Fred Keenor
Encyclopedia
Frederick Charles 'Fred' Keenor (born 31 July 1894 in Cardiff
, died November 1972) was a Welsh
professional footballer and Wales
international best known for captaining the Cardiff City
team to success in the 1927 FA Cup Final. To date, this is the only time the competition has been won by a team based outside England's borders.
. One of his former teachers at the school, Walter Riden, would later go on to join the board at Cardiff City while Keenor was a player.
, while playing as an inside-forward, before turning professional on 25 November 1912 with a weekly wage of ten shillings. Following the outbreak of World War I
, Keenor served in the 17th Middlesex Battalion
, the famous "footballers'" battalion led by Frank Buckley
, at the Somme where he received a leg wound, and returned to play for Cardiff in the Southern League
.
In 1920 Cardiff City joined The Football League
and were placed in Division Two
, winning promotion to the top tier in their first year. Under Keenor's captaincy, the club established itself as a redoutable Cup fighter. Cardiff were beaten semi-finalists one in 1921 and were runners' up four years later when they suffered a 1–0 defeat to Sheffield United
in 1925
. After the 1925 Final, Keenor stated: "Just because we lost in our very first Cup Final, I don't think there is any cause to get down in the mouth. I can say here and now that one day soon our followers can be sure that Cardiff City will bring that cup to Wales."
Two years later they were to return to Wembley. However Keenor came close to never playing in the match as, having been struggling to hold down a first team place due to injury, he handed in a transfer request in January 1927 but a proposed move to Bristol Rovers
later collapsed. Instead he returned to the side that beat Arsenal
1–0 with a goal from Hughie Ferguson
to become the first team outside England to win the FA Cup and Keenor, as captain, was handed the trophy by King George V
. Despite being a transfer target for several clubs, he remained with the side until 1931 when, following relegation to Division Two in the 1930–31 season, he was released. Keenor instead signed for Crewe Alexandra
where he spent three years.He then moved into Non-League football first with Oswestry Town and then in 1935 Tunbridge Wells Rangers as player/manager retiring in February 1937.
in 1920
, 1924
and 1928
, overcoming an increasing reluctance on the part of English clubs to release players for games that they saw as being of no importance. In 1929, unable to call up a replacement, Keenor had to play with strapping to protect an injured neck. But possibly the most famous of all his international fixtures was in the 1930 game in Glasgow
against Scotland
in which a depleted Welsh side, nicknamed 'Keenor and the 10 unknowns', drew 1–1. Ted Robbin's side, playing on a Saturday when the English leagues had a full programme, had no choice but to play 10 players from either Welsh League sides or from the non-Leagues.
The Welsh side that day (25 October 1930) read: Wales: Len Evans
(Cardiff City
), Fred Dewey (Cardiff Corinthians
), Wynne Crompton (Wrexham), Billy Rogers
(Wrexham), Fred Keenor (Cardiff City
), Emrys Ellis (Oswestry Town
), Elvet Collins (Llanelli
), Johnny Neal (Colwyn Bay
), Tommy Bamford (Wrexham), Walter Robbins
(Cardiff City
), Billy Thomas
(Newport County
). Bamford scoring the Welsh goal after 6 minutes.
said of him: "He was one of the hardest tacklers in the game, some said he was dirty but he was just hard. Nobody took liberties with old Fred ... [He] could run all night, he couldn't run with the ball mind you, but he could run all day." This gave the sides he led an immeasurable fillip.
On 4 December 2009, the approaching road to Cardiff City Stadium was named Ffrodd Fred Keenor (Fred Keenor Road).
On 17 December 2009, Cardiff City confirmed a statue of 1927 FA Cup-winning captain Keenor would be built at the new Cardiff City Stadium.
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, died November 1972) was a Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
professional footballer and Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
international best known for captaining the 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...
team to success in the 1927 FA Cup Final. To date, this is the only time the competition has been won by a team based outside England's borders.
Early life
Keenor, the son of a bricklayer and a mason, was born in Cardiff and as child attended Stacey Road primary school in AdamsdownAdamsdown
Adamsdown is an inner city area and community in the south of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales.-History:In mediaeval times, Adamsdown lay just outside the east walls of Cardiff and was owned by the lords of Glamorgan. The area may be named after an Adam Kygnot, a porter at Cardiff Castle around...
. One of his former teachers at the school, Walter Riden, would later go on to join the board at Cardiff City while Keenor was a player.
Club career
Keenor was a Welsh schoolboy international and appeared in the first ever meeting between the English and Welsh schoolboy sides in 1907. In 1912 he signed as an amateur for his home town club Cardiff CityCardiff 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...
