Dean Keates
Encyclopedia
Dean Scott Keates is an English
footballer, who plays as a midfielder
, for Welsh side Wrexham. He has won promotion six times with three different clubs.
, Keates made his professional debut as a substitute in a 1–0 loss to Plymouth Argyle
on 12 October 1996. He made his first start for the club on 25 January 1997, playing the full game in a 3–1 victory over Notts County
. He became a regular in the side the next season as, at the age of 19, he played in 48 games in all competitions, scoring his first goal for the club. Keates was a key member of the Saddlers midfield in a successful 1998–99 season, playing in all but three games as Walsall won promotion to Division One as runners-up. Relegation followed the next year as Walsall struggled to adapt, though the club immediately won promotion back to Division One with a 3–2 play-off final victory over Reading
at the end of the 2000–01 campaign, Keates playing for the full 120 minutes of the game, which ended in extra time. He played 15 games in the 2001–02 season as Walsall survived in the division, though he was released in July 2002.
Keates subsequently moved to Division Three side Hull City
, initially on a non-contract basis, in August 2002. By the end of September, Keates' displays had earned him a two-year contract, awarded to him by then-Hull manager Jan Mølby
. Despite new chairman Adam Pearson
's money being pumped into the club on new players, Keates endured a lukewarm season at Hull, playing in 35 league games as they finished mid-table. The next season, 2003–04, was more fruitful with Hull achieving promotion to the newly named League One
as runners-up. Keates, however, played no part in the campaign after December 2003 – a knee injury that kept him sidelined proved his undoing, as he could not force his way back into the team. On 10 February 2004, Division Three side Kidderminster Harriers
, now managed by former Hull boss Jan Mølby, signed Keates on a free transfer. He played in eight games as the Harriers avoided relegation back to the Football Conference
. Though he played 41 games the next season, Keates and Kidderminster were relegated. He left the club at the end of the season, his contract having expired.
On 1 July 2005, Keates signed for League Two
side Lincoln City
. He played 24 games, scoring four times, before moving back to Walsall
on 31 January 2006. Citing personal reasons, Keates' contract at Lincoln was cancelled by mutual consent, signing for Walsall on a free transfer. Walsall were relegated to League Two at the end of the season. Richard Money was appointed as the Saddlers new manager in May 2006, and under him, Keates was appointed captain. He played a key role in Walsall's promotion as champions back to League One in the 2006–07
season, scoring 13 goals. Keates was named in the PFA
League Two Team of the Year for the 2006–07
season, as well as being named Walsall's Player of the Season.
Keates was signed by League Two side Peterborough United
on a three-year deal on 14 May 2007, having refused the offer of a new contract from Walsall. He played 78 league games, scoring 11 goals, as Peterborough achieved successive promotions to the Championship
. Keates was released by Peterborough United on 31 December 2009, having not played a minute of football under new Posh manager Mark Cooper, and managing just 6 games in the 2009–10
season even before Cooper's arrival.
On 21 January 2010, Keates signed for League One side Wycombe Wanderers
on a 6 month contract, ending speculation of a return to Walsall or a switch to League Two Torquay United
. On 3 April 2010, he scored his first goal for the club against Huddersfield. He was released by Wycombe on 10 May 2010, and signed for Conference National
side Wrexham two days later. He was named captain for the season, and scored his first goal four games into the season with a 30-yard volley against Kidderminster Harriers
.
Hull City
Peterborough United
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer, who plays as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, for Welsh side Wrexham. He has won promotion six times with three different clubs.
Career
Beginning his career with his hometown club WalsallWalsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, Keates made his professional debut as a substitute in a 1–0 loss to Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on 12 October 1996. He made his first start for the club on 25 January 1997, playing the full game in a 3–1 victory over Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
. He became a regular in the side the next season as, at the age of 19, he played in 48 games in all competitions, scoring his first goal for the club. Keates was a key member of the Saddlers midfield in a successful 1998–99 season, playing in all but three games as Walsall won promotion to Division One as runners-up. Relegation followed the next year as Walsall struggled to adapt, though the club immediately won promotion back to Division One with a 3–2 play-off final victory over Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
at the end of the 2000–01 campaign, Keates playing for the full 120 minutes of the game, which ended in extra time. He played 15 games in the 2001–02 season as Walsall survived in the division, though he was released in July 2002.
Keates subsequently moved to Division Three side Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, initially on a non-contract basis, in August 2002. By the end of September, Keates' displays had earned him a two-year contract, awarded to him by then-Hull manager Jan Mølby
Jan Mølby
Jan Mølby is a Danish former international footballer who spent much of his professional football career at English club Liverpool.- Club career :...
. Despite new chairman Adam Pearson
Adam Pearson
Adam Pearson is Head of Football Operations of Hull City and owner of Hull F.C. rugby league club. He is the former chairman of English association football club Derby County.-Career:...
's money being pumped into the club on new players, Keates endured a lukewarm season at Hull, playing in 35 league games as they finished mid-table. The next season, 2003–04, was more fruitful with Hull achieving promotion to the newly named League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
as runners-up. Keates, however, played no part in the campaign after December 2003 – a knee injury that kept him sidelined proved his undoing, as he could not force his way back into the team. On 10 February 2004, Division Three side Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
, now managed by former Hull boss Jan Mølby, signed Keates on a free transfer. He played in eight games as the Harriers avoided relegation back to the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
. Though he played 41 games the next season, Keates and Kidderminster were relegated. He left the club at the end of the season, his contract having expired.
On 1 July 2005, Keates signed for League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
. He played 24 games, scoring four times, before moving back to Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
on 31 January 2006. Citing personal reasons, Keates' contract at Lincoln was cancelled by mutual consent, signing for Walsall on a free transfer. Walsall were relegated to League Two at the end of the season. Richard Money was appointed as the Saddlers new manager in May 2006, and under him, Keates was appointed captain. He played a key role in Walsall's promotion as champions back to League One in the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season, scoring 13 goals. Keates was named in the PFA
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
League Two Team of the Year for the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season, as well as being named Walsall's Player of the Season.
Keates was signed by League Two side Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
on a three-year deal on 14 May 2007, having refused the offer of a new contract from Walsall. He played 78 league games, scoring 11 goals, as Peterborough achieved successive promotions to the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
. Keates was released by Peterborough United on 31 December 2009, having not played a minute of football under new Posh manager Mark Cooper, and managing just 6 games in the 2009–10
2009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...
season even before Cooper's arrival.
On 21 January 2010, Keates signed for League One side Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
on a 6 month contract, ending speculation of a return to Walsall or a switch to League Two Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
. On 3 April 2010, he scored his first goal for the club against Huddersfield. He was released by Wycombe on 10 May 2010, and signed for Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Wrexham two days later. He was named captain for the season, and scored his first goal four games into the season with a 30-yard volley against Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
.
Honours
WalsallWalsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
- 1998–991998-99 in English football-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
: Division Two runner-up (promotion to Division One) - 2000–012000-01 in English footballThe 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...
: Division Two play-off winner (promotion to Division One) - 2006–072006-07 in English footballThe 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
: League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
champion (promotion to League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
)
Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
- 2003–042003-04 in English footballThe 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
: Division Three runner-up (promotion to Division Two)
Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
- 2007–082007-08 in English footballThe 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
: League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
runner-up (promotion to League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
) - 2008–09: League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
runner-up (promotion to The ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
)