed by Graham Westley, made two bids for Keane in August 2011, though both were rejected. ^[25] Defensive injuries meant Keane was moved back into defence at the beginning of the 2011–12 season, with two performances described by manager Gary Brabin as "outstanding". ^[26] Keane went on to make 42 appearances on what turned out to be his final season at Kenilworth Road.

Preston North End

On 7 June 2012, it was announced that he was to join League One club Preston North End, then managed by Graham Westley, once his Luton contract had finished. ^[27] He scored his first goal for the club on 29 March 2013 in a 1–1 draw at home to Portsmouth. ^[28] On 17 December, Keane extended his contract with Preston for a further twelve months, thus keeping him at the club until the summer of 2015. ^[29]

On 9 September 2014, Keane joined League One club Crawley Town on a three-month loan deal. ^[30] He made a successful debut on 13 September when Crawley earned a 1–0 win at home to Fleetwood Town, in which he was named the man of the match. ^{[31] [32]} He returned to Preston having made 15 appearances in all competitions for Crawley. ^[33]

On 5 March 2015, Keane was loaned to League Two club Stevenage on a one-month loan deal. ^[34] He made his debut for the club two days later as a 59th-minute substitute for Chris Beardsley in a 2–1 win at home to Newport County. ^[35] Keane made seven appearances for Stevenage during his loan spell, ^[33] which was cut short due to a shoulder injury and returned to Preston on 26 April. ^[36] He was released by the club at the end of the season. ^[37]

Cambridge United

On 27 May 2015, it was announced that Keane had signed a two-year contract with League Two club Cambridge United, linking up with former Luton manager Richard Money. ^[38] He made his Cambridge debut on the opening day of the 2015–16 season in a 3–0 win at home to Newport County. ^[39] However, injuries restricted Keane's playing time and he rejoined Stevenage on loan on 14 January 2016 until 20 February. ^[40] He made five appearances, scoring one goal during his initial loan spell, ^[39] before returning on another one-month loan deal on 25 March. ^[41]

Rochdale

On 31 August 2016, Keane joined League One club Rochdale on loan until 2 January 2017. ^[42] He made his debut as a 76th-minute substitute for Callum Camps in a 2–2 draw away to Bristol Rovers on 10 September. ^[43] Keane finished his loan spell with 17 appearances, before joining Rochdale permanently on a one-and-a-half-year contract a day later, after leaving Cambridge by mutual consent. ^[44] He was released by Rochdale at the end of the 2017–18 season. ^[45]

The 61

In August 2021, after three years out from football, Keane joined tenth tier Spartan South Midlands Division Two side The 61 FC (Luton). ^[46]

International career

Keane was called up by Sean McCaffrey to play for the Republic of Ireland under-19 team in February 2004 for two friendlies against Slovenia. ^[47] In October 2005, Keane received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 team for a 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Cyprus, in which he was named in the starting lineup to make his debut. ^{[48] [49]} He was also called up to the squad for a friendly against Sweden on 12 October 2007. ^{[50] [51]}

Career statistics

As of end of 2017–18 season

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Luton Town	2003–04 [3]	Second Division	15	1	1	0	0	0	1 [a]	0	17	1
	2004–05 [6]	League One	17	0	1	0	0	0	1 [a]	0	19	0
	2005–06 [8]	Championship	10	1	0	0	2	0	—		12	1
	2006–07 [11]	Championship	19	1	1	0	3	0	—		23	1
	2007–08 [52]	League One	28	1	3	0	2	0	1 [a]	0	34	1
	2008–09 [15]	League Two	40	0	2	0	2	0	5 [a]	0	49	0
	2009–10 [53]	Conference Premier	33	2	3	0	—		3 [b]	0	39	2
	2010–11 [54]	Conference Premier	39	0	5	0	—		6 [c]	0	50	0
	2011–12 [55]	Conference Premier	33	1	2	0	—		7 [d]	1	42	2
	Total		234	7	18	0	9	0	24	1	285	8
Preston North End	2012–13 [56]	League One	26	1	1	0	2	0	2 [a]	0	31	1
	2013–14 [57]	League One	38	1	5	0	2	0	1 [e]	0	46	1
	2014–15 [33]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		64	2	6	0	4	0	3	0	77	2
Crawley Town (loan)	2014–15 [33]	League One	12	0	1	0	—		2 [a]	0	15	0
Stevenage (loan)	2014–15 [33]	League Two	7	0	—		—		—		7	0
Cambridge United	2015–16 [39]	League Two	4	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	5	0
	2016–17 [43]	League Two	1	0	—		0	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		5	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	6	0
Stevenage (loan)	2015–16 [39]	League Two	6	1	—		—		—		6	1
Rochdale	2016–17 [43]	League One	29	0	3	0	—		0	0	32	0
	2017–18 [58]	League One	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	5	0
	Total		32	0	4	0	1	0	0	0	37	0
Career total			360	10	29	0	15	0	29	1	433	11

1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
2. One appearance in FA Trophy, two in Conference Premier play-offs
3. Three appearances in FA Trophy, three in Conference Premier play-offs
4. Four appearances and one goal in FA Trophy, three appearances in Conference Premier play-offs
5. Appearance in League One play-offs

Honours

Luton Town

• Football League One: 2004–05 ^[1]
• Football League Trophy: 2008–09 ^[1]

Individual

• Luton Town Young Player of the Season: 2005–06 ^[9]
• Luton Town Player of the Season: 2007–08, ^[14] 2008–09 ^[18]

References

1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 230. ISBN   978-1-84596-474-0.
2. "Rushden & Diamonds 1–2 Luton Town". Luton Town F.C. 4 November 2003. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012.
3. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
4. "Wycombe 0–0 Luton Town". Luton Town F.C. 14 February 2004. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012.
5. "Luton 3–2 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 17 April 2004. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
6. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
7. "Luton Town 2004–2005: Table: Final table". Statto Organisation. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
8. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
9. "Full strength Heikkinen!". Luton Today. 26 April 2006. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
10. "Luton offer fresh deals to pair". BBC Sport. 7 April 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
11. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
12. "Derby 1–0 Luton". BBC Sport. 20 April 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
13. "Keane claims Player of the year award". Luton Town F.C. 6 May 2008. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012.
14. "Keane hat-trick". Luton Today. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
15. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
16. "Luton 0–0 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 13 April 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
17. "How the Hatters rated". Luton Today. 5 April 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
18. "King Keane rules the awards roost". Luton Today. 28 April 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
19. "Money mindful of Salisbury threat". Luton Town F.C. 15 January 2010. Archived from the original on 24 January 2010.
20. "Hatters hierarchy Keane to tie Keith to fresh contract". Luton Today. 19 January 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
21. "Luton Town 2–1 Oxford United". BBC Sport. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
22. "Awards a plenty for Pilks". Luton Town F.C. 26 April 2010. Archived from the original on 29 April 2010.
23. "Keane pens two-year deal". Luton Town F.C. 9 June 2010. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010.
24. Marshall, Steve (21 May 2011). "AFC Wimbledon 0–0 Luton Town (4–3 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
25. "Stevenage bid for Keane rejected". Stevenage F.C. 27 August 2011. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012.
26. Simmonds, Mike (10 September 2011). "Brabin relieved by Town's first shut out". Luton Today. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
27. "Preston North End sign Luton Town's Keith Keane". BBC Sport. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
28. "PNE 1 Portsmouth 1". Preston North End F.C. 29 March 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
29. "PNE extend nine players' contracts". Preston North End F.C. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
30. "Crawley Town sign Keith Keane and Josh Wright on loan". BBC Sport. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
31. "Crawley 1–0 Fleetwood". Crawley Town F.C. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
32. Talbot, Bruce (15 September 2014). "Reds relishing away days says Keith Keane". Crawley Town F.C. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
33. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
34. "Stevenage sign Preston's Keith Keane on loan". BBC Sport. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
35. "Stevenage continue play-off march with fourth win in five games to leapfrog AFC Newport". Hertfordshire Mercury. Hertford. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
36. Roberts, Damion (26 April 2015). "Injury news: Midfielder returns to Preston North End, out for three months". The Comet. Stevenage. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
37. "Preston North End retained list". Preston North End F.C. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
38. "Cambridge United: Midfielder Keith Keane joins from Preston". BBC Sport. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
39. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
40. "Keith Keane joins Stevenage on loan from Cambridge United". BBC Sport. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
41. "Stevenage sign Charlie Adams and Cambridge United's Keith Keane". BBC Sport. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
42. "Loan out: Keith Keane to Rochdale". Cambridge United F.C. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
43. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
44. "Keith Keane: Rochdale sign midfielder after Cambridge United release". BBC Sport. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
45. "Joe Thompson among four players offered new Rochdale deals". BBC Sport. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
46. "Ex-Hatter Keith Keane laces up his boots again for The 61 FC (Luton) as former Town striker Cullen joins Pools". Luton Today. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
47. "Irish U19 squad named". BreakingNews.ie. 14 February 2004. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
48. "Givens calls up two new players". BBC Sport. 7 October 2005. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
49. "Cyprus U21 1–1 Rep of Ireland U21". BBC Sport. 7 October 2005. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
50. "Givens announces squads for Republic of Ireland Under-21 double bill". BreakingNews.ie. 30 September 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
51. "Keane gets Irish call up". Luton Town F.C. 2 October 2007. Archived from the original on 6 April 2009.
52. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
53. Williams, Tony; Wright, James, eds. (2010). Non-League Club Directory 2011. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 118–119. ISBN   978-1-869833-68-8.
54. Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2011). Non-League Club Directory 2012. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 116–117. ISBN   978-1-869833-70-1.
    Marshall, Steve (21 May 2011). "AFC Wimbledon 0–0 Luton Town (4–3 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
55. Williams, Mike; Williams, Tony, eds. (2012). Non-League Club Directory 2013. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 104–105. ISBN   978-1-869833-77-0.
56. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
57. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
58. "Games played by Keith Keane in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2018.

External links

• Keith Keane profile at the Football Association of Ireland website
• Keith Keane at Soccerbase