, while playing as an inside-forward, before turning professional on 25 November 1912 with a weekly wage of ten shillings. Following the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Keenor served in the 17th Middlesex Battalion
Middlesex Regiment
The Middlesex Regiment was a regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms when the 57th and 77th Regiments of Foot were amalgamated with the county's militia and rifle volunteer units.On 31 December 1966 The Middlesex Regiment was amalgamated with three...
, the famous "footballers'" battalion led by Frank Buckley
Frank Buckley (footballer)
Franklin Charles Buckley was an English football player and, later, manager. He is the brother of Chris Buckley who played for Aston Villa.-Early life:...
, at the Somme where he received a leg wound, and returned to play for Cardiff in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
.
In 1920 Cardiff City joined The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
and were placed in Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, winning promotion to the top tier in their first year. Under Keenor's captaincy, the club established itself as a redoutable Cup fighter. Cardiff were beaten semi-finalists one in 1921 and were runners' up four years later when they suffered a 1–0 defeat to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
in 1925
1925 FA Cup Final
The 1925 FA Cup Final was contested by Sheffield United and Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium. Sheffield United won by a single goal, scored by Fred Tunstall....
. After the 1925 Final, Keenor stated: "Just because we lost in our very first Cup Final, I don't think there is any cause to get down in the mouth. I can say here and now that one day soon our followers can be sure that Cardiff City will bring that cup to Wales."
Two years later they were to return to Wembley. However Keenor came close to never playing in the match as, having been struggling to hold down a first team place due to injury, he handed in a transfer request in January 1927 but a proposed move to Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
later collapsed. Instead he returned to the side that beat Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
1–0 with a goal from Hughie Ferguson
Hughie Ferguson
Hugh "Hughie" Ferguson was a Scottish footballer. He is only one of seven men in the entire history of the Football and Scottish Football Leagues to have scored 350 League goals...
to become the first team outside England to win the FA Cup and Keenor, as captain, was handed the trophy by King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
. Despite being a transfer target for several clubs, he remained with the side until 1931 when, following relegation to Division Two in the 1930–31 season, he was released. Keenor instead signed for Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
where he spent three years.He then moved into Non-League football first with Oswestry Town and then in 1935 Tunbridge Wells Rangers as player/manager retiring in February 1937.
International career
Keenor's international career coincided with a spectacular period of success for the Welsh national football team and he attained a total of 32 caps. They won the British Home ChampionshipBritish Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
in 1920
1920 British Home Championship
The 1920 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played during the 1919–20 season between the British Home Nations. Wales eventually took the trophy as the first of three victories they claimed during the 1920s, their last undisputed triumphs...
, 1924
1924 British Home Championship
The 1924 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played during the 1923–24 season between the British Home Nations...
and 1928
1928 British Home Championship
The 1928 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played during the 1927–28 season between the British Home Nations. The competition was won by Wales who did not lose a game and only dropped a single point during the tournament...
, overcoming an increasing reluctance on the part of English clubs to release players for games that they saw as being of no importance. In 1929, unable to call up a replacement, Keenor had to play with strapping to protect an injured neck. But possibly the most famous of all his international fixtures was in the 1930 game in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in which a depleted Welsh side, nicknamed 'Keenor and the 10 unknowns', drew 1–1. Ted Robbin's side, playing on a Saturday when the English leagues had a full programme, had no choice but to play 10 players from either Welsh League sides or from the non-Leagues.
The Welsh side that day (25 October 1930) read: Wales: Len Evans
Len Evans (footballer)
Sidney John Vivian Leonard "Len" Evans was a Welsh professional footballer who played in the Football League for Aberdare Athletic, Merthyr Town, Cardiff City and Birmingham, and won four caps for the Wales national football team. He played as a goalkeeper...
(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...
), Fred Dewey (Cardiff Corinthians
Cardiff Corinthians F.C.
Cardiff Corinthians F.C. are a football club from Cardiff, Wales. They play in the Welsh Football League.-History:The club was formed in 1898 when players from the Alpha Cricket Club decided to form a football teamto keep in touch during the winter months...
), Wynne Crompton (Wrexham), Billy Rogers
Billy Rogers
Billy Rogers is an Australian former association football player.-Club career:After playing junior football for Sunshine City in Victoria, Rogers moved to New South Wales to play for APIA...
(Wrexham), Fred Keenor (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...
), Emrys Ellis (Oswestry Town
Oswestry Town F.C.
Oswestry Town F.C. was a football club, formerly playing in the League of Wales.The club was founded as Oswestry United in 1860, which meant they were one of the world's oldest football clubs. Matches were latterly played at Park Hall stadium, Oswestry, after a spell at Victoria Road...
), Elvet Collins (Llanelli
Llanelli A.F.C.
