Full name Gerard Patrick Keenan 1975–1978 Bury Name Gerry Keenan | Playing position Role Footballer Years Team Position Defender | |
Date of birth (1954-07-25) 25 July 1954 (age 61) | ||
Place of birth Liverpool, England | ||
Battle drum gerry keenan permana smaneka
Gerard Patrick Keenan (born 25 July 1954) is an English former footballer who played 212 league games in the Football League for Bury, Port Vale, and Rochdale from 1975 to 1984.
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Playing career
Keenan was a youth team player with Liverpool, but never played a first team game at Anfield. He played non-league football for Skelmersdale United, before joining Bobby Smith's Bury in April 1975. 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. Keenan signed with Dennis Butler's Port Vale in September 1978 for a £15,000 fee. 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. He ended the 1978–79 season with 32 Fourth Division appearances to his name. 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. 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. 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. He played for Rochdale before becoming the player-manager at Accrington Stanley. 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).
Post-retirement
Keenan was a matchday ambassador at Vale Park from 2002 to 2011, but quit the club in a row over access to parking.