Llanelli Association Football Club is a Welsh semi-professional football club that plays in the Welsh Premier League for the 2010–11 season. The team has been based at Stebonheath Park since 1920, and as of 2009 is managed by Andy Legg....
), Johnny Neal (Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay F.C.
Colwyn Bay F.C. are a Welsh football club, as of the 2011–12 season are playing in the Conference North. Nicknamed the Seagulls, the club play at Llanelian Road in Old Colwyn.-History:...
), Tommy Bamford (Wrexham), Walter Robbins
Walter Robbins
Walter William Robbins was a Welsh professional footballer and Wales international.-Club career:Having previously worked for a local brewery, Robbins was serving a motor engineering apprenticeship when he rose to attention after scoring 70 goals during a single season for Ely United in the Cardiff...
(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...
), Billy Thomas
Billy Thomas (footballer)
William Rees "Billy" Thomas was a Wales international football player. He attained 2 caps for the Wales national football team in 1930 against England and Scotland. Thomas played his club football for Newport County....
(Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
). Bamford scoring the Welsh goal after 6 minutes.
International goals
- Results list Wales' goal tally first.
Goal Date Venue Opponent Result Competition 1. 5 March 1923 Ninian Park Ninian ParkNinian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
, CardiffCardiffCardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, WalesWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
2–2 1923 British Home Championship 1923 British Home ChampionshipThe 1923 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1922–23 season. It was won by the strongest of the Home Nations during the decade, Scotland who almost whitewashed the other three nations but ultimately were held to a 2–2...2. 28 February 1925 Vetch Field Vetch FieldThe Vetch Field was a multi-purpose stadium in Swansea, Wales. It was used mostly for football matches and was the home ground of Swansea City until the Liberty Stadium opened in 2005. Opened in 1912, the ground held around 12,000 at the time of its closure, but upwards of 30,000 at its peak...
, SwanseaSwanseaSwansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, WalesWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
1–2 1925 British Home Championship 1925 British Home ChampionshipThe 1925 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1924/25 season. It was one of six tournaments in seven years won by the strong Scottish team of the early 1920s, and was achieved with a whitewash of all three rivals, including England...
Abilities
Keenor's abilities were scant. A 'terrible' shot and unable to reliably run with the ball, his strength lay in his commitment to the cause and in his uncompromising tackling. Former team mate Ernie CurtisErnie Curtis
Ernest Robert "Ernie" Curtis was a Welsh professional footballer. During his career he made over 250 appearances in The Football League and was the youngest ever winner of the FA Cup to that date when he played in the 1927 FA Cup Final for Cardiff City aged 19 years and 317 days.-Club career:A...
said of him: "He was one of the hardest tacklers in the game, some said he was dirty but he was just hard. Nobody took liberties with old Fred ... [He] could run all night, he couldn't run with the ball mind you, but he could run all day." This gave the sides he led an immeasurable fillip.
Later life
Latterly he suffered from disabilities stemming from a hard-living lifestyle that may have been a consequence of his tough upbringing. Keenor died in a residential nursing home in November 1972 and his ashes were buried in Thornhill crematorium in Cardiff.Memorial
On 15 November 2007 a petition to the Cardiff Civic Authorities was begun in order to bestow a fitting tribute upon both Keenor himself, and the 1927 FA Cup squad he so heroically captained.On 4 December 2009, the approaching road to Cardiff City Stadium was named Ffrodd Fred Keenor (Fred Keenor Road).
On 17 December 2009, Cardiff City confirmed a statue of 1927 FA Cup-winning captain Keenor would be built at the new Cardiff City Stadium.
As a player
Cardiff City- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
Winner: 1
-
- 1927FA Cup Final 1927The 1927 FA Cup Final was won by Cardiff City, who beat Arsenal 1–0. It is most remembered for Arsenal goalkeeper Dan Lewis's mistake which led to the only goal of the game. It was also the first ever Cup Final to be broadcast by BBC Radio...
- FA Charity Shield Winner: 1
- 19271927 FA Charity ShieldThe 1927 Football Association Charity Shield was played on 12 October 1927. The game was played at Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea, and was contested by the FA Cup holders Cardiff City and amateur side Corinthian...
- Welsh CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
Winner: 4
- Welsh Cup
- 1923, 1927, 1928, 1930
- Division OneFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Runner-up: 1
- Division One
- 1924
- Division TwoFootball League Second DivisionFrom 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
Runner-up: 1
- Division Two
- 1921
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
Finalist: 1
- FA Cup
- 19251925 FA Cup FinalThe 1925 FA Cup Final was contested by Sheffield United and Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium. Sheffield United won by a single goal, scored by Fred Tunstall....
- Welsh CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
Finalist: 1
- Welsh Cup
- 1929
- 